US Immigration decision leaves Caribbean officials waiting

Caribbean governments are seeking clarity after reports that the United States has included at least 11 CARICOM countries among 75 nations affected by a temporary pause on immigrant visa processing.

Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, The Bahamas and St Vincent and the Grenadines, all named in the reported policy shift, have said they have not received formal notification from Washington. Officials are relying on media reports and diplomatic outreach to gauge the scope of the measure.

In Nassau, Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell told Parliament on Wednesday that the ministry had noted a statement from the United States Embassy on visa processing. Clarification confirmed the suspension does not affect non immigrant visas, including temporary student and business travel.

“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 said. He added that arrangements between The Bahamas and the United States, including travel procedures involving police records, remain unchanged.

Mitchell reminded Bahamians that immigration rules are determined by sovereign states. “The United States is not our country, and just as we set rules for entry into The Bahamas, they set rules for theirs,” he said, noting that past cooperation had produced fair outcomes and he expected that to continue.

In Kingstown, St Vincent and the Grenadines Foreign Affairs Minister Fitzgerald Bramble said the new government had not received official briefing from the United States Embassy in Barbados or any other US authority. Officials are actively seeking clarification through diplomatic channels. “As of now, we don’t have any official information at all,” Bramble said.

Belize’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade said it is engaging both the US Embassy in Belmopan and Belize’s mission in Washington DC. Preliminary feedback indicates the pause affects immigrant visas only, usually issued for family, employment, or diversity programmes. A small number of applications are processed locally, and visitor and student visas appear unaffected.

Antigua and Barbuda Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders, said he contacted the US Department of State and was told the measure stems from a White House directive. It involves a temporary 60-day pause for immigrant visas while vetting procedures are reviewed. “No formal announcement has been made, and no official communication has been issued to embassies,” he added.

The policy is part of broader immigration actions under President Donald Trump. State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said it allows a review of procedures to prevent abuse, while White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt noted that Somalia, Russia, and Iran are also affected.

CARICOM countries listed include 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.

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