News & Events

Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Havana, Cuba: Elias Baumann

Elias Baumann is the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Havana, Cuba.He joined the U.S. Foreign Service in 2002 and served most recently as Political Counselor in San Salvador and Management Counselor in Panama.  Elias was the Washington-based Post Management Officer for Cuba from 2014 – 2016, where he participated in bilateral negotiations to re-establish diplomatic relations ... Read More»

2023 Trafficking in Persons Report – Cuba

CUBA (Tier 3) The Government of Cuba does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking and, even considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, if any, on its anti-trafficking capacity, is not making significant efforts to do so; therefore Cuba remained on Tier 3.  Despite the lack of significant efforts, the ... Read More»

Call to Release All 11J Political Prisoners in Cuba

PRESS STATEMENT ANTONY J. BLINKEN, SECRETARY OF STATE JULY 11, 2023 Today, we mark two years since tens of thousands of Cubans across the entire island raised their voices for their fundamental freedoms. The United States stands in solidarity with those in Cuba who continue to desire a free democracy where their voices are heard, their businesses prosper, and their children ... Read More»

Alerta de Salud – Embajada de EE.UU., La Habana, Cuba – 11 de mayo, 2023

Ubicación: Cuba, todo el país Evento:  A partir del 12 de mayo, 2023, la Administración pondrá fin a los requerimientos de vacunación contra COVID-19 para los viajeros aéreos internacionales.  Desde las 12:01 a.m. del 12 de mayo, 2023, los pasajeros aéreos no ciudadanos o inmigrantes ya no necesitarán presentar pruebas de haber sido vacunados con una ... Read More»

Health Alert – U.S. Embassy Havana, Cuba – May 11, 2023

Location: Cuba, Countrywide Event:  As of May 12, 2023, the Administration will end the COVID-19 vaccine requirements for international air travelers.  Starting at 12:01 a.m. on May 12, 2023, noncitizen nonimmigrant air passengers will no longer need to show proof of being fully vaccinated with an accepted COVID-19 vaccine to board a flight to the United ... Read More»

U.S. – Cuba Migration Talks Held April 12 in Washington

MEDIA NOTE April 12, 2023 U.S. – Cuba Migration Talks Held April 12 in Washington   On April 12, U.S. and Cuban officials met in Washington, DC to discuss the implementation of the U.S.-Cuba Migration Accords. This bilateral discussion reflects a commitment by both countries to regularly review the implementation of the Accords. The Department ... Read More»

U.S. Embassy in Havana Hosts Finance and Marketing Expert Stacey Brandhorst

Press Release U.S. Embassy Havana Havana Cuba April 3, 2023 U.S. Embassy in Havana Hosts Finance and Marketing Expert Stacey Brandhorst As part of its ongoing work to empower entrepreneurs and support the private sector in Cuba, the U.S. Embassy in Havana hosted finance and marketing expert Stacey Brandhorst March 29 and March 31.  During ... Read More»

Statement By Chargé D’ Affaires Benjamin Ziff on Women’s History Month

Statement By Chargé D’ Affaires Benjamin Ziff on Women’s History Month U.S. Embassy Havana  March 2023     Women’s History Month is an opportunity to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of women and girls in Cuba, the United States, and around the globe who have fought tirelessly and courageously for equality, justice, and opportunity.    We salute ... Read More»

CDA Ziff Celebrates Graduation of the Academy of Women Entrepreneurs

Press Release Embassy of the United States of America, Havana, Cuba March 27, 2023   On March 23, Chargé d’Affaires Benjamin G. Ziff hosted the graduation ceremony for 42 participants from the 2021 and 2022 cohorts of the Academy of Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) program.  The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) provides women entrepreneurs with the ... Read More»

Assistant Secretary Brian A. Nichols’ Remarks on Cuba Policy at the Cuban Research Institute of Florida International University March 7, 2023

Remarks U.S. Embassy in Havana Havana, Cuba March 7, 2023 Hello, thank you all for joining me to discuss our policy toward Cuba and support for the Cuban people. I am honored to gather here today with an impressive group of Cubans and Cuban-Americans who are incredibly knowledgeable about Cuba and U.S.-Cuba policy.  Your efforts, ... Read More»

AWE Alum Recasts Social Issues in Cuban Film

[Cuba, February 2023] Filmmaker Diana Moreno is using her production company, Wajiros Films, to redefine what it means to be Cuban – and train the next generation of filmmakers.  She and her company got a boost in business after she participated in an U.S. government exchange program, the  Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) , which is helping her to expand ... Read More»

Statement by Chargé d’Affaires Benjamin Ziff One Year Mark of Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion of Ukraine

Today marks one year since Russia’s brutal and unjustified full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. It also marks one year of incredible courage and sacrifice displayed by the Ukrainian people who, together with the United States and our allied democracies, have said “no” to Russia’s war of aggression, and “no” to dictatorship and despotism. The United ... Read More»

U.S. Embassy Havana Celebrates Black History Month with Singer & Songwriter Tonya Boyd-Cannon

