Nonimmigrant Visas

The U.S. Interests Section is pleased to inform you that there will be a limited number of interview appointments for nonimmigrant visas in September only for those applicants who have scheduled their appointment through our Call Center and who have been given their appointment after February 2009. These appointments are only available to applicants who complete the DS-156 form online and send it as a pdf attachment to us via e-mail.

The applicant or family member may fill out the DS-156 for each person travelling to the U.S.  by visiting the link https://evisaforms.state.gov/ds156.asp?lang=1 Once completed  the form must be saved as a PDF file (.pdf) and sent as an attachment via e-mail at havanavisas@state.gov

If the form is completed correctly, the U.S. Interests Section will notify the applicant/relative of the new appointment date as long as new appointments are available.

On May 25, the United States Interests Section in Havana, Cuba, introduced a new Visa Information and Appointment Scheduling Service for all nonimmigrant visa applicants in Cuba.  Family members and associates in the United States can call the Service from anywhere in the U.S., toll-free at 1-866-374-1769 on behalf of the applicant in Cuba. 
 
The service, based on successful models operating today in more than 37 countries, makes it easier for Cuban nonimmigrant travelers to schedule visa appointments with a U.S. consular official.  For the first time, family members or associates in the United States are able to schedule an appointment on the traveler's behalf by calling a toll free number based in the U.S.
 
What does the new service offer?
Family members and associates in the United States are able to obtain visa information and schedule appointments on behalf of applicants in Cuba by calling 1-866-374-1769 from anywhere in the U.S, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (EST), Monday-Friday.  Callers pay a nominal fee to speak with English and Spanish-speaking operators.  
 
How does the service work?
To use the service family members or associates in the U.S. can call 1-866-374-1769 to purchase a Personal Identification Number (PIN).  PINs can be purchased for 11 USD using Visa or MasterCard.  The PIN allows the caller to access the service multiple times for information and appointment scheduling for up to a total of 8 minutes.  The PIN is nonrefundable.  In the event it is lost the applicant must obtain a new one.  If the time allowed for the PIN runs out, you must obtain a new PIN and call the service again.  Up to 5 immediate family members residing in the same household may be scheduled on one call using one PIN.  Immediate family members include: husband, wife, son, daughter, brother, sister, mother and father.  Please note there is no guarantee that all family members will be scheduled for the same day. 
 
What information do callers need to schedule an appointment for their Cuban relative or contact?

• Full name of the applicant as it appears in the passport
• Date of birth
• Country of birth
• Applicant's complete address, including contact phone number in Cuba
• Passport number
• Purpose of visit

What do Cubans or third-country nationals with no contacts in the U.S. do to make an appointment?
There will be a limited amount of appointments available to those in Cuba with no contacts in the United States.  Those applicants may fax the U.S. Interests Section at (53)(7) 833-1084 and include their full name, passport number, purpose of visit, and a contact number in Cuba.
 
When is the next available NIV appointment?
Due to the large demand for nonimmigrant visa services in Cuba, appointments for B2 tourist visas are currently being programmed for 2010. 
 
What if there is a medical emergency or other urgent need to travel?
The Visa Information and Appointment Scheduling Service can schedule expedited appointments for students, exchange visitors, medical emergencies, unexpected events, or other urgent travel needs.  Applicants  will be required to present documentation of the urgent travel need at the time of their interviews.  Those found to have made an expedited appointment under false pretenses will lose their appointment and will not be interviewed.
 
What are applicants required to present on the day of the visa interview?

• Completed DS-156 and DS-157 application forms.
• A valid passport.
• One color photograph measuring 2 inches square (roughly 50 mm square).  The photograph must be an uncounted full-face photo, taken within the past six months.
• Nonrefundable application fee (currently 121 Cuban convertible pesos (CUC))
• Depending on individual circumstances, applicants may provide other documentation substantiating the trip's purpose and specifying the nature of binding obligations, such as family ties or employment, which would compel their return to Cuba.

Does the Visa Service allow the family to pay the visa fee when they make the appointment?
The Visa Information and Appointment Scheduling Service does not allow family or contacts in the U.S. to pay the nonrefundable visa application fee (currently 121 Cuban convertible pesos (CUC)). This fee is collected at the time of the interview.
 
For additional information about the nonimmigrant visa application process, visit the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs website at  http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/temp_1305.html

Will this service make parole (sorteo) and refugee appointments as well?
No.  At this time, the Service is only available to those applicants making appointments for nonimmigrant or immigrant visas.  However, the Service will provide information on how to apply for these other migration programs.

* The U.S. Interests Section is not currently accepting appointment requests for parole under the Special Program for Cuban Migration, otherwise known as the bombo.  When appointments slots are available for bombo applicants, applicants will be required to use this service to schedule an appointment.  Any change in appointments for bombo applicants will be announced on the U.S. Interests Section website