The US Embassy at 235 Shirley Street in Nassau.
THE United States has designated Nassau as the processing post for Haitian immigrant visa applicants under a new policy requiring interviews to be held in applicants’ country of nationality or residence, according to the US State Department's website. The change, set to take effect on November 1, has raised uncertainty about the local impact.
Because the US Embassy in Port-au-Prince has suspended routine visa services due to Haiti’s instability, the State Department appears to have designated Nassau as the processing post for Haitian nationals, likely because of its proximity and capacity to handle such cases.
On Thursday morning, Bahamian officials told The Tribune they are still looking into the matter and its potential impact.
Former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, in an interview with this newspaper, urged authorities to address the matter, questioning whether "thousands of Haitians" must now come to the country for visa purposes.
Comments
birdiestrachan 3 months ago
Dr Minnis has a good question.
Proguing 3 months ago
Apparently, your government has already agreed to this; otherwise, the US embassy would not be announcing it.
tell_it_like_it_is 3 months ago
Puerto Rico is right on the side of the Dominican Republic. It's part of the US. Do it there!!
Where do they get off saying it will be in The Bahamas? That's ludicrous.
bogart 3 months ago
"Former Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis, in an interview with this newspaper, urged authorities to address the matter, questioning whether "thousands of Haitians" must now come to the country for visa purposes."
Dr. Minnis FULLY knows that if any Haitian or thousands of Haitians have LEGALLY MET THE REQUIREMENTS TO ENTER THE BAHAMAS --- then they have the freedom to go to any location unless it is restricted by law. They can go to any business, Embassy, shop, store, Fish Fry or any office or business in Killarney Constituency if they are open for business.
TalRussell 3 months ago
Comrades, did the US just hand a general election gift horse that can act as a beneficiary for Killarney's House-seated MP, Dr. Minnis. --- Yes?
Seaman 3 months ago
Bush crack......Brave gone.
tetelestai 3 months ago
u wish. he will win easily
Porcupine 2 months, 4 weeks ago
easily, or sadly?
TalRussell 3 months ago
"Bush Crack Beer vs Kalik..."Yes?
whatsup 3 months ago
A bunch of Haitians always applying for citizenships and now this....something is not right for us Bahamians
screwedbahamian 3 months ago
the Interview will have to be conducted in " Applicants' country of nationality or residence" and since Haiti is on the "USA's DO NOT ENTER LIST", clearly indicate that applicant will have to be Interviewed at the USA Embassy in Nassau, will have to document APPROVED BAHAMIAN RESIDENCE STATUS with the Government of the Bahamas official confirmation and if the VISA is granted to the applicant, The Bahamas Government will become responsible for every Haitian person, adult or child entering into, or in, the USA effective November 1, 2025. Airbnb's and Hotels can not turn their room into apartments and revise their gloomy forecast for a slow slow season to a robust projection to go along with all the other robust projections out there. Lord another avenue for CONTINUED CORRUPTION !!!. in other words, The Bahamas will become the Global center for processing Haitian Nationals. We now getting the World's attention!!
screwedbahamian 3 months ago
one way to keep the Tourist numbers and achievements going up, up up.
GodSpeed 3 months ago
Surprise!
ExposedU2C 3 months ago
LMAO. This will do wonders for ramping up the Haitianization of our small nation.
Now we have the answer to the reason why the Davis led PLP government has been granting Bahamian citizenship to so many Haitians in recent times. Besides, tootie fruity Fwreddy Boy Mitchell has never met a Haitian that he does not like more than a Bahamian. I guess the same can now be said of Davis.
This is the outcome of decades of corrupt governments creating dumbed-down D- educated Bahamians who do not understand and appreciate the importance of their vote come election day. Bahamian voters will now only cry sour grapes about the many times they sold their vote at the polls for mere shingles only to find themselves living in what has become a real shiit-hole of a country. Yup, dumbed-down Bahamian voters have for decades been exchanging their culture and quality of life for shingles tossed their way by corrupt political leaders, and the chickens have come home to roost.
Trump has figured out that Bahamians simply do not value their nation so he may as well put it to good use in trying to Make America Great Again. It didn't take Trump, Rubio and DeSantis long to figure out that the costly U.S. Embassy in The Bahamas could best be used to facilitate the creation of a convenient buffer zone to help stem the flow of illegal Haitian aliens into Florida.
In the minds of Trump, Rubio and DeSantis, we Bahamians have forfeited our right to object to this plan because we have already allowed so many Haitians to setup home in our country over the decades since majority rule in 1967. And the Trump administration knows the new majority in The Bahamas is destined to be Haitian.
