Exit Permit - Explained?...Help Please

[Beau & Digna 5]

Hi all,

I’m specifically speaking to Cuban K-1 fiancé visa applicants that wish to enter the USA. I’m very frustrated with the Cuban exit process (carta blanca), and we’ve studied it very much here in the US and in Cuba for over a year. Most of all…I hate for anyone to go down the wrong path uninformed. Almost everyone on VJ says that a Carta de Invitacion isn’t necessary, and I believe this is completely true, but I don’t believe everyone knows their options or rights. This is a VERY IMPORTANT DECISION though, and it depends on how you view the future together. With a K-1 fiancé visa, you really only have two options with Cuban Immigrations…“Salida Definitiva” (SD), or “Salida Indefinitiva” (SI).

If you choose “Salida Definitiva” (SD), the Cuban loses all rights to own property, there’s no free medical, no rations, and they also have more limited visitation rights to Cuba.

If you choose “Salida Indefinida” (SI), the Cuban maintains rights to own property, free medical, rations, and also longer term visitation rights.

The “Salida Indefinida” (SI) DOES require a Letter of Invitation though…and a week or two more of waiting for it at a cost of $156 USD. This shouldn’t be a huge deal though after waiting the previous year for your fiancé. Also, it shouldn’t be necessary to pay $400 CUC for the medical exam with “Salida Indefinida” (SI), since free medical is still the Cuban’s right, but I see that this varies depending on the immigration officer you talk to.

I’d guess that 90% of VJ member do the “Salida Definitiva” (SD)…I generally think this is foolish, but I don’t know everyone’s situation. Personally, I’d like to own a house in Cuba for my future mother-in-law there, and us. I don’t see much negative for having free medical there either. The worst that could happen is if we defaulted on “Salida Indefinitiva” to “Salida Definitiva”…so why not start out at the higher level?...It’s actually less expensive if payment for the medical check isn’t necessary.

I’m asking for all of your help Cuban VJ’s…Please post photos of your “Cuban Exit Visas” on VJ or send them to me via PM/email…Of course block out personal information. I’ve searched, and searched, but I can’t find an image of “Cuban exit visas” (PVE, PSI). I’ve read before that if one does (SD) or (SI), they both get PVE’s…the difference is that one has a distinguishing mark to indicate loss of Cuban rights. I believe it’s a “light blue” slash across the PVE that indicates (SD).

Please help for all to follow, and feel free to correct any of my misconceptions. My goal is to just make a well informed post about the Cuban exit process now. Hopefully we can help others as they have helped us.

Beau & Digna

[ann and aties 9]

On my fiance's passport, there is nothing that says PVE or PSI, there is no mark/blue slash mark on the exit visa.

On the Permiso under No. de Salidas/Departure No. it is written: "Una vez"

On the Tipo/type it is written: "Permiso de Emigracion"

[Beau & Digna 5]

Thanks for the information Ann & Aties…It’s much appreciated, and very valuable to all that follow us. We were really hoping that we’d receive more responses from others that have gone through this “Cuban exit process” in the near past though. I’d really like to hear about (or see) a K-1 visa applicant’s exit visa that has gone through the “Carta de Invitacion” process though…I believe it’s different. The thing about the blue slash…I’ve only read once, and I cannot find it again…It could be very old…but there is a big difference of Cuban rights, depending on how one exits Cuba…I’m sure of that.

We don’t know your personal circumstances Ann & Aties, but it sounds like your fiancé’s visa is the “Salida Definitiva” (SD) type. This link is from Canada, but it basically says that “Salida Definitiva” is the same as “Permiso de Emigracion” printed on your fiancé’s visa: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4dd219302.html

I believe your fiancé has a migrant visa, and may lose most of his Cuban rights. If one does the “Carta de Invitacion”, the Cuban can maintain most of their Cuban rights with a non-immigrant visa (PVE).

I don’t write about this to be a “know-it-all”. I hope everyone understands that I just write about the knowledge that I’ve mostly gained, only to help others that follow, and I don’t know everything...We can all help though. Without VJ, and the help we’ve received…I can’t imagine where we would be at this point.

I’m sure many of you go to lonelyplanet/thorntree as well, but I suggest that people read “Altahabana’s” posts on this link: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=2095428&start=15

They’re pretty “right-on” from my experiences…and believe it or not…this stuff is starting to actually make since to me…ja ja.

Ann, do you guy’s plan on applying for a PSI after you marry? I’m very curios if this will be easy for you, or not.

Take care, and best wishes to everyone.

Beau & Digna

[Claudia2010 1]

Beau and Digna thanks for all the info but i believe that even though you save money on the process and free medical exam once you leave the country you lose the privilege of owning a house..especially after a year once he becomes eligible to for AOS. He has like any other cuban that comes with a visa to visit USA. Let me know if I wrong but my grandma its a cuban citizen and she comes back and for because we dont want to lose our house over there..remember cuba is different with everything..

