On August 17, 2023, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), announced the reopening of an international field office in Havana, Cuba.
According to a DHS news release, “USCIS’ renewed presence in Cuba is part of an effort to restore USCIS’ footprint outside the United States. These efforts are consistent with the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to facilitate safe, legal, and orderly migration while discouraging irregular and dangerous maritime migration.” Under the previous administration, DHS explained, USCIS closed the Havana Field Office on December 10, 2018, due to a reallocation of agency resources and the long-term suspension of operations in 2017 after the Department of State ordered all non-essential personnel and families to leave Cuba.
The Havana office will assist with U.S. immigration benefits and services, including conducting interviews and processing cases for pending Cuban Family Reunification Parole (CFRP) cases and refugee/asylee relative petitions. The USCIS Havana Field Office also will provide other limited services, which may include refugee processing and other limited appointment-only services such as collecting biometrics for U visa applications. Services at the Havana Field Office will be available only by appointment.
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