Cuba...8 months! Fiancee HERE!

[tito 1]

Submitted everything in early March, 2006. Interview was September 28, 2006. Visa issued (picked up) October 2, 2006. Flight from Cuba to US on November 7, 2006.

What a pain in the neck. A fiancee does NOT need to go through Miami to have the immigration documentation processed...and I STRONGLY suggest avoiding Miami at all costs. They were just absolutely awful there...not the immigration people, but everybody else. They just mess with you because they can.

OK...so after the interview and after the K-1 was issued, the Cuban side began. Here's a little rundown.

First, you go to the IMMIGRATION office for the particular area. Wait most of the day for them to give you the paperwork you need to fill out and bring back to get other paperwork. Then, you have to register your identification card. Then you have to deal with the "VIVIENDA" people who basically administer the logistics of departure permission. They go to your house and inventory everything there...if you own anything, it has to be given to the officials of Vivienda! Starting January 1, 2007, this is going to be obligatory for all people emigrating. Vivienda also has to receive confirmation that you have no debts at the bank, that your electrical bill has been paid, that the water bill has been paid, that your rations book has been turned in, and you need to go to all of those offices and bring back receipts.

The "medical check" fee is now $550 CUC (which translates to about $700 USD). Once you get clearance from Immigration and Vivienda, you go to a special bank, not just any bank, and pay the $550 CUC. Then you go back to Immigration for the 'carta blanca' which is the paper you need to buy the airline ticket out of there. But you need to have everything certified by Vivienda first, and that is the key to getting the carta blanca. Once you have the carta blanca you buy the airline ticket...to Miami, it's $238 CUC (or about $300) 1-way. You buy it at the "Havanatur" office. Then, you need to go BACK to Immigration for them to make sure all the documentation is in order.

My fiancee went for that final step at 8:00 a.m. At 11:30 a.m., they told her she should come back at 2:00 p.m. to pick up her paperwork. They close at 5. She waited and waited...and it was not until 4:58 p.m. that they called her, and gave her the final OK.

They make it as difficult as possible at the Immigration office...it's absolutely deplorable. They treat the people like dogs. No fewer than 5 trips to Immigration...and that many trips to the Vivienda offices...plus the "aqueducto" or water department, electrical department, the agricola (?) office for the libretta, and the bank to certify no debts...plus the wait for the inspection, which could take weeks.

In the end...she's finally here, and as the holiday season rapidly approaches, is absolutely stunned at the abundance and relative civility here.

Virtually 8 months to the day. We did get lucky with the Vivienda, because fiancee knew a person who works there who facilitated a few things that otherwise would have taken weeks longer.

Costs: $93 (CUC) for K-1 visa; $550 (CUC) for medical check; $238 (CUC) airfare to Miami; application fee; probably more I forgot about too!

[Brazilitaliana 0]

Wow! I admire you guys for going through all this for such a long time plus all the fees. That was a tough test for your relationship, and it's great to hear you have passed!

Congratulations!

Vanessa

[cubanlovestory 0]

Submitted everything in early March, 2006. Interview was September 28, 2006. Visa issued (picked up) October 2, 2006. Flight from Cuba to US on November 7, 2006.

What a pain in the neck. A fiancee does NOT need to go through Miami to have the immigration documentation processed...and I STRONGLY suggest avoiding Miami at all costs. They were just absolutely awful there...not the immigration people, but everybody else. They just mess with you because they can.

OK...so after the interview and after the K-1 was issued, the Cuban side began. Here's a little rundown.

First, you go to the IMMIGRATION office for the particular area. Wait most of the day for them to give you the paperwork you need to fill out and bring back to get other paperwork. Then, you have to register your identification card. Then you have to deal with the "VIVIENDA" people who basically administer the logistics of departure permission. They go to your house and inventory everything there...if you own anything, it has to be given to the officials of Vivienda! Starting January 1, 2007, this is going to be obligatory for all people emigrating. Vivienda also has to receive confirmation that you have no debts at the bank, that your electrical bill has been paid, that the water bill has been paid, that your rations book has been turned in, and you need to go to all of those offices and bring back receipts.

