SLP, Mexico.- The embassy of the United States in Cuba communicated This Wednesday, immigrant visa processing services resume, suspended this month due to the passage of Hurricane Rafael and electrical interruptions in the country.
In a message published on its social networks, the diplomatic headquarters wrote that the document review process resumed on November 20, and visa interviews restarted this Monday, November 25.
They also stated that they will contact the applicants that were already scheduled from November 4 to 22 to inform them about their new interview date.
“Please do not call the Embassy; Updated information will be sent directly to applicants,” they insisted.
On November 11, the consular headquarters socialized in a release that all services immigrant and non-immigrant visa applications would be rescheduled for a future date.
According to the information, applicants would be contacted to reschedule their appointments. They also asked not to call the embassy to obtain information about rescheduling visa appointments.
The postponed services included interviews and document reviews.
Although at that time the embassy did not refer to the reasons why they canceled the procedures, they now clarify that it was due to the weather phenomenon passing through Cuba and the blackouts.
“On November 4, due to Hurricane Rafael and the interruptions to the electrical grid in the country, the United States Embassy in Havana postponed appointments for immigrant visas for the month of November,” highlighted a note official.
The announcement also occurred days before the arrival of the new head of mission at the diplomatic headquarters, Mike Hammer, who took over his duties on Thursday, November 14.
Born in Washington DC, the official grew up in Latin America: he lived in Honduras, El Salvador, Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil and speaks fluent Spanish.
He graduated from the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University and earned master’s degrees from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and the National War College at the National Defense University.
While serving as Undersecretary of Public Relations of the United States Department of State, Mike Hammer said, following the death of opposition leader Oswaldo Payá Sardiñas, that the Cuban government should, “in the interest of all, conduct a thorough investigation” into the circumstances under which he died, as reported at that time Martí News.
