US Embassy in Havana Closing?

[T-Bone 0]

59 minutes ago, Malonya Kelly said:

So i just got word from the Asmerican Embassy in Guyana that the K1 1 interviews for Cubans are being conducted at the Embassy in Bogotá Colombia. Still trying to confirm this with with the Embassy in Colombia

Thanks for the update, Malonya Kelly. Now the question is: can Cubans travel to Columbia without a visa? If they need a Visa, how do you do it and can it be done within the time constraints of the K1?

[DiamondEyes490 126]

5 minutes ago, T-Bone said:

Thanks for the update, Malonya Kelly. Now the question is: can Cubans travel to Columbia without a visa? If they need a Visa, how do you do it and can it be done within the time constraints of the K1?

Yes, they do, and it is possible to get one. A girl I know was teaching English there and sponsored her boyfriend to come visit her for a month and they granted it. I don't know how long it takes to process but, in my experience, for tourist visas, most embassies will evaluate them quickly if you pay a premium. I'd start looking into the requirements (I will be as well).

 

Also, even though it means a tighter timeline, I wouldn't apply until you have the appointment letter in hand. That will show the Colombians your fiancee has a bona fide reason to go to Colombia but really has no intention of remaining in the country more than a few weeks.

[Malonya Kelly 1]

I am currently looking into the requirements to entering Colombia

[Malonya Kelly 1]

I just received this response from the American Embassy in Bogotá Colombia :

Good afternoon ,

 

Due to the suspension of immigrant visa services at the U.S. Embassy in Havana, Cuba, the U.S. Department of State has designated the U.S. Embassy in Bogota, Colombia to process immigrant visas for residents of Cuba. At this time, we are determining when we can begin scheduling Cuban applicants for interviews at Embassy Bogota. If NVC has not scheduled your case at Embassy Havana, they will schedule your visa interview at Embassy Bogota. NVC will send you, your petitioner, and your agent/attorney (if applicable) an email or letter noting the interview location, date and time. Please contact NVC through the Ask NVC online contact form for your updated status.

 

For further information about the aforementioned changes, please visit: https://cu.usembassy.gov/frequently-asked-questions/

[Malonya Kelly 1]

I sent an email to Bogota Embassy asking if Cubans can enter into Colombia with a passport only. We will see what they say.

[Malonya Kelly 1]

Guys, I just found this online:

 

www.havanatimes.org/?p=127830

 

 

[EmilySF 6]

On 10/18/2017 at 5:37 PM, Malonya Kelly said:

Guys, I just found this online:

 

www.havanatimes.org/?p=127830

 

 

I went to the embassy in Havana Monday and it was like Fort Knox. Wouldn't even let me in through the gate w my U.S. passport. Was told to go to the park on the corner to hear some announcement. 

 

When i went this woman from the embassy was explaining to a huge crowd of Cubans that basically all functions were stopped indefinitely and to visit "la página del web" .. they didn't even bother to print a little paper with the website on it. Maybe 100 ppl basically finding out that they'd have to travel to a 3rd country to do their interview. Many of them had already paid $1000s and done several medical checks and been denied. 

 

I insisted on "picking up my packet" and did finally get through to wait inside the embassy where I saw about 15 ppl sitting in plastic chairs just chatting. Two were pulling crumpled documents out of a large trash can and smoothing them out. Pretty not legit if you ask me. I was the only person in the waiting area.

 

Finally another woman came out and explained that there is no physical packet, everything went electronic in 2016 SO THAT WAS GOOD NEWS. 

 

She also said that all C-1 visas and K-1s would go to Bogota and I would received confirmation by letter when the next steps were decided upon. One of my questions was whether my fiancé should do the chequeo médico in Cuba or in Colombia and she said that's one of the decisions they need to make.

 

And yes, Cubans need a darn visa to visit Colombia and it's an online application and then a physical visit to the Colombian embassy in Havana to get the visa. So annoying, but trying to stay positive!

