While the U.S. Department of State has announced that Haitian immigrant visa applications will be processed at its embassy in Nassau, the Bahamian government has made it clear that Haitian nationals will not be granted entry for that purpose.
The policy shift, announced on August 28 and scheduled to take effect on November 1, requires immigrant visa applicants to interview in the consular district designated for their place of residence or in their home country, with limited exceptions. Nassau has been designated as the processing post for Haitians, following the suspension of routine visa services in Port-au-Prince.
But in a statement yesterday, the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) said the U.S. government’s own restrictions on Haitian nationals make the arrangement unworkable.
“In June of this year, the United States issued a policy fully restricting and limiting the entry of Haitian nationals to the United States,” the OPM said. “In light of that policy, the announcement that immigrant visa applications by Haitians to the United States can only be processed at the U.S. Embassy in Nassau will result in no additional entries to The Bahamas for the purpose of U.S. visa applications. Because U.S. policy fully restricts entry to their country by Haitian nationals, we will not grant entry to The Bahamas for the purpose of applying for a U.S. visa.”
The U.S. travel ban, signed by President Donald Trump in June, cited an “influx” of illegal migrants from Haiti and a high visa overstay rate. It argued that Haiti lacked a functioning central authority capable of ensuring that its nationals did not undermine U.S. national security.
The new U.S. rules come as Haiti remains gripped by widespread gang violence and political instability. Since the resignation of former Prime Minister Ariel Henry last year, a transitional presidential council backed by CARICOM has struggled to advance toward elections. Meanwhile, Kenyan police continue to lead a multinational security mission aimed at restoring order, with little progress so far.
The U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince remains on “ordered departure status” with visa services suspended. Its website notes that while Haitians may still apply for visas, they may be found ineligible for issuance or admission under the Trump administration’s proclamation.