American singer-songwriter Tonya Boyd-Cannon visited Havana from February 19 to 24 in honor of the Black History month. Boyd-Cannon’s visit, a collaboration among the U.S. Embassy in Havana, the Cuban Ministry of Culture, and the Cuban Institute of Music, hosted three concerts and exchanges with Cuban audiences. Mississippi-born and Louisiana-raised, Boyd-Cannon is a classically trained ... Read More»

Filmmaker Dawn Porter visits Havana as part of the American Film Showcase

Press Release U.S. Embassy Havana Havana, Cuba February 16, 2023 Award-winning American documentary filmmaker Dawn Porter visited Havana for a series of screenings and exchanges with Cuban filmmakers and businesswomen from February 12 to 16, 2023. Her visit was sponsored by the American Film Showcase of the U.S. Department of State and the University of ... Read More»

Announcement on the Currency Accepted for Consular & USCIS Services

Announcement U.S. Embassy Havana Havana, Cuba January 31, 2023 Beginning March 1, 2023 the U.S. Embassy in Havana, Cuba, will only accept payment in U.S. currency for all Consular and USCIS services. The Embassy will no longer accept Cuban pesos. This includes payment for any U.S. citizen, visa, or parole services completed at the U.S. ... Read More»

U.S. Embassy Havana & Saxophonist Ted Nash in the Fábrica de Arte Cubano

U.S. Embassy Havana Press Release Havana, Cuba January 29, 2023 Today, the U.S. Embassy in Havana supported a concert featuring American saxophonist, Ted Nash, at the Fábrica de Arte Cubano. During the concert, Nash appeared with Cuban pianist Alejandro Falcón, and his band Cubadentro as part of the Havana International Jazz Festival. Their performance marked ... Read More»

Parole Process | FAQs

PAROLE PROCESS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR CUBANS U.S. EMBASSY HAVANA How is the Cuban Family Reunification Program (CFRP) different than the new parole process?   The Cuban Family Reunification Parole Program (CFRP) allows immigrant visa beneficiaries with an approved immigrant visa petition filed by a qualifying family member to come to the United States without waiting for an immigrant visa ... Read More»

U.S. Embassy Havana Hosts the Cuban American Youth Orchestra (CAYO)

U.S. Embassy Havana Press Release Havana, Cuba January 20, 2023 On January 19, the U.S. Embassy in Havana hosted a performance by the Cuban American Youth Orchestra (CAYO) at the residence of the Chargé d’Affaires. The program highlighted the strong cultural ties between the United States and Cuba, and featured a rousing performance, where both ... Read More»

Information on the Parole Application Process

Yesterday, the Biden Administration announced processes through which nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, and their immediate family members, may request to come to the United States in a safe and orderly way through a parole program. Cubans who fail to apply for the parole program and who attempt to cross the U.S. southern ... Read More»

DHS Continues to Prepare for End of Title 42; Announces New Border Enforcement Measures and Additional Safe and Orderly Processes

WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) continues to prepare for the end of the Title 42 public health order, which is currently the subject of multiple court orders, and a return to processing all noncitizens under the Department’s Title 8 immigration authorities. To that end, DHS today announced new border enforcement measures to ... Read More»

Remarks by President Biden on Border Security and Enforcement

Roosevelt Room 11:54 A.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Hi, everybody. Sorry to keep you waiting. There’s a lot going on. Today, I’d like to — the Vice President and I would like to talk you about how my administration is dealing with our situation in the southwest border. Now, these actions alone that I’m going to ... Read More»

FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠Harris Administration Announces New Border Enforcement Actions

New Measures Leverage Success of Venezuela Enforcement Initiative to Limit Disorderly and Unsafe Migration While the courts have prevented the Title 42 public health order from lifting for now, the Biden-Harris Administration today is announcing new enforcement measures to increase security at the border and reduce the number of individuals crossing unlawfully between ports of ... Read More»

Resumption of Visa Services

U.S. Embassy Havana, Cuba December 30, 2022 Press Release The United States is working to ensure safe, legal, and orderly migration of Cubans by expanding consular operations in Havana and restarting the Cuban Family Reunification Parole Program (CFRP). As previously announced, beginning January 4, 2023, the U.S. Embassy in Havana will resume full immigrant visa ... Read More»

Statement by the Department of Homeland Security on Supreme Court Title 42 Order

Department of Homeland Security Release Date: December 27, 2022 As required by today’s Supreme Court order, the Title 42 public health order will remain in effect and individuals who attempt to enter the United States unlawfully will continue to be expelled to Mexico or their home country. People should not listen to the lies of smugglers ... Read More»

Interview Appointment Rescheduling

Due to scheduling adjustments, the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Havana, Cuba has rescheduled all interviews originally scheduled on January 3rd, 2023, to December 29th, 2022. For those applicants with interviews scheduled on January 3rd, please check your email for more information on the new appointment. Read More»

Statement from President Biden on Political Prisoners in Cuba

The White House December 9, 2022 As we look forward to honoring Human Rights Day this Saturday, December 10th, I once again call for the release of the hundreds of political prisoners in Cuba who remain in detention following the July 11, 2021 protests. In the face of oppression, these protestors bravely exercised their fundamental freedoms, ... Read More»

