Cuba Documents

[tito 1]

My K-1 was received by California Service Center on March 8, 2006.

I received notice that the file was sent to the USIS in Cuba on May 30, 2006.

Fiancee received superpacket early-July, 2006, and had everything completed by July 18, 2006...medical check with result documents, criminal record check, everything.

Here's the oddity. When she got the superpacket, she read which forms they required and which they provided to her. I went to the website for the USIS in Cuba, and they posted PDF documents of those forms which I filled out on her behalf. They were the most current versions of the form.

Even though we made sure that the USIS knew she was ready for the interview, it took about 6 weeks to schedule it....then they postponed the appointment a week. FINALLY, she had the interview just today (9/28) and when she arrived, they told her that the forms were NOT correct, and that she needed to fill out the ones they gave her... Mind you, the forms they gave her to fill out were practically illegible, having been photocopied dozens and dozens of times, and were ANTIQUATED and DATED versions of the ones I pulled of the website and filled out! So, there she sat for the next couple of hours filling out the OLD forms because the current ones were rejected. Go figure.

Anyway, she passed the interview with flying colors!! HOORAY!!! It took from the time I sent the package (March 3, 2006), to September 28, 2006, to get the K-1 Visa...7 MONTHS...with no hitches. I tried to go to the USIS when I was there in July to see if they would do the interview then, but they were unwilling to do so, telling me to trust in the process. WHAT A PROCESS!

Next, is the Cuban immigration side. Assuming all goes as planned, she'll be coming back with me on November 7! Total time: 8 MONTHS.

So far, so good. It helped to have some contacts in the medical field, because I was able to get a medical check the same day we inquired, and that usually takes a couple of weeks to schedule. Then, we got the results 3 days later, and that usually takes a couple of weeks more... And by luck, we were able to get the criminal record verification in a matter of a couple of hours, when people report that it takes at least a full day waiting, and then a second trip the following week to get the certification.

But it was strange about the paperwork, how they not only wanted the old versions, they would not accept the most recent versions of 156, 157, and 230.

Anyway - 8 months, California Service Center, Cuba. ALMOST here.

[2manypapers 0]

Congratulations! MY Fiance had his interview there the day before. He used their forms, but we did have the same problems with the interview being cancelled and rescheduled a week later. We had also submitted our application in March, 2006.

Yes, it WAS a process indeed!

I am hoping to see him soon and hope we do not have any problems with the process of exiting the country.

All the best wishes for you both.

2manypapers

[homesick_american 1]

Question...how are you guys meeting Cubans? Do they really have US embassies in Cuba where Cubans can apply for visas? I sort of just assumed we didn't do that.

[cubanlovestory 0]

Thanks so much for adding in that information about the forms, we are now in the waiting stages also, and it's good to know that they are asking people to use the form from the superpacket, i'm just going to send my fiance the forms filled out and I will have him fill them out again from the forms that they send him from the superpacket, kinda wierd but thats how it is over there ha ha. I also had a question, I also know people in the medical world over there because I study medicine there, Who should I talk to about expediting his medical checkup when he recieves the super packet, does he have to go to the places that they list?? and can we start earlier? Any info would be great, thanks

Cubanlovestory

[tito 1]

Well, my fiancee picked up her visa today...for whatever reason, they did NOT issue on the spot as they could have. So, she traveled an hour to get there in the morning, they had her wait in 1 line, then another, then another, then they told her to come back at 2. Came back at 2, and they kept calling and calling people until she was the last one there at 4:20 pm....and the close at 4:30!! She was thinking she'd have to do it all over again! But a the last minute they called her, and within 5 minutes, she was on her way. Made her wait all day to pick up a couple of envelopes. The nerve. I don't know how things are in other countries, but the situation in Cuba is dreadful. Amidst the many with situations on a K-1 visa, there are hundreds more trying to get out any way they can, and who are constantly disappointed, leaving with tears in their eyes because they can't go visit their kids. It's a shame.

Anyway...yes, there is a diplomatic mission in Cuba, under the auspices of the Swiss Embassy. There is a reciprocal mission in Washington, D.C. They were established during the Carter Administration. Many people go to Cuba legally or illegally, and meet their mates (or those who make it seem that way!). I have credentials to be there, and when I went to the US offices and spoke with an official there, I offered those credentials, and the person there said that they did not care one way or the other, it was none of their business, and if I were legal or illegal, it would not matter. Perhaps that is the UNOFFICIAL position.

Regarding the medical examinations...they are done at specified facilities on 1 day of the week. The superpacket has a list of hospital facilities and you go to the one nearest you. I'm sorry, but I did not bring that list so I can't get you the information now, but it would depend on where your fiancee lives. You go that day to get a turn to come back for the examination. Then come back a couple of weeks later for the exam. You get a physical, a blood test, and then wait about 5 hours for xray people to take a film. Your results are available in about 2 weeks after that. TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESS: need to track down a hospital administrator or head nurse (head nurse better, because hospical administrator will likely be a bit more hard core...). Take them aside and talk to them, and it will cost $20 or so, but that really helps...you will likely be able to get the exam done all the same day, but it will take about 8 hours of hanging around. Getting the test results sooner is a tough order, though. As part of my activities there, I work with the head of a hematology clinic, so they had some juice and were able to get everything resolved in a matter of a couple of days.

Pretty exciting...and a total pain in the neck!! And I venture to say that the next steps won't be any easier, getting the CUBAN side to get their stuff together for immigration. They have to supply MORE documentation, MORE photos, then they make an appointment for someone to come out and inventory your house and belongings...and of course, the person was sick that day, had to take their grandmother to the hospital, they're on vacation, come back tomorrow or the next day... We have 3 weeks or so to get it all done. I have flights to the US on 11/7. So, we'll see if we can swing it!

Edited October 3, 2006 by tito

[Beisbol101 0]

Here's the oddity. When she got the superpacket, she read which forms they required and which they provided to her. I went to the website for the USIS in Cuba, and they posted PDF documents of those forms which I filled out on her behalf. They were the most current versions of the form.

Even though we made sure that the USIS knew she was ready for the interview, it took about 6 weeks to schedule it....then they postponed the appointment a week. FINALLY, she had the interview just today (9/28) and when she arrived, they told her that the forms were NOT correct, and that she needed to fill out the ones they gave her... Mind you, the forms they gave her to fill out were practically illegible, having been photocopied dozens and dozens of times, and were ANTIQUATED and DATED versions of the ones I pulled of the website and filled out! So, there she sat for the next couple of hours filling out the OLD forms because the current ones were rejected. Go figure.

This was our experience as well. My SO thought of going to those people that help you fill out forms, but then realized that it is a scam to get you to pay the people that help you fill out forms. He figured them out himself, and they (the interests section) were satisfied.

Yes, mindboggling, but es Cuba.

Edited October 29, 2006 by Beisbol101