(EFE).- The Government of the United States announced this Wednesday that its embassy in Cuba will resume all its services in early 2023 to issue immigrant visas for the first time since 2017.
According to a statementWith this measure, the United States “announces the expansion of the usual routes available to Cubans who want to come to the United States and an increase in the personnel of the United States embassy” on the island.
Washington explained that immigrant visas provide eligible people with a “safe and orderly” migration path.
This change will also eliminate the need for Cubans applying for immigrant visas in family preference categories to travel outside of Cuba to Georgetown, Guyana, for their interviews.
In parallel, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) are increasing their staff in Havana to process cases “effectively and efficiently” and carry out interviews.
The Immigration and Citizenship Services are increasing their staff in Havana to process cases “effectively and efficiently” and carry out interviews
On September 1, the United States embassy in Cuba began processing pending applications for Cuban Family Reunification Parole Program (CFRP), suspended since 2017.
The program was initially launched in 2007 under the mandate of President George W. Bush (2001-2009) and provides a legal way for Americans and legal residents in the US to claim their family member within Cuban territory.
The program was suspended ten years later by the Donald Trump Administration (2017-2021).
In its statement this Wednesday, the US government explained that these efforts are “a key step” to fulfill the commitment made by the United States under the Migration Agreements with Cuba to guarantee that total legal migration from the island to US territory is of a minimum of 20,000 Cubans each year, not including direct relatives of US citizens.
And he pointed out that the State Department continues to evaluate further expanding its visa services in Havana if conditions allow.
The State Department continues to evaluate further expanding its visa services in Havana if conditions allow.
Since the arrival of Democrat Joe Biden to the US Presidency, the US embassy resumed issuing migrant visas last May after a four-year pause.
In addition, his Government suspended the limit of 1,000 dollars per quarter on remittances and authorized the trips of groups destined to make contact with the Cuban people, known in English as people to people travel.
Last June, the embassy expanded the visa process for immediate family members.
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