The U.S. embassy in Havana re-opened July 20, 2015 following decades of use as a limited special interest section.
Between 1977 and 2015, the embassy building housed the U.S. Interests Section in Havana – operated under the auspices of the Swiss Embassy (acting as protecting power).
Since Cuba is a relatively new travel destination, it appears the embassy has been getting a lot of unusual requests.
What American Citizen Services cannot do:
- Discuss visa cases. All questions about visas must be directed to the our Consular Information Unit at HavanaConsularInfo@state.gov.
- Act as a lawyer, translator, interpreter, personal assistant, travel agent, investigator, law enforcement agent or real estate agent for U.S. citizens
- Provide U.S. citizens or their families with physical protection
- Pay debts or fines, sort out the property disputes, or interfere in the judicial proceedings of U.S. citizens
- Find employment, residence, or schools for U.S. citizens
- Search for missing luggage
- Settle disputes with hotel managers and landlords
The American Citizen Services Unit assists U.S. citizens with the following:
- Provide applications for new U.S. passports or to replace stolen U.S. passports
- Renew expired U.S. Passports
- Register U.S. citizens living in, traveling to, or born in Cuba
- Assist U.S. citizens with voter registration and voting
- Provide federal income tax forms
- Provide services to notarize documents to be used in the United States
- Provide limited assistance to U.S. citizen prisoners in Cuba
- Assist in the shipment of remains of deceased U.S. citizens to the United States
- Assist with money wires to U.S. citizens in cases of emergency
- Help coordinate Medical Evacuations.
The embassy building was designed in the Modernist—Brutalist style by the architectural firm Harrison & Abramovitz. It is a long and six-story concrete and glass building, completed in 1953. The gardens were designed by Californian landscape architect Thomas Dolliver Church. The contractor for the building was Jaime Alberto Mitrani, PE, also a professor of civil engineering at the University of Havana. The embassy complex is located directly on the Bay of Havana and the José Martí Anti-Imperialist Platform, in proximity to the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
On August 14, 2015, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry reopened the American embassy in Havana. Eight congressional lawmakers involved in the policy change also attended. The three Marines who lowered the United States flag at the U.S. Embassy in Cuba 54 years ago presented another flag which was raised by the Marines assigned to the post.
How to Contact the U.S. Embassy in Havana
As of October 2016:
American Citizens Services Unit can be reached by dialing (53)(7) 839-4100 during business hours, except Cuban and U.S. federal holidays. The fax number is (53)(7) 839-4247. For general inquiries regarding U.S. passports and citizenship, or other American citizen issues please contact the embassy via e-mail at ACSHavana@state.gov or at the numbers listed above. The embassy asks that you do not write to the American Citizen Services Unit with questions relating to visas for Cuban applicants.
The U.S. Embassy is located in Havana at Calzada between L and M Streets, Vedado.
For emergencies involving American Citizens when the American Citizens Services Unit is closed or after hours (for U.S. Citizens only), please call the main switchboard at (+53)(7) 839-4100 and dial 1 to speak with the emergency operator.