Thursday, September 4, 2025
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 says...
Dr Minnis has a good question.
Posted 4 September 2025, 1:15 p.m. Suggest removal
Proguing says...
Apparently, your government has already agreed to this; otherwise, the US embassy would not be announcing it.
Posted 4 September 2025, 1:45 p.m. Suggest removal
tell_it_like_it_is says...
Puerto Rico is right on the side of the Dominican Republic. It's part of the US. Do it there!! <br/> Where do they get off saying it will be in The Bahamas? That's ludicrous.
Posted 4 September 2025, 9:21 p.m. Suggest removal
bogart says...
"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.
Posted 5 September 2025, 11:46 a.m. Suggest removal
TalRussell says...
**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?
Posted 4 September 2025, 1:34 p.m. Suggest removal
Seaman says...
Bush crack......Brave gone.
Posted 4 September 2025, 2:01 p.m. Suggest removal
tetelestai says...
u wish. he will win easily
Posted 4 September 2025, 3:05 p.m. Suggest removal
TalRussell says...
**"Bush Crack Beer vs Kalik..."**Yes?
Posted 4 September 2025, 2:07 p.m. Suggest removal
whatsup says...
A bunch of Haitians always applying for citizenships and now this....something is not right for us Bahamians
Posted 4 September 2025, 3:01 p.m. Suggest removal
screwedbahamian says...
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!!
Posted 4 September 2025, 3:44 p.m. Suggest removal
screwedbahamian says...
one way to keep the Tourist numbers and achievements going up, up up.
Posted 4 September 2025, 3:47 p.m. Suggest removal
GodSpeed says...
Surprise!
Posted 4 September 2025, 10:01 p.m. Suggest removal
ExposedU2C says...
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.
Posted 5 September 2025, 3:38 a.m. Suggest removal
JokeyJack says...
Correct. We bent over, and the USA bought Vaseline.
Posted 5 September 2025, 7:38 a.m. Suggest removal
bahamianson says...
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.
Posted 5 September 2025, 8:08 a.m. Suggest removal
One says...
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.
Posted 5 September 2025, 12:34 p.m. Suggest removal
Seaman says...
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.
Posted 5 September 2025, 4:07 p.m. Suggest removal
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