Bahamas Blocks Haitians from U.S. Visa Interviews Amid Shifts

(THE BAHAMAS) The Bahamas has moved to block Haitian nationals from entering the country for the purpose of attending U.S. visa interviews, setting up a direct clash with new U.S. rules that point Haitians to Nassau for processing. The Bahamian government says it “will not grant entry to The Bahamas for the purpose of applying for a US visa,” arguing that recent U.S. actions already “fully restrict” Haitians from entering the United States. The result is a policy deadlock that leaves many Haitians with no way to reach the required interview location while also facing U.S. limits on visa issuance and admission.

At the center of the standoff is a U.S. Department of State change announced on September 6, 2025, requiring nonimmigrant applicants to book interviews in designated locations tied to their country of residence. For Haitians, the designated post is Nassau, Bahamas. Yet Bahamas entry for that purpose remains off-limits, making it impossible for Haitian applicants to appear where the United States says they must go.

The picture tightens further for immigrant visas. Effective November 1, 2025, the United States will require “all immigrant visa (IV) applicants to apply in their country of residence.” For Haitians, processing remains routed through Nassau, even though the Bahamas will not admit them for that goal. This compounds a separate restriction: a Presidential Proclamation in effect from 12:01 a.m. EDT on June 9, 2025, which suspends or limits entry and visa issuance for nationals of certain countries.

The U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas has told would-be applicants that they may still apply and attend interviews if scheduled, but they may be found ineligible for visa issuance or entry under the proclamation.

Policy changes and timeline

• June 9, 2025 (12:01 a.m. EDT): A Presidential Proclamation takes effect, limiting entry and visa issuance for listed nationalities.
  • The U.S. Embassy in Nassau says applicants can still apply and appear but may be refused issuance or admission under the proclamation.
• September 6, 2025: The U.S. Department of State announces that nonimmigrant visa applicants must schedule interviews in designated locations based on residence.
  • For Haiti, that location is Nassau.
• November 1, 2025: The State Department requires all immigrant visa applicants to apply in their country of residence.
  • For Haitians, this continues to mean processing via Nassau, despite Bahamian entry restrictions.

Bahamian officials say admitting Haitians for visa purposes makes little sense given that, in their words, U.S. policy has “fully restricted” Haitian entry. They add that the U.S. decision to route Haitian cases to Nassau “will result in no additional entries to The Bahamas for the purpose of US visa applications.”

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the overlapping rules amount to a de facto pause on visa processing for Haitians in practice, because the required interview site is unreachable and the proclamation still blocks many from receiving visas even if seen by a consular officer. The State Department’s message to continue filing applications offers a formal path, but without Bahamas entry to attend interviews, Haitian nationals are stuck at the first step.

Impact on applicants and next steps

For Haitian families trying to reunite in the United States, students hoping to start classes, and workers with job offers, the practical effect is severe.

A mother in Port-au-Prince with an approved immigrant petition cannot fly to Nassau to complete medical checks and attend the interview. A student seeking an F visa may be told to book in Nassau under the September 6 guidance, only to be denied boarding or admission when they try to travel. Even if they somehow reached the embassy, the June proclamation could still block visa issuance or U.S. entry.

Key points for Haitian applicants:
– Nonimmigrant visas: Haitians are directed to schedule U.S. visa interviews in Nassau, but the Bahamas will not allow entry for that purpose, closing the door in practice.
– Immigrant visas (from November 1, 2025): Applicants must apply in their country of residence, yet Haiti’s cases still point to Nassau, where Bahamas entry for visa processing remains barred.
– Social media checks: All applicants for F, M, or J visas are told to set their social media privacy to “public” to support vetting.

The U.S. Embassy in Nassau continues normal operations for those who can lawfully reach the post. But as of September 17, 2025, Haitian nationals face a wall: they cannot travel to The Bahamas for interviews, and even if they could, the proclamation may still block visa issuance. That leaves thousands in limbo.

For official information on visas and interview rules, the U.S. Department of State maintains a central hub at U.S. Department of State: U.S. Visas. Applicants should check that page and the embassy’s notices frequently, as policies can change with little warning.

Perspectives from both sides

Bahamian leaders frame the move as a matter of national policy and capacity. Authorities in Nassau have dealt with repeated maritime arrivals from Haiti in recent years. Allowing visa travelers to enter, they argue, would add pressure without offering Haitians a real path onward, given U.S. limits already in place.

Haitian community leaders warn that the door is closing on legal routes, which may push more people toward risky journeys by sea.

Regional officials across the Caribbean say the chain of rules shows how one change can ripple across borders. When Washington sets an interview location outside Haiti, and Nassau refuses entry, Haitian nationals get stuck between two systems. Consular experts note that the “apply in country of residence” rule coming in November will likely cement the impasse unless a special track opens for Haitians in a third country. So far, no such fix has been announced.

Consequences for employers, students, and families

• Employers in the United States: Haitian hires who need visas will likely face long delays with no clear workaround.
• Families with approved petitions: Cases will likely stall and reunification timelines will be uncertain.
• Students: Those with program start dates approaching may have to defer, transfer, or change plans.

Lawyers and advocates advise clients to:
1. Keep petition and application documents up to date.
2. Monitor case portals and embassy notices regularly.
3. Maintain current contact information to act quickly if processing options appear.

Possible diplomatic or procedural fixes (not confirmed)

Diplomats from both countries are under pressure to find a path that allows screened travel while addressing security and migration concerns. Potential options discussed include:
– Limited humanitarian or expedited appointments in a third country.
– Mobile consular teams to conduct interviews outside Nassau.
– A temporary rule allowing Haitians to process at another nearby embassy.

None of these steps have been confirmed.

For now, the facts are stark: Haitians are told to interview in Nassau; Bahamas entry for that reason is denied; and a standing U.S. proclamation continues to curb visa issuance and admission. Until one of these pieces shifts, the system functions like a closed loop.