Starting this week, the U.S. Embassy in Havana will expand visa services, including certain categories for temporary work, trainees, athletes, artists and entertainers.

Key Points:

  • Expanded services include the following categories:
    • H-2A/H-2B/H-3 visas for temporary workers or trainees
    • J visas for exchange visitors
    • L visas for intracompany transferees
    • O visas for workers with extraordinary ability or achievement
    • P-1/P-2/P-3 visas for individual or group athletes, artists and entertainers
    • Q-1 visas for international cultural exchange participants
    • R visas for members of a religious denomination performing religious work
  • Visa interviews will only be scheduled for the applicable forms approved by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services: Form I-797 for H/L/O/P/Q and R visas and Form DS-2019 for J visas.
  • Expanded services do not include nonimmigrant visas for persons who want to enter the United States temporarily for business (B-1 visa) or for tourism (B-2 visa). Cubans must still travel to another U.S. Embassy or consulate for routine B-1/B-2 visa interviews.

Additional Information: A visa appointment is not a guarantee of visa issuance. Applicants must demonstrate their qualifications for the visa under U.S. law and regulations and provide the required application, fees, a valid passport and a current photo. Find more information here.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice Group.

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