The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, announced the reopening of an international field office in Havana, Cuba. The USCIS Havana Field Office will assist with U.S. immigration benefits and services, including interviews and processing cases for pending Cuban Family Reunification Parole cases and Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petitions, according to an Aug. 17 news release.
"This administration is taking steps to reduce unlawful entries, deny resources to ruthless smuggling organizations and streamline access to lawful, safe and orderly pathways for those seeking humanitarian relief," Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas said in the release. "Reopening the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services field office in Havana helps us do just that."
The USCIS Havana Field Office is anticipated to offer a limited array of services, potentially including refugee processing and other specialized appointment-based services. Notably, access to services at the Havana Field Office will be strictly available through scheduled appointments. Additional information about the services and appointment procedures will be updated on the USCIS International Immigration Offices webpage in the coming weeks, the release reported.
The USCIS formally shuttered the Havana Field Office Dec. 10, 2018. This decision was driven by the redirection of agency resources and the extended suspension of operations, which had begun in 2017 after the U.S. Department of State issued a directive for non-essential personnel and families to leave Cuba, according to the release.
DHS announced the resumption of operations under the Cuban Family Reunification Parole (CFRP) program June 9, 2022. This initiative, established in 2007, furnishes a safe and organized pathway for specific beneficiaries of approved family-based immigrant petitions (Form I-130) from Cuba. These beneficiaries can wait in the United States for the availability of their immigrant visas, the release said.
Notably, the CFRP program facilitates certain eligible U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents to apply for parole on behalf of their family members in Cuba. The process has been streamlined recently, allowing most CFRP applicants to complete the required steps through a secure online platform for enhanced efficiency, the release reported.
Furthermore, the Biden-Harris administration introduced a new process permitting up to 30,000 individuals per month from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela to enter the U.S. for a two-year period and receive work authorization. Eligibility is contingent on having a U.S.-based financial supporter, clearing vetting and background checks and meeting specific criteria, according to the release.
USCIS' renewed presence in Cuba mirrors a larger initiative to extend USCIS' global presence. These efforts align with the Biden-Harris administration's commitment to promoting safe, legal and orderly migration while discouraging irregular and perilous maritime migration, the release said.
