Cuban Lottery

How do I know if I was selected to participate in the Cuban Lottery?
The U.S. Interests Section does not offer a verification service. Individuals selected to participate in this program will be notified via regular mail.

I am documentarily ready to be interviewed at the U.S. Interests Section but there are no appointments available. Will my entry expire?
No. Individuals selected to participate in the program who are unable to schedule an interview will not lose their entry.

The required documentation for my interview appointment will expire in a few months. Can I get an appointment?
Since February 2007, the Interests Section has been unable to accept new appointments for individuals requesting an interview appointment under the Special Program for Cuban Migration due to the resource constrains under which the Interests Section is forced to operate.  When appointments become available, applicants will need to renew any documents that are expired.

My case was deferred pending presentation of additional documentation. Can I schedule an appointment when I obtain these documents?
If the applicant’s interview was conducted and the additional documentation has been obtained, the applicant should contact the Consular Information Unit at 834-4400/02 to schedule a walk-in appointment.

How long will my medical and police records remain valid?
Medical and police records are valid for a year from the date of issuance.

How much does a parole document for the Cuban Lottery cost?
The United States government does not charge applicants any fee to be processed under the Special Program for Cuban Migration.

I received an envelope addressed to my husband informing him that he had been selected to participate in the Cuban Lottery but he is already in the United States. Can I be processed with his case?
If the principal applicant was never issued travel documents to immigrate to the United States under the Special Program for Cuban Migration, his or her spouse and children are not eligible to be processed under this program. 

Can my grandparents and nieces be included in my Cuban Lottery application?
No. Only the applicant’s spouse and single children less than 21 years old can be included in one entry.

My son was seventeen years old when I submitted my entry for the Special Program for Cuban Migration in 1998 but he is now over 21 years of age.  Can he still be included in my entry?
Yes. Children must be less than twenty-years old at the time of the entry submission. The fact that the child aged out during the process will not affect his or her eligibility for the program. The son or daughter must be unmarried to remain eligible for derivative parole benefits.

I was single when I submitted my entry for the Special Program for Cuban Migration as a principal applicant but I have since married. Can my family be included in my case?
Yes, but the applicant will need to demonstrate the validity of the marriage at the time of the interview.

Can I request parole for other family members at the time of my interview?
No. The Special Program for Cuban Migration does not permit applicants to request parole for other family members.

My case was deferred pending submission of new supporting documentation.  How long will my case remain open if I am not able to present the documentation requested?
Applicants whose cases have been deferred have six (6) months to submit requested evidence. If an applicant is unable to provide requested evidence, the applicant may so notify DHS-USCIS and request that the case be adjudicated based upon the evidence currently in the record. If an applicant fails to respond to a request for evidence within the six month period, the case will be deemed abandoned and closed without the possibility of reconsideration.

I was denied parole under the Cuban Lottery. Can I appeal this decision?
There is no appeal of a lottery denial, however, an applicant may submit a written request for reconsideration, within 90 days of the date of adjudication, to:
USINT
Sección Consular- Unidad de Visa de Inmigrantes/Parole
Referencia: reconsideración de parole
Calle Calzada e/L y M
Vedado
Ciudad Habana 10400

If your inquiry regards a consular matter that is not covered in this page, please send the Consular Information Unit a brief message using the following form.