Venezuelan and Haitians migrants cross the border, in Paso Canoa, Costa Rica, August 30, 2025.
REUTERS/Enea Lebrun
In an effort to take care of present guidelines proscribing folks from strife-torn Haiti from coming into The Bahamas, the Bahamian authorities has instructed the US authorities and Haitians that it’ll not permit Haitians to journey to the nation to interview for American visas.
The workplace of Prime Minister Phillip Davis mentioned in an announcement {that a} plan by the US to modify visa processing for Haitians to The Bahamas is not going to be entertained, because it “will lead to no further entries to The Bahamas for the aim of US visa functions. As a result of US coverage absolutely restricts entry to their nation by Haitian nationals, we is not going to grant entry to The Bahamas for the aim of making use of for a US visa.”
The brand new system as adumbrated by Washington ought to have kicked in originally of November, however it’s unclear now whether or not this can be deserted or whether or not the 2 sides will meet to reach at a compromise. The State Division introduced the plan on August 28.
The Bahamas is especially delicate about Haitians within the nation, as almost 1 / 4 of its inhabitants of 401,000 is made up of Haitian nationals who’ve settled there over the a long time, a lot of them financial migrants fleeing political unrest again house.
The US had earlier this 12 months positioned Haiti on an inventory of nations severely restricted from visa eligibility, with US officers blaming the dearth of correct central management in Haiti and a excessive degree of overstays as causes for the restrictions.
Talking to reporters on Friday, Prime Minister Davis mentioned The Bahamas is not going to be “used” for visa processing.
“We’re not going to be simply used for the needs of permitting, as a result of what occurs if somebody comes right here and that visa is denied? There’s no want to come back to The Bahamas. Visas, you’ll be able to log on and apply, and when you meet the factors, it could possibly be finished.” He additionally signaled official intent to tighten entry necessities for Haitians to The Bahamas within the coming months, noting that the foundations have been tightened in current months and “we’ll tighten once more.”
Like The Bahamas, Haiti is a fellow member state of the Caribbean Neighborhood. Many member nations have imposed extreme restrictions or visa necessities, fearing a flood of migrants headed to their shores.
