United States: Fewer immigrant visas and more nonimmigrant visas for Cubans in 2019

A total of only 3954 immigrant visas have been issued by the United States to Cuban applicants so far this fiscal year, from October 2018 to March 2019.

On the other hand, the United States did increase the granting of nonimmigrant visas for family visits within its territory, according to information from sources within the US State Department.

The decline in the number of immigrant visas is due to the freeze on the Cuban Family Reunification Program (CFRP), which has been on hold since 2017, and the reduction to a minimum of the number of diplomatic personnel at the United States Embassy in Havana, the Cuban capital, which resulted in the forced transfer of all immigrant visa application processing to Georgetown, the capital of Guyana.

In fact, none of the only 3954 immigrant visas issued by the United States to Cuban applicants during the current fiscal year 2019 were processed at the U.S. Embassy in Havana.

Regarding the reopening of the Cuban Family Reunification Program, U.S. Foreign Ministry officials have officially stated that U.S. authorities are still studying the program's requirements, but have declined to provide further details.

The same U.S. Foreign Ministry officials have assured that future plans will be communicated as soon as decisions are made.

Currently, some 20 claims from Cubans living in the United States are awaiting the resumption of the reunification program so they can bring their relatives back from the island with them.

In fiscal year 2018, the United States failed, for the first time since taking office, to comply with its commitment to issue a minimum of 20 immigrant visas to Cuban applicants. This commitment was made as part of the migration agreements established between the two nations following the so-called rafter crisis of 000 and 1994.

According to the State Department, the significant reduction in staff at the U.S. Embassy in Havana prevented this commitment from being met in fiscal year 2018.

On the other hand, the outlook for nonimmigrant visas to the United States has been slightly more favorable, with 7016 visas approved through March of fiscal year 2019. In all of fiscal year 2018, the United States only approved 6959 nonimmigrant visas for Cuban applicants.

In March 2019, the United States reduced the validity of the B2 visa for Cubans. This visa, for tourism, family visits, medical treatment, and similar purposes, was reduced to just three months and a single entry into the United States. Previously, this visa was valid for five years and allowed multiple entries into the country.