Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez described this Wednesday as a “necessary and correct step” to resume the processing of immigrant visas at the US embassy in Havana.
Rodríguez clarified that the restart of consular services “does not yet include non-immigrant visas.”
Resumption of visa processing for Cuban migrants from the US embassy in Havana is a necessary and correct step. It still does not include non-immigrant visas, which hinders family visits and cultural, sports and scientific exchanges, for those who #Cuba still open.
— Bruno Rodríguez P (@BrunoRguezP) January 4, 2023
This, he considered, “hinders family visits and cultural, sports and scientific exchanges, for which Cuba remains open.”
“As long as the blockade, maximum pressure measures and privileged treatment at the border continue, it will be difficult to considerably reduce the irregular migratory flow,” he added.
The US legation in Cuba resumed its consular services and visa processing after a pause of more than five years, determined by then-President Donald Trump (2017-2021).
The interviews for those interested in obtaining an immigrant visa for the North American country began on December 29.
The resumption of operations occurs after a few months of rapprochement between Washington and Havana, in which migration has played a central role.
US Embassy in Cuba resumes consular services and immigrant visa
The US government delivered a total of 23,966 visas to Cubans between October 1, 2021 and September 30, 2022, according to an appointment efe.
Washington met for the first time since 2017 the bilateral migration agreement of 1994, which stipulates the delivery of a minimum of 20,000 annual visas to the citizens of the Island.
Efe/OnCuba
