Visa in Cuba

[mmoreu 1]

What's going on with the Visas in Cuba? I have heard of a few people that have gone to pick up the visa and are being told to come back in two weeks then again to come back in two or three weeks. Can anyone tell me how long it took for your fiance(e) to actually have the visa?? I am worried...my fiance is scheduled to "pick up" his visa next week. Thank you.

[mmoreu 1]

The information on the US interest section in Havana website states " Once the visa appears as "Issued" the applicant will be able to come to the US interest secion to pick up their Passport following the instructions on their pass". Unfortunately this is not the case!

[lorella 65]

i have experienced this with my fiance - he was told to return on 10/14...the visa was not ready. on 10/14 he was told to return three weeks later. but i have been in contact with the office in Havana and they said that they cannot give me a timeline for when the visa will be ready. so clearly the "three weeks" instructions my fiance received was not good information.

my fiance said that the people who have been telling him "one week" "three weeks" are cuban workers - not consular officers. i feel like they just say whatever they want without any regard to what is actually going on. he was told twice by cuban workers that his visa was approved and he just needed to wait. which was clearly false information. it is very frustrating to say the least!

however, you may be in a better position than me. since your fiance's visa didn't go into "AP" after the interview. i feel like we are stuck in a large pile of AP cases waiting to be reviewed.

i'm not sure how far your fiance has to travel to get to havana. but if you live far away, maybe consider confirming that the visa is ready for pick up before your fiance makes the trip.

[mmoreu 1]

My fiance lives in La Habana which is a plus for us and I feel terrible for those who live far away as I know transportation is not easy and can be expensive. I am trying to understand or know exactly what is the issue if the visa is "Issued" then why is it not available?? Where is the visa? Who can we call to find out? I was with my fiance for his interview and all the employees outside giving instructions, taking the ID cards, etc. are Cubans. The Americans are inside the embassy behind the glass interview windows. Yes, this is very frustrating to say the least!

[lorella 65]

I have had some success in emailing the interests section. They do not always reply timely - but I have received a response all but once when I have emailed them. I also remember reading here on VJ that someone called the NVC to confirm that the visa was approved/ready. that might be worth a try if your status is "issued".

[mmoreu 1]

Thanks Lorella...I am going to call the embassy next week hopefully someone can tell me for sure if the visa is available or not. Best wishes on yours as well.

[mmoreu 1]

No luck!! My fiance went today to pick up his visa as indicated on his pass, he was told to come back in 15 days.

[lorella 65]

No luck!! My fiance went today to pick up his visa as indicated on his pass, he was told to come back in 15 days.

i'm sorry to hear this! it is so frustrating.

i've read a few older posts here on VJ that mention the visa status went to "ready" before they picked it up. so maybe the status needs to be "ready" instead of "issued"? i wish there were clear guidelines that we could reference. instead of this back and forth with the interest section office. i will be so happy when this part of the process is over.

Edited October 30, 2014 by lorella

[mmoreu 1]

Thank you, yes very frustrating.

[mmoreu 1]

Great news finally, I called the embassy yesturday and was told the visa was ready. My fiance went today and it was issued to him. I am so glad I kept calling instead of waiting another 15 days. Overall it took 20 days from interview day. Best wishes to all!!

[lorella 65]

Great news finally, I called the embassy yesturday and was told the visa was ready. My fiance went today and it was issued to him. I am so glad I kept calling instead of waiting another 15 days. Overall it took 20 days from interview day. Best wishes to all!!

congrats!!

[mmoreu 1]

Gracias!!

[lasiren7174 4]

OMG...I was under the impression that getting approved after the interview meant it was smooth sailing until he arrives. It's like you make it to the top and suddenly the clouds disperse to show you have another 100 feet to climb! We are in it for the long haul! I just received my NOA2 on 12/1 so we are waiting for NVC to send the letter and then the packet to arrive in Havana. My fiancé lives in Santiago de Cuba and there is no way he can travel back and forth. Calling to ask if our approved visa it is ready is the best bet? Which number did you call? I know things can change between now and then but I'm trying to keep notes while the experiences are fresh.

Thanks!