The National Hurricane Center reports that Hurricane Maria is a category 3, and additional rapid strengthening is forecast during the next 48 hours. Maria is expected to be a dangerous major hurricane as it moves through the Leeward Islands and the northeastern Caribbean Sea. The Embassy has banned all travel by its employees north of Port-au-Prince starting Wednesday, September 20 in the evening, and this prohibition will remain in place until the threat passes. The Embassy will continue to monitor the storm’s progress, and we encourage U.S. citizens to do so as well. U.S. citizens should apprise family and friends in the United States of their whereabouts, and keep in close contact with their tour operator, hotel staff, and local officials for any evacuation instructions.
The Embassy remains open for normal business.
To reschedule immigrant or nonimmigrant visa appointments, or for any visa-related questions, please call 509-2812-2929 or email support-Haiti@ustraveldocs.com. To reschedule an American Citizen Services (ACS) appointment, please email acspap@state.gov. For emergencies involving U.S. citizens in Haiti, please call 509-2229-8000.
Information on hurricanes and storm preparedness may be found on our “Hurricane Season-Know Before You Go” webpage, and on the “Natural Disasters” page of the Bureau of Consular Affairs website. Updated information on travel in the Haiti may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the United States and Canada, or from overseas, 1-202-501-4444.These numbers are available from 8:00 am to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
We strongly recommend that all U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Haiti enroll in the Department of State’s secure online Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates and makes it easier for the nearest U.S. Embassy to contact you in an emergency.
Travelers are advised to regularly monitor the travel information page of the State Department’s website where you can find the current travel warnings for Haiti, travel alerts, and the Worldwide Caution. Read the Country Specific Information for Haiti. For additional information, refer to “Travelers Checklist” on the State Department’s website.
Visit the U.S. Embassy Port-au-Prince website, or contact the Embassy for up-to-date information on travel restrictions. You can also call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free from within the United States and Canada, or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). Follow the Bureau of Consular Affairs on Twitter and Facebook. For all emergencies involving U.S. citizens, contact the American Citizen Services unit of the U.S. Embassy’s consular section, located at Tabarre 41, Boulevard du 15 Octobre, Tabarre, Haiti; telephone (dialing from the United States) 011-509-2229-8000; acspap@state.gov.