[RumbaBumba 4]

Hey There!

The PSI (SI) visa does not require a carta de invitacion (letter of invitation)when the couple is already married (In my case the CR-1 visa). Definitely recommend the PSI visa for any Cuban coming to the United States. Keep in mind, it is a privilege... Also, it is a lengthy application process, my wife waited 2 months for her visa. If you are serious about the PSI visa DO NOT leave Cuba without it!

[RumbaBumba 4]

Also part of the PSI condition is that you MUST maintain contact with the Cuban Interests Section. i.r. send a special form to the CUban Interests section or go to DC to fill out some forms and what not. You will never get them on the phone!!

Ann and Atties looks like your finance go a Salida Definitiva.

I brought my dog from Cuba... She got a salida Definitiva jajaja Im joking, not sure about my dog's status :0)

[Beau & Digna 5]

Beau and Digna thanks for all the info but i believe that even though you save money on the process and free medical exam once you leave the country you lose the privilege of owning a house..especially after a year once he becomes eligible to for AOS. He has like any other cuban that comes with a visa to visit USA. Let me know if I wrong but my grandma its a cuban citizen and she comes back and for because we dont want to lose our house over there..remember cuba is different with everything..

Claudia...It's possible that you can save money for the "medical exam", but not certain...it really depends on the relationship with the Cuban immigration officer in our experience...We did indeed pay for the medical exam in the end, but we were told otherwise previously. As far as "privileges", a Cuban can maintain more privileges if they do the Letter of Invitation, but they aren't precisely identified on any legal website/document that I've researched. I value experiences of those that have recently preceded us. By the way, "after a year once he becomes eligible to for AOS" is not correct.

Many Cubans and Americans don't understand their rights though...It's not your fault, not my fault, or anyone's fault that I'm related to though...ja ja. WE have to deal with it though.

Claudia, could you please let us know what visa your grandma has?...I'm sure it's not a K-1 Fiance Visa...ja ja All these visas have different rights, and I have only studied K-1 Fiance Visas more or less. We're happy for you, and your fiance/husband, but grandma is a different story/visa I imagine.

Thanks Claudia...I don't mean any ill will...We just want to know more, and help others.

Take care,

Beau & Digna

[Claudia2010 1]

my grandmother has the Spaniard citizenship and you will lose everything if you dont come back to cuba within 11 months..thats the maximum she can leave the country for otherwise she becomes elegible to be resident not here but in different countries too..and yes i wanna say depends how you exit cuba to wether or not you have to pay for the exam. we did. and yes thanks god he is already here long process..good luck and no problem thats why we are here to learn from eachother..same way not many people know that as soon as the fiance comes from k1 visa he can obtain his social security number..hope this help its on vj..

[Beau & Digna 5]

my grandmother has the Spaniard citizenship and you will lose everything if you dont come back to cuba within 11 months..thats the maximum she can leave the country for otherwise she becomes elegible to be resident not here but in different countries too..and yes i wanna say depends how you exit cuba to wether or not you have to pay for the exam. we did. and yes thanks god he is already here long process..good luck and no problem thats why we are here to learn from eachother..same way not many people know that as soon as the fiance comes from k1 visa he can obtain his social security number..hope this help its on vj..

Aaaaaaaa!!…That’s unique Claudia. I don’t know the laws/ins-and-outs of your grandmother’s Spanish citizenship…but I’ve read about Spanish heritage being a privilege in the past…I really don’t know much about it though. It sounds like your grandmother has a PVE exit status though more or less…the same 11 month rule applies for my fiancée’s PVE. Once we are married though, she can apply to adjust her status to PSI (Permiso Salida Indefinitiva) though. With the PSI status, I understand that she can maintain most of her Cuban rights, without the need to return to Cuba within 11 months (it could be years later)…also, she will be allowed to stay in Cuba for up to 11 months when visiting…all the while maintaining Cuban rights. This whole process is hard for everyone, but I feel that it’s more difficult for Cuba because of the necessity for an “exit permit”, and the contradictions that the US and Cuba impose on each other…It can be done though with persistence and patience…don’t be discouraged anyone.

Good point about the Social Security Number Claudia…We tried for my fiancée 2 weeks after POE, but there was yet another roadblock. The POE officer made not just 1, but 2!!! spelling mistakes in her name…Social Security said that they matched our “account” with DHS (and SS made a note…ja ja), but basically they told us that we had to make an “Infopass” appointment and visit in person, in a city 2 hours away to fix their typo…ridiculous!!! Trust me…We tried by phone several times.

Take care, and best wishes,

Beau & Digna