Cuba at a glance
| Visit with an ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) | No: a visitor visa is needed |
| E-1 treaty trader visa | Not available |
| E-2 treaty investor visa | Not available |
| Own line in the Visa Bulletin | No: worldwide line |
| Green card lottery (last published list, DV-2026) | Not eligible |
| Entry restrictions | Partial: some visas suspended |
| Temporary Protected Status (TPS) | Not designated |
| Where visas are processed | U.S. Embassy Havana processes immigrant visas. Visitor (B-1/B-2) visas are not processed in Havana; Cubans apply at another U.S. post. |
Green card lottery: registration for DV-2027 had not opened as of mid-October 2026. A federal court ordered the State Department to open it, and that order may be appealed.
What is specific to Cuba right now
- The Cuban Adjustment Act remains law: eligible Cubans who have been in the U.S. for at least one year after being inspected and admitted or paroled may apply for a green card.
- Partial entry restriction (presidential proclamations of June 2025 and January 2026): visitor, student and exchange visas and all immigrant visas are suspended, with limited exceptions. The earlier exception for close relatives of U.S. citizens was removed.
- Cuban Family Reunification Parole and CHNV parole have ended.
- Cuba was not eligible for the DV-2026 green card lottery because of high immigration numbers from Cuba in prior years.
Common U.S. immigration paths for people from Cuba
Family petitionSponsor children, adult sons and daughters, or siblingsAsylumProtection for people who fear persecution in their home countryRemoval defenseWhat to know if you have a case in immigration courtHumanitarian paroleTemporary permission to enter the U.S. for urgent humanitarian reasonsExtend or change statusStay longer or switch to another nonimmigrant status
How MyUSVisa helps
- Answer a guided questionnaire in your language and upload your documents once — we read, sort and assemble them into a clear case file and timeline.
- Your organized case is offered to licensed U.S. immigration attorneys who handle this type of case. Interested attorneys send you offers, and you compare and choose — or don't.
- Once you choose, you and your attorney work in one place: messages, documents, deadlines and automatic USCIS status updates, on the web and in the mobile app.
Frequently asked questions
Can people from Cuba visit the U.S. with an ESTA?
No. Cuba is not in the Visa Waiver Program, so a visitor visa (B-1/B-2) from a U.S. embassy or consulate is usually needed.
Can people from Cuba get an E-2 investor visa?
Not on Cuba nationality alone: there is no E-2 treaty between Cuba and the United States. Some people qualify through a second nationality from a treaty country, or use other paths such as EB-5.
Can people from Cuba enter the green card lottery?
Cuba was not eligible in the last published program (DV-2026). Eligibility is set again every year, and someone born in Cuba may still qualify through a spouse born in an eligible country.
Where do people from Cuba have their visa interview?
U.S. Embassy Havana processes immigrant visas. Visitor (B-1/B-2) visas are not processed in Havana; Cubans apply at another U.S. post.
Can I work with a U.S. attorney while I am still in Cuba?
Yes. MyUSVisa works online: you tell your story from anywhere, licensed U.S. immigration attorneys review it and send proposals, and you choose. This works before you travel or once you are already in the United States.
More countries in the Americas
Last checked by the MyUSVisa team and counsel in October 2026. Country rules change often, especially entry restrictions, TPS and parole programs. Always verify on travel.state.gov and uscis.gov, or ask your attorney.
MyUSVisa is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Not affiliated with USCIS or any government agency.