The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in collaboration with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), has announced the reopening of an international field office in Havana, Cuba. This office will play a crucial role in providing U.S. immigration services, conducting interviews, and processing cases related to the Cuban Family Reunification Parole (CFRP) program and Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petitions.
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas expressed the administration's commitment to reducing unlawful entries, curbing smuggling organizations, and facilitating legal pathways for individuals seeking humanitarian relief. The reopening of the USCIS field office in Havana is seen as a step in this direction.
The USCIS Havana Field Office will offer additional limited services, including refugee processing and appointment-based services like biometrics collection for U visa applications. Access to these services will be by appointment only. More information on services and appointments will be provided on the USCIS International Immigration Offices page in the near future.
The field office's closure in 2018 was due to resource reallocation and the suspension of operations in 2017 following the U.S. Department of State's directive to withdraw non-essential personnel and families from Cuba.
Recent initiatives, such as the resumption of the CFRP program and the facilitation of safe pathways for individuals from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela with U.S.-based support, demonstrate the administration's commitment to efficient and orderly immigration processes.
USCIS' renewed presence in Cuba aligns with broader efforts to reestablish its international presence and supports the administration's goal of promoting legal, safe, and orderly migration while discouraging irregular and risky maritime migration.
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