You’ve seen on the news the historic announcement that the U.S. will begin normalizing its ties with Cuba. This has wide-ranging economic and political effects, of course, and the government is discussing relaxing licenses for travel by U.S. citizens to Cuba. The announcement also impacts visas for Cuban citizens to travel to the U.S.
The Department of State will reestablish a U.S. Embassy in Havana. In addition, the Department of Homeland Security has started implementing changes to the existing regulatory framework for Cuban immigrant visa applicants. The Cuban Family Reunification Parole program, which has been in existence since 2007, offers beneficiaries of approved family preference-based immigrant visa petitions the option to apply to be “paroled” in the United States and remain here while waiting for their priority dates to become current. Approved parolees can then apply for permanent residence after spending the required amount of time in the United States. Under existing regulations, applicants were not required to submit any formal application forms or fees to obtain parole. Under the proposed changes, taking effect on February 17, 2015, parole applicants must now submit a Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, along with the requisite fee or fee waiver application. The Cuban Family Reunification Program was implemented to expedite family reunification through safe, legal, and orderly channels of migration to the United States and to discourage dangerous and irregular maritime migration.