News reports are heard about tourists undergoing searches and interrogations and even being expelled. Cubans traveling to the United States wonder if they will be allowed to enter with a 5-year visa.
Fear has spread among Cubans and tourists in general, who want to travel to the United States in these months, with the tightening of entry policies by Donald Trump's government. What are specialists discussing, what can be done?
Since August 2023, the United States government has resumed issuing B-2 tourist visas for Cuban citizens, with a validity of five years and multiple entries.
This measure reinstated the policy in effect before 2019, when visas were limited to three months with a single entry under the first Donald Trump administration.
To apply for the B-2 visa, Cuban citizens must follow some of these steps. Complete the DS-160 formEach applicant must fill out and submit the Non-Immigrant Visa Application online.
Pay the application fee and pschedule an appointment for the interview. Since the United States Embassy in Havana does not process B-2 visas, applicants must go to embassies or consulates in third countries.
Guyana is a popular option, as it does not require a visa for Cubans and offers relatively short waiting times. Then they oweattend the consular interview. The applicant must submit all the required documentation and demonstrate strong ties to Cuba that ensure their return after the visit.
Entering the United States as Cubans with a 5-year visa
In this March, the administration of President Donald Trump said are evaluating new immigration restrictions that could affect citizens from up to 43 countries, including Cuba. These measures could influence visa issuance in the near future, but they do not yet affect those already issued with a duration of 5 years and multiple entries.
Some specialists, for this reason, recommend that those interested in obtaining the B-2 visa start their application process as soon as possible, considering the potential changes in U.S. immigration policies in the coming months and that this could also eliminate the possibility of legal travel to the United States for Cubans with the 5-year visa.
We will keep track of these news reports that the United States is considering new immigration restrictions that could affect Cuban citizens, but for now, they can enter the northern country normally with this visa.