Migration Talks with the Government of Cuba

MEDIA NOTE OFFICE OF THE SPOKESPERSON NOVEMBER 15, 2022 On November 15, U.S. and Cuban officials met in Havana to discuss the implementation of the U.S.-Cuba Migration Accords. This is the second session in 2022 of these semiannual bilateral discussions on migration, reflecting a commitment by both countries to regularly review the implementation of the ... Read More»

Visit of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service Director Jaddou and Assistant Secretary of State Bitter to Havana

Statement U.S. Embassy Havana Havana, Cuba November 10, 2022 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Ur Mendoza Jaddou and Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Rena Bitter traveled with a delegation to Havana, Cuba, from November 8-10.  In Havana, Director Jaddou discussed the resumption of Cuban Family Reunification Parole processing at U.S. Embassy Havana ... Read More»

Explanation of Vote After the Vote on a UN General Assembly Resolution on the Cuba Embargo

John Kelley Political Counselor New York, New York November 3, 2022 Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you members of the General Assembly. The United States remains committed to the Cuban people in their pursuit of freedom, prosperity, and a future with greater dignity. We are focused on the political and economic wellbeing of the ... Read More»

U.S. Support for Hurricane Ian Recovery Efforts in Cuba

U.S. Department of State Ned Price, Department Spokesperson Press Statement October 18, 2022 Following the devastating impact of Hurricane Ian, the United States is providing to the Cuban people critical humanitarian aid to trusted international partners working directly with Cubans whose communities were devastated by the storm.  The United States, through the U.S. Agency for ... Read More»

U.S. Embassy in Havana Prepares for Full Resumption of Immigrant Visa Services in Cuba, Will Accelerate Processing of Cuban Family Reunification

September 21, 2022 U.S. Embassy in Havana Prepares for Full Resumption of Immigrant Visa Services in Cuba, Will Accelerate Processing of Cuban Family Reunification Consistent with our commitments under the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection to facilitate safe, orderly, humane, and regular migration, the United States is today announcing an expansion of regular ... Read More»

Homeland Security Task Force Southeast partners increase illegal migration enforcement patrols in Florida Straits, Caribbean

MIAMI — Homeland Security Task Force – Southeast enhanced its operational posture and readiness to address a recent increase in irregular maritime migration originating from the Bahamas and Cuba through the Florida Straits, from Haiti through the Windward Pass, and from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico through the Mona Pass. Task Force partners are ... Read More»

USCIS Resumes Cuban Family Reunification Parole Program Operations

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is resuming operations under the Cuban Family Reunification Parole (CFRP) program, beginning with pending CFRP program applications. USCIS has begun to mail interview notices to CFRP program petitioners with instructions for the beneficiary interview. On Aug. 18, USCIS began conducting interviews at the U.S. Embassy Havana. USCIS has limited ... Read More»

Health Alert for U.S. Citizens in Cuba on Dengue Fever

Health Alert – U.S. Embassy Havana (30 August 2022) Location: Cuba Event: A surge of dengue fever has been confirmed in Cuba. Dengue is spread to people through the bite of an infected mosquito, specifically the Aedes species (Ae. aegypti or Ae. albopictus). Actions to Take:  Use  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents with one of the active ingredients:  DEET, Picaridin (known as KBR 3023 and Picaridin outside the ... Read More»

Absentee Ballots

As the November 8, 2022, midterm election approaches, U.S. Embassy Havana encourages voters overseas to return their completed ballots as early as possible.  Eligible voters can return ballots in several ways: Some states allow you to return your completed ballot by email or fax. Please check with your state election website for details. If your state ... Read More»

Hurricane Season General Advisory

Hurricane season in Cuba normally runs from June to November. It includes heavy rains, and possible flash floods and landslides. Hurricanes may result in disruption of power, communications, water supplies, and potentially flights to and from Cuba. If you plan to travel to Cuba during hurricane season you should consider the following preparations: Sign up ... Read More»

Health Alert – U.S. Embassy Havana

Location: Worldwide Event:  The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 2 Travel Health Notice for  Monkeypox in Multiple Countries . The World Health Organization has determined the multi-country outbreak of monkeypox   is a Public Health Emergency of International Concern ( click here  to view the WHO’s determination ). Actions to Take: Travelers should AVOID  :  Close contact with sick people, including those with skin lesions or ... Read More»

Weather Alert: U.S. Embassy Havana, Cuba

Location:  Western Provinces of Cuba Event:  Tropical Storm Idalia is projected to develop into a Hurricane and pass over the western part of Cuba beginning today.  This storm is expected to bring significant rainfall and wind that may result in life-threatening flooding, flash flooding, and storm surge.  Countrywide impacts are expected but the western provinces of Cuba are likely ... Read More»

U.S. Embassy Havana Presents the American Film Showcase for the First Time in Decades

    Press Release  U.S. Embassy Havana  Havana, Cuba  June 28, 2023    The U.S. Embassy in Havana organized a series of film screenings through the University of Southern California’s American Film Showcase June 22 to June 25.  The screenings were a collaboration between the U.S. Embassy in Havana and the Cuban Institute of Cinematographic ... Read More»