Visa Services - Important Notice

Due to the increased complexity in the visa process, as of November 1, 2008, it will no longer be possible to pick up an issued visa on the day of the appointment.  Visas will be available for pick up the following afternoon.

U.S. Embassy employees support blood drive for Doctor’s Hospital

On Thursday, October 16, the U.S. Embassy held another successful on-site blood drive to assist with replenishing the blood bank at Doctor’s Hospital.  All U.S. Government agencies were represented in the blood drive including twenty-one American and Bahamian employees. (more) 

Biometric Information of Bahamian citizens to be processed when traveling through Pre-Clearance facilities in The Bahamas

On September 3, 2008 the U.S. Visit program was expanded to include Bahamian citizens entering the United States via the Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau or the Grand Bahama International Airport in Freeport.  The U.S. Visit Program, implemented in January 2004, required that foreign travelers entering the United States would be processed in such a manner that certain biometric information would be captured.  The current procedure is that the fingerprints of the two index-fingers and a photograph of the applicant be captured.  Initially, the program required that only travelers entering the U.S. on a visa were subject to this process.  Since Bahamians traveling through Freeport and/or Nassau were not required to have visas, United States Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) did not require them to be processed under U.S. Visit.  Any Bahamian citizen entering the United States at any location other than Freeport/Nassau were required to be processed.

Bahamian citizens will now be required to be fingerprinted and photographed when traveling through pre-clearance facilities in Nassau and Freeport. (more)

U.S. Voting Information News

A round up of voting news from the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) for voters, potential voters and those who assist voters.

Click here for information.

Ambassador Ned L. Siegel announces historic National Breast Cancer Initiative

United States Ambassador to The Bahamas Ned L. Siegel announced the launch of the Bahamas Breast Cancer Initiative (BBCI), at the press conference held at the Cancer Society of the Bahamas.  Joining Ambassador Siegel for the announcement and the subsequent roundtable discussion were partners of the BBCI, the Ministry of Health represented by Mrs. Camille Johnson, Medical Oncology Consultant for the Public Hospital Authority Dr. Theodore A. Turnquest, President and Chief Executive Officer of Susan G. Komen for the Cure Hala Moddelmog, Bahamas Christian Council President Patrick Paul, Sister Sister Group President Andrea Sweeting, and Cancer Survivor, Mrs. Toni Lewis. (more)

• Official remarks by Mrs. Stephanie Siegel
• Official remarks by Ambassador Ned L. Siegel

For more information about the Bahamas Breast Cancer Initiative please:

E-mail: bahamasbreastcancerinitiative@gmail.com

Important Hurricane Information for U.S. Citizens

It is now hurricane season. American visitors to and residents in The Bahamas are strongly encouraged to monitor tropical activity regularly.  U.S. citizens residing and traveling in the Bahamas and the Turks & Caicos Islands are asked to monitor alerts from the National Hurricane Center (NHC) www.nhc.noaa.gov for tropical activity. Please see the attached Department of State Travel Alerts. Further information can found at www.travel.state.gov.