The "medical check" fee is now $550 CUC (which translates to about $700 USD). Once you get clearance from Immigration and Vivienda, you go to a special bank, not just any bank, and pay the $550 CUC. Then you go back to Immigration for the 'carta blanca' which is the paper you need to buy the airline ticket out of there. But you need to have everything certified by Vivienda first, and that is the key to getting the carta blanca. Once you have the carta blanca you buy the airline ticket...to Miami, it's $238 CUC (or about $300) 1-way. You buy it at the "Havanatur" office. Then, you need to go BACK to Immigration for them to make sure all the documentation is in order.

My fiancee went for that final step at 8:00 a.m. At 11:30 a.m., they told her she should come back at 2:00 p.m. to pick up her paperwork. They close at 5. She waited and waited...and it was not until 4:58 p.m. that they called her, and gave her the final OK.

They make it as difficult as possible at the Immigration office...it's absolutely deplorable. They treat the people like dogs. No fewer than 5 trips to Immigration...and that many trips to the Vivienda offices...plus the "aqueducto" or water department, electrical department, the agricola (?) office for the libretta, and the bank to certify no debts...plus the wait for the inspection, which could take weeks.

In the end...she's finally here, and as the holiday season rapidly approaches, is absolutely stunned at the abundance and relative civility here.

Virtually 8 months to the day. We did get lucky with the Vivienda, because fiancee knew a person who works there who facilitated a few things that otherwise would have taken weeks longer.

Costs: $93 (CUC) for K-1 visa; $550 (CUC) for medical check; $238 (CUC) airfare to Miami; application fee; probably more I forgot about too!

WOW they went up on the pricing for the chequeo medico, thats crazy, well thanks for the advice on all of that, yeah we are going to go through cancun to LAX, miami is just to dramatic for me. Take care y felicidades

cubanlovestory

[Peggy 1]

Congrats

[Callina 1]

Congratulations on passing this terrible test of endurance! God bless!

[Tim and Bethanie 1]

Congratulations, glad you are through the headache.

[Ladylethal 12]

Congratulations on enduring all this in order to be together. Hope your life together will be a happy one!

[tito 1]

Thanks for the good wishes!! Adjusting well, despite the difference in climate...today, went to the Social Security office and it was almost like a taste of Cuba! Had to wait among many others, but the wait was about 40 minutes. After watching "The Wizard of Oz" there was a new meaning to "no place like home"! Next...the DMV!

A little homesick, but hanging in there.

Wedding planned for 1/1/07.

[billrussell 0]

What a story!

Can I ask - How did you meet in the first place, due to the restrictions in travel to Cuba?

[ElMusico 0]

What a pain in the neck. A fiancee does NOT need to go through Miami to have the immigration documentation processed...and I STRONGLY suggest avoiding Miami at all costs. They were just absolutely awful there...not the immigration people, but everybody else. They just mess with you because they can.

This is news to me. I was under the impression that a Cuban with a visa has to enter through Miami because it's a US visa and they wouldn't be allowed to travel through a third country such as Mexico to enter the states. What are the other options besides Miami? The only other city I know of that has direct charters is NYC, and that doesn't help my situation, I'm in California. Thanks for any help.

[jsnoble 0]

Tito y Novia--

Thanks so much for putting such a detailed account of your (Cuban exit) experience in your post. I now understand "the whole thing"--something that had escaped me before that. I was just getting all of the little bits and pieces from my novio--not understanding how it all fit together and the order of it--or the final costs.

How long does it take after the stamps are bought for the Carta Blanca and the Chequeo Med. and turned in with the Vivienda stuff (usually )?

I am very happy for you both and wish you all the best.

jsn

[rebex05 1]

I realize I am a few months late on posting, but still wanted to thank you for letting all of us know what you went through and what to be preparing for. I know it has helped me a ton to have you fellow VJers dealing with Cuba. I appreciate your help and wish you the best for you and your wife.

[Detty2809 0]

CONGRATS!!!!

[Niels Bohr 72]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!