 

I'm gonna call T&T to see if they can request my case be transferred there. I don't love Bogota, went in 2008 and it leaves something to be desired, especially to wait for who knows how long to receive word if the interview went well. But we're up for the challenge.

 

My heart breaks for all the kids who were in that park waiting for visas to see their parents living in the U.S. 

 

Lmk if anyone has any leads on anything, I'm back stateside for now! Good luck!

 

Edited October 20, 2017 by EmilySF

[EmilySF 6]

6 minutes ago, EmilySF said:

I went to the embassy in Havana Monday and it was like Fort Knox. Wouldn't even let me in through the gate w my U.S. passport. Was told to go to the park on the corner to hear some announcement. 

 

When i went this woman from the embassy was explaining to a huge crowd of Cubans that basically all functions were stopped indefinitely and to visit "la página del web" .. they didn't even bother to print a little paper with the website on it. Maybe 100 ppl basically finding out that they'd have to travel to a 3rd country to do their interview. Many of them had already paid $1000s and done several medical checks and been denied. 

 

I insisted on "picking up my packet" and did finally get through to wait inside the embassy where I saw about 15 embassy employees sitting in plastic chairs just chatting. Two were behind the glass pulling crumpled documents out of a large trash can and smoothing them out. Pretty not legit if you ask me. I was the only person in the waiting area.

 

Finally another woman came out and explained that there is no physical packet, everything went electronic in 2016 SO THAT WAS GOOD NEWS. 

 

She also said that all C-1 visas and K-1s would go to Bogota and I would received confirmation by letter when the next steps were decided upon. One of my questions was whether my fiancé should do the chequeo médico in Cuba or in Colombia and she said that's one of the decisions they need to make.

 

And yes, Cubans need a darn visa to visit Colombia and it's an online application and then a physical visit to the Colombian embassy in Havana to get the visa. So annoying, but trying to stay positive!

 

I'm gonna call T&T to see if they can request my case be transferred there. I don't love Bogota, went in 2008 and it leaves something to be desired, especially to wait for who knows how long to receive word if the interview went well. But we're up for the challenge.

 

My heart breaks for all the kids who were in that park waiting for visas to see their parents living in the U.S. 

 

Lmk if anyone has any leads on anything, I'm back stateside for now! Good luck!

 

Also the page is updated. https://cu.usembassy.gov/frequently-asked-questions/

 

Says we can request another country but need to have a valid reason.

 

Also says fiancé should plan to stay in that country for a couple weeks waiting for the results of the interview. 

 

Also says Cubans need to get a valid visitor visa to Colombia prior to travel, through normal process. 

 

This is epic 

Edited October 20, 2017 by EmilySF

[EmilySF 6]

On 10/18/2017 at 2:15 PM, Malonya Kelly said:

I sent an email to Bogota Embassy asking if Cubans can enter into Colombia with a passport only. We will see what they say.

They need a visa

[EmilySF 6]

4 minutes ago, EmilySF said:

They need a visa

 

4 minutes ago, EmilySF said:

They need a visa

Sorry to blow up the spot. Here's the scoop on other stuff. Medical check has to be from the country where you're doing the interview:

 

After NVC schedules your visa interview appointment, they will send you, your petitioner, and your agent/attorney (if applicable) an email or letter noting the appointment date and time.  After you receive an interview appointment letter from NVC, you must take the following steps BEFORE the interview date.

Step 1: Schedule and Complete a Medical Examination

You (and each family member or “derivative applicant” applying for a visa with you) are required to schedule a medical appointment with an authorized physician in the country where you will be interviewed. You must complete your medical examination, along with any required vaccinations, BEFORE your scheduled visa interview date. This exam must be with an embassy-approved doctor.  Exams conducted by other physicians will not be accepted.

[DiamondEyes490 126]

28 minutes ago, EmilySF said:

I went to the embassy in Havana Monday and it was like Fort Knox. Wouldn't even let me in through the gate w my U.S. passport. Was told to go to the park on the corner to hear some announcement. 

