WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The United States and Cuba, a U.S.
                  government source says, have resolved a disagreement over a new
                  procedure for Cubans wanting to apply for U.S. tourist visas that allows
                  applicants unobstructed entry into the U.S. Interests Section in Havana.

                  Havana has written to the U.S. that it will allow the new system beginning
                  February 14, the source said. U.S. officials say the new procedure is more
                  efficient than the earlier method, which they say was prone to abuse.

                  After the new procedure was begun on Monday, the U.S. had charged that
                  Havana was not allowing Cubans with scheduled application appointments
                  to go to the Interests Section.

                  Cuba had objected to the timing of the change in a meeting in Havana on
                  Monday. U.S. officials say they had briefed the Cuban government ahead of
                  time.

                  Applying for tourist visas in Cuba is separate from the processing of the
                  20,000 immigrant visas that Cubans may obtain under lottery or other
                  means as negotiated in 1994 migration accords. Cubans who travel to
                  the United States on a tourist visa do so either to visit relatives or to take
                  part in academic and cultural events.

                  Streets blocked near diplomatic mission

                  Cuban officials, upset over the procedures, instructed police Monday not to
                  allow people to proceed into the Interests Section. Police blocked streets
                  near the diplomatic mission Tuesday and denied entry to about 200 people
                  waiting to apply.

                   The new procedure, Washington says, is in place at virtually every
                   other U.S. diplomatic post in the world.

                  Under the new plan, Cubans wanting a tourist visa will put all necessary
                  information, including applications and passports, into an envelope. The
                  envelope is sealed and placed in a secured drop box at the Interests
                  Section.

                  A receipt attached to the envelope is torn off and kept by the applicant for
                  record. The applicants are asked to return that afternoon for an interview on
                  their visa request.

                  Officials can check the visa history of the applicants to see whether they
                  have overstayed or been refused a visa in the past.

                  Under the previous procedure, Cubans would write in for visa applications,
                  and the Interests Section would reply via letter, giving the applicant a time
                  and date to show up. That letter would be shown to Cuban police guarding
                  the Interests Section for access.

                  Effort to cut fraud

                  The old process, according to sources, was labor intensive and subject to
                  abuse and corruption, with some Cubans copying letters to sell after altering
                  dates and names.

                  According to the sources, Cubans showed up this week outside the Interests
                  Section with letters for appointments on Monday and Tuesday.

                  U.S. officials said those letters are clearly frauds, because they had sent no
                  letters out in the past two weeks to set up appointments. The U.S.
                  government says it will continue with the old letter system until February 14,
                  when Cubans will be allowed to use the new application procedure.