JokeyJack 3 months ago
Correct. We bent over, and the USA bought Vaseline.
bahamianson 3 months ago
Okay, let us stop getting emotional and try to ascertain all the facts. Kindly, stop letting every news clip wire you up and simple try to find out the facts. When the US accused The Bahamas of perpetrating slavery by our doctor hiring practices everyone got emotional . Guess what, it was true . The government acted dumbfounded and had to come back an say okay, it is true. Citizens travel to other countries for visas and passport validations. This is normal. We, as Bahamians, just have a thing for our southern brothers and sisters. Take the emotion out of the equation and look at things logically. I humbly submit to you.
ExposedU2C 3 months ago
You sound more like an emotional "haitianson" rather than a proud "bahamianson".
Like you, Fwreddy Boy Mitchell enjoys referring to the invaders as "our southern brothers and sisters".
I suspect you may be too young to remember the tranquil Bahamian way of life so many of us were able to live, even the poorest of us well before majority rule. And back then many of us were taught to have and show common decency and respect for one another, thanks in great part to being proud Bahamians with a good upbringing and so much more than a D- education. Our corrupt political leaders have taken most of this away from us.
ThisIsOurs 3 months ago
"We, as Bahamians, just have a thing for our southern brothers and sisters."
This has become more than a "thing", this is a burgeoning national security, existential crisis.
One 3 months ago
Our government is so jokey. The US Embassy in the Bahamas makes a significant announcement about the Bahamas being an official processing post for Haitian applicants and our Prime Minister responds as if the Bahamian government knew nothing about it.
Seaman 3 months ago
It's my understanding that any Haitian citizen wishing to become a Bahamian, must first renounce their citizenship in front of a panel of judges in Port-au-Prince before they can even think of becoming a Bahamian. Rearly, does the panel approve one's request. So, therefore 99.9% of Haitians holding a Bahamian Pass port are unconstitutional. Correct me if I am mislead.
ExposedU2C 3 months ago
Whether a Haitian is given Bahamian citizenship is a matter our own nation alone has the exclusive right to determine.
bogart 3 months ago
https://www.thenassauguardian.com/home/…
bogart 3 months ago
The current Minister of Immigration Alfred Sears have over the last couple of years have been very active in his duties and with his very diligent staff have been able to apprehend some 13,000 to 15,000 illegals within the Bahamaland. These large figures have been quite shocking and kudos to Minister Sears and his staff and keep up the fine work to keep the nation safe.
ExposedU2C 2 months, 4 weeks ago
LIAR. You must be of Haitian heritage because no proud Bahamian would tell such an outright and most outrageous lie.
bogart 2 months, 4 weeks ago
article below "Munroe said there were 13,000 repatriations in under four years, which amounts to “the strongest immigration enforcement record of any government”.
Nassau Guardian httMunroe said there were 13,000 repatriations in under four years, which amounts to “the strongest immigration enforcement record of any government”.ps://www.thenassauguardian.…
Facebook Immigration Crisis: IMMIGRATION CRISIS: The Bahamian government says it has repatriated 13,000 migrants in less than four years, calling it the highest number ... Facebook: Sandra Cooke the PM clearly explained that 15000 immigrants were repatriated in 4 years.
ExposedU2C 2 months, 4 weeks ago
I gather you believe aiding and abetting our corrupt political leaders in the spreading of their lies does not make you yourself a liar.
screwedbahamian 2 months, 4 weeks ago
If you operate under the Law. With todays Blatant CORRUPTION. In the Bahamas who care if the us$100.00 bill or other assets are there. Do you think that all this was considered when all them Bahamian Citizenships were delivered by the then MINISTER of OUR IMMIGRATION DEPT in person at a Haitian Funeral Church Service????
ExposedU2C 2 months, 2 weeks ago
Yup, we all remember that outrageously corrupt incident only too well. It was perpetrated by none other than the very corrupt Keith Bell.
ExposedU2C 2 months, 4 weeks ago
All proud Bahamians need to carefully look into the underlying background and true national heritage of the candidates selected by the PLP and FNM parties to run in the next national general election.
No right minded Bahamian should entertain voting for or otherwise supporting a PLP or FNM candidate who is of Haitian heritage, period. To do so plays right into the hands of our most corrupt political leaders and the current Trump administration.
Our own cultural heritage, way of life, and national security interests have for decades now been under serious threat by those who are always much too eager to refer to proud and decent Bahamians as racists and bigots. Enough is enough!
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