The United States government has revoked visas for numerous Cuban regime officials and paused applications across several categories. Carlos Fernández de Cossío, Cuba's Deputy Foreign Minister, informed the Associated Press that many passports were returned unprocessed by the U.S., along with a notification suspending the application process for certain visa categories typically used by state officials and their agencies.
The regime's official claimed that this decision "directly impedes bilateral exchanges that were taking place in areas of mutual interest and benefit for the peoples of Cuba and the United States, such as culture, health, education, science, and sports." Typically, Cuban representatives from these sectors travel abroad with official passports, arranged by their respective organizations and accompanied by the necessary visas.
Among those impacted is the Cuban basketball team, which did not receive the visas needed to travel to Puerto Rico for a scheduled game on Sunday. The Cuban team was set to play their final match in Group D for the FIBA AmeriCup 2025 qualifiers, following a defeat to the Bahamas with a score of 97-74 in Nassau.
Only two Cuban players have the required visas to enter Puerto Rico, preventing the team from participating in the match slated for Sunday, February 23. According to FIBA regulations, failure to attend results in an automatic 20-0 loss.
Impact of U.S. Visa Denials on Cuban Officials
Why did the U.S. deny visas to Cuban officials?
The U.S. government revoked visas as part of a broader suspension affecting specific visa categories used by Cuban state officials, impacting bilateral exchanges in various sectors.
Which sectors are affected by the visa suspension?
The suspension affects sectors such as culture, health, education, science, and sports, hindering bilateral exchanges between Cuba and the United States.
What is the consequence for the Cuban basketball team?
The Cuban basketball team cannot participate in the FIBA AmeriCup 2025 qualifier game in Puerto Rico due to visa denials, resulting in an automatic 20-0 loss according to FIBA regulations.