 

When i went this woman from the embassy was explaining to a huge crowd of Cubans that basically all functions were stopped indefinitely and to visit "la página del web" .. they didn't even bother to print a little paper with the website on it. Maybe 100 ppl basically finding out that they'd have to travel to a 3rd country to do their interview. Many of them had already paid $1000s and done several medical checks and been denied. 

 

I insisted on "picking up my packet" and did finally get through to wait inside the embassy where I saw about 15 ppl sitting in plastic chairs just chatting. Two were pulling crumpled documents out of a large trash can and smoothing them out. Pretty not legit if you ask me. I was the only person in the waiting area.

 

Finally another woman came out and explained that there is no physical packet, everything went electronic in 2016 SO THAT WAS GOOD NEWS. 

 

She also said that all C-1 visas and K-1s would go to Bogota and I would received confirmation by letter when the next steps were decided upon. One of my questions was whether my fiancé should do the chequeo médico in Cuba or in Colombia and she said that's one of the decisions they need to make.

 

And yes, Cubans need a darn visa to visit Colombia and it's an online application and then a physical visit to the Colombian embassy in Havana to get the visa. So annoying, but trying to stay positive!

 

I'm gonna call T&T to see if they can request my case be transferred there. I don't love Bogota, went in 2008 and it leaves something to be desired, especially to wait for who knows how long to receive word if the interview went well. But we're up for the challenge.

 

My heart breaks for all the kids who were in that park waiting for visas to see their parents living in the U.S. 

 

Lmk if anyone has any leads on anything, I'm back stateside for now! Good luck!

 

This is the part that makes it really sad. Does it suck for all of us? Absolutely. We're definitely going to see delays in our interview dates, applying for a Colombian visa will be a pain, coordinating travel, paying more money, etc., but in the end it's an inconvenience. Won't be the end of the world. A lot of people that are trying to bring kids, parents, etc. from Cuba won't have the money to travel to Colombia and hang out for 2-3 weeks to get this all sorted out. Such a lack of humanity in all of these decisions.

 

I'm trying to look on the brightside and turn this into a vacation since I've never been to Colombia.

[EmilySF 6]

29 minutes ago, DiamondEyes490 said:

This is the part that makes it really sad. Does it suck for all of us? Absolutely. We're definitely going to see delays in our interview dates, applying for a Colombian visa will be a pain, coordinating travel, paying more money, etc., but in the end it's an inconvenience. Won't be the end of the world. A lot of people that are trying to bring kids, parents, etc. from Cuba won't have the money to travel to Colombia and hang out for 2-3 weeks to get this all sorted out. Such a lack of humanity in all of these decisions.

 

I'm trying to look on the brightside and turn this into a vacation since I've never been to Colombia.

I recommend the north coast. Cartagena, Santa Marta and Parque Tayrona

[Malonya Kelly 1]

Omg! EmilySF, thank you so much for the info!!! This is maddening!

 

 

Edited October 20, 2017 by Malonya Kelly

[Malonya Kelly 1]

I think im going to have my fiancé go to tga American Embassy in Guyana for his interview. He can go there without the inconvenience of the visa. The only thing is I need to find an interpreter for him. I found a couple of Interpreting agencies in Georgetown, so well see how it goes.

Edited October 20, 2017 by Malonya Kelly

[MehgandMarcos 4]

On 10/20/2017 at 2:36 PM, Malonya Kelly said:

I think im going to have my fiancé go to tga American Embassy in Guyana for his interview. He can go there without the inconvenience of the visa. The only thing is I need to find an interpreter for him. I found a couple of Interpreting agencies in Georgetown, so well see how it goes.

Please let us know the outcome. I would rather go to one of the islands that does not require a visa and fiancé knows English so that would work out way better for us. Plus we both have no desire to visit Colombia. But my only thing is would documents have to be translated?  What about medical would that have to be done over there as well?