Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago not included in latest US visa policy for the Caribbean

Some Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries appeared to be in the dark with regards to the latest announcement by the United States that at least 11 regional countries have been included among for 75 countries worldwide where Washington is suspending  the processing of immigrant visas.

Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, The Bahamas and St.  Vincent and the Grenadines, which were all named in the latest migration policy from the United States,  said they were still awaiting official confirmation of the measure.

Bahamas Foreign Affairs Minister, Fred Mitchell, speaking in Parliament on Wednesday said Nassau had taken note of a statement by the United States Embassy about immigrant visa entry into the United States.

“The ministry sought clarification on the matter, and is informed that the suspension will not apply to applicants seeking non immigrant visas or temporary student or business visas.”

Mitchell told legislators further the arrangement between the Bahamas and the United States for travel via police record remains in place.

“Bahamian should take note, the United States is not our country, and just as we set rules for entry into the Bahamas, they set rules for theirs. In the past, we have worked with the United States multiple issues, and the results have always been fair and rational, we expect that it will be no different going forward,”  he added.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade, Investment and Diaspora Affairs Minister, Fitzgerald Bramble, said the new Goodwin Friday government has “not been officially informed by the US embassy in Barbados to the Eastern Caribbean nor any other US government official, for that matter.

“However, we are following the news item and we are following up. We have been contacting officials in the US embassy in Barbados and we have also been in contact with our embassy in Washington DC, the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Embassy to the United States to find out exactly what is happening in this regard.

“So, as of now. we don’t have any official information at all on this new article and as soon as more information, official information, comes to hand, I will inform the general public,” Bramble said.

In a statement, the Belize government said it is engaging with the Embassy of the United States of America in Belmopan to clarify the scope of the decision. It said it had also directed the Embassy of Belize in Washington, D.C., to do likewise with the Department of State.

“Preliminary information from U.S. counterparts indicates that the pause will affect immigrant visa applications only. Immigrant visas are usually family, employment, or diversity based.

“Only a very small number of U.S. immigrant visa applications are processed in Belmopan. There is no information at this time to indicate that the decision would affect applications for visitor or student visas,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade said, adding that it “will continue to liaise with the U.S. Embassy to confirm the scope of the decision and to ensure that Belizeans have access to accurate information regarding U.S. visas”.

Antigua and Barbuda Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders, in a statement said that he has been made aware of United States and regional media reports that the United States Department of State is contemplating a suspension of the visa processing

“Upon becoming aware of these reports, I made immediate inquiries with the United States Department of State. As of this moment, no formal announcement has been made, and no official communication has been issued to the Embassies of the countries reportedly affected.”

Sir Ronald said that he was advised by senior officials of the Department of State that this matter arises from a new requirement under direction of the White House.

“However, contrary to some media reports, the measure under consideration does not apply to all visa categories. It relates only to applications for immigrant visas (commonly referred to as “green cards”), which are subject to a temporary pause of up to sixty (60) days while vetting and screening procedures are reviewed.”

Sir Ronald said that he wanted to emphasise that “at this stage, no written notification has been provided to Embassies, and the information available to me is based on direct conversations with senior officials, rather than on any formal directive.

“It is also important to clarify that applications for immigration to the United States are matters exclusively between the individual applicant and the Government of the United States. The country of nationality or origin of an applicant has no legal or administrative role in decisions relating to the grant or refusal of immigrant status.”

The move by President Donald Trump is the latest move designed to prevent foreigners seeking to visit the North American country.

“The Trump administration is bringing an end to the abuse of America’s immigration system by those who would extract wealth from the American people,” State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said.

He said that the immigrant visa processing from the 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassesses immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits.

The CARICOM countries named are Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, , Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia,  and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago are not included in the new policy.

White House Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt posted on X that the countries affected would include Somalia as well as Russia and Iran. (CMC)