The U.S. Embassy in Cuba has announced a restriction to offering only emergency services due to the ongoing power outages affecting Havana since before Hurricane Rafael. As per their Twitter update, the embassy will remain closed on November 11 in observance of Veterans Day.
From November 12 to 15, the embassy will provide emergency assistance exclusively to American citizens, citing the "current instability of the national power grid and the recovery efforts following Hurricane Rafael." Routine services, including those for American citizens, visas, and other appointments, will not be available and will be automatically rescheduled.
For emergency assistance, U.S. citizens are advised to contact the embassy via email at ACSHavana@state.gov or by phone at +(53) (7) 839-4100. After-hours inquiries should dial 1, then 0. For visa-related questions, inquiries should be directed to VisasHavana@state.gov.
Emergency Contacts and Recent Changes
The embassy has reiterated contact details for emergencies involving U.S. citizens: the U.S. Embassy in Havana can be reached at +(53) (7) 839-4100, and the Consular Affairs office is available at +1-888-407-4747 or +1-202-501-4444.
On October 15, the embassy implemented new requirements for immigrant visa interviews. These measures aim to "streamline the visa process and ensure all documents are in order before the interview," according to official information.
In August, significant expansions were announced in the consular services of the embassy, particularly concerning the issuance of certain visa types to the U.S. that had not been processed at that location since 2017. These visas cater to academic, educational, and cultural exchanges, athletes, individuals with extraordinary abilities, and members of religious groups.
However, the expansion did not cover B-1 business visas or B-2 tourist visas, which remain unavailable through the U.S. Embassy in Havana.