NASSAU, The Bahamas – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to remind Bahamian citizens that a United States visa is normally required for travel to The United States of America for pleasure or business.
The Ministry has received a number of requests for assistance from Bahamian citizens who have been unable to return to The Bahamas in transit through the United States after their travel to the Caribbean, Europe or Central America.
In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to bring to the attention of Bahamian citizens that, under the terms of the Pre-Clearance Agreement with the United States of America, the holders of Bahamian passports can travel to the United States with a current police certificate under the following condition:
If you are departing The Bahamas through the US Customs and Border Pre-Clearance facility at the Freeport International Airport or the Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau; and if traveling to the United States only.
The Bahamian traveling public may wish to note that a valid United States visa is required for traveling under the following conditions:
If you are departing The Bahamas from an airport other than Freeport or Nassau;
If you do not clear US Customs and Border Pre-Clearance facility at the Freeport International Airport or the Lynden Pindling International Airport;
If you are going on a cruise that leaves from a seaport in the United States or Puerto Rico. For example, traveling to Fort Lauderdale to board a cruise ship sailing to the Caribbean; and,
If you are traveling to the United States to connect with another flight that will take you to another country. For example, traveling to Miami to board the American Airlines flight to Trinidad and Tobago, or traveling to New York to go to London, or to Atlanta to go to Ghana.
Bahamian citizens planning to work or study in the United States also require a visa and should apply at the Embassy of the United States of America at Queen Street in Nassau.
Information on the application process can be found at the website of the US Embassy in Nassau.
By Lindsay Thompson
Bahamas Information Services
