Decreasing B2 visa validity for Cuban nationals

Editor’s Note: The U.S. Embassy in Havana today (March 15) issued a statement that will affect persons who travel to the United States from Cuba. 

Here it is in its entirety:

Effective March 18, 2019, the United States will reduce the B2 visa validity for Cuban nationals to three months with a single entry.  U.S. immigration law requires that U.S. visa fees and validity periods be reciprocal, insofar as practicable, with the treatment accorded to U.S. citizens. Cuba allows U.S. citizen tourists a single entry for a stay of two months, with a possible 30-day extension to three months total, for $50.  Before the validity change, we allowed Cuban B2 applicants a 60-month, multiple-entry visa for a fee of $160.  The Department of State is decreasing B2 visa validity to three months, single entry for Cuban nationals to match the Government of Cuba’s shorter validity for U.S. citizens in similar categories.

The B2 visa category is for tourism, family visits, medical treatment, and similar travel purposes.  No other visa categories are being changed for Cuban nationals.

Existing five year multiple entry B2 visas remain valid until their date of expiration.

Please visit our website at cu.usembassy.gov for additional information about consular services, our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/USEmbCuba/, and follow us on Twitter @USEmbCuba.