Urgent time-critical Humanitarian Crisis

[TBoneTX 45,591]

s S s S s S sss SSS

Got it working, but still have to hammer the key.

 

I went through utter torment in 2008 when dealing with the ####### consulate in Guayaquil, becoming haggard, and I know exactly how you're feeling.  Looks like it's coming up on midnight for you.  Lie down and try to sleep.  Just closing your eyes for a while in "pretend sleep" will help.  Keep a notepad and pen next to your bed, and jot down any idea that you get during the night.  Really tough to keep this garbage from eating you alive, but you need to take care of yourself (food, sleep, hygiene).  Repeat to yourself (aloud, if necessary) "Where there's a will, there's a way" with increasing conviction until you believe it, because it's TRUE.  You and she and your many current & future allies are intelligent and resourceful, and I'm confident in a positive outcome.

[TBoneTX 45,591]

Other ideas:

 

1.  Have her write a letter addressed to her former boss, backdated to the date of her January resignation, saying something like, "For multiple personal reasons, I do not intend to practice dentistry ever again."  She can give it to her boss with the excuse that she originally forgot; she could also give it to the director of dentistry in Havana to have on file.

 

2.  Pay her lawyer handsomely to identify, approach, and influence the proper people at her former workplace.  Abogados can be very resourceful when appropriately in$pired.

[Boiler 45,731]

I have not heard of an expedite option, these are in US terms super quick anyway. I have seen expedite requests taking 2 months to consider.

[TBoneTX 45,591]

If you're an AAA member, at least this branch in Rochester seems to have Saturday hours:

https://www.hoursguide.com/aaa/rochester/4624103/

 

To be safe, I'd call or show up there between 9a and 2p, or 9a and noon.

 

Sadly, your Congressman's office might not answer phones or e-mails on a Saturday.  However, you can look into refundable airline tickets now, and pursue the Congressional and other avenues starting Monday.

[wazzujoel 76]

Thanks for all the help. I just finished my letter to the congressman and sent it to him and his director of special projects. This director of special projects has been pretty responsive to me in the past so hopefully these two will help me get some movement with USCIS. Yes, I am going to go try and get some sleep now. Deep breaths. try not to let this stress me too much. Even if this law comes down and she is "prevented" from leaving the country, I am sure there will then be new "alternate" paths that will open up to get her out. I've already been waiting 30 days for my i-134a approval... Perhaps the approval is coming soon before the law hits and I can quickly get her out. 

 

Thanks again for all these tips. I will be jotting down everything said here and trying every route. It's best to work all angles at the same time, and maybe one of them ends up saving us a lot of heartache and trouble later on. Thanks again TboneTX.

[TBoneTX 45,591]

1 minute ago, wazzujoel said:

I will be jotting down everything said here and trying every route. It's best to work all angles at the same time, and maybe one of them ends up saving us a lot of heartache and trouble later on.

There's your engineer brain at work.  Hoorah!

Feeling and rooting for you, brother.  Catch some zzz's now.

[TBoneTX 45,591]

A noncontributory post has been removed.

[Timona 4,208]

Have her go to Mexico..

 

I just met a friend who tevales periodically between Cuba and Mexico. He's Cuban-Mexican. He's un Cuba as we speak. He left Mexico this past Friday. 

[JeanneAdil 6,581]

but it has been this way since 2015 /Reuters did a story on it

 

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cuba-usa-migrants-healthcare/cuba-reinstates-limits-on-doctors-leaving-the-country-idUSKBN0TK58B20151201

 

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuba on Tuesday re-imposed limits on doctors leaving the country, saying its universal and free healthcare services have been “seriously affected” by the flight of vital medical specialists.

[wazzujoel 76]

7 hours ago, JeanneAdil said:

but it has been this way since 2015 /Reuters did a story on it

 

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cuba-usa-migrants-healthcare/cuba-reinstates-limits-on-doctors-leaving-the-country-idUSKBN0TK58B20151201

 

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuba on Tuesday re-imposed limits on doctors leaving the country, saying its universal and free healthcare services have been “seriously affected” by the flight of vital medical specialists.

 

This is different from that law and it's new. It is not public knowledge yet, and it is not in place. Under the new law ALL people that work in the medical field will be banned from leaving Cuba. This includes all doctors, all dentist, all nurses, all technicians, all specialist, and anyone who works in and around medical facilities such as hospital janitors, food workers, people answering phones, security guards. If your paycheck comes because of work associated to a medical facility then you will be added to this list and banned from leaving the country. I am adding a link below so you can see rumors of this list. My fiancée's mom knows a lawyer with close ties in the regime, and this lawyer confirmed that this law is real, that it isn't active yet, and doesn't know when (or if) it will be enforced. His advise was for her to immediately leave the country before she no longer can. Additionally she got confirmation from someone of importance in the dental organization (I don't want to state their position as it would be easy to track down who they are), that yes this law is real, and that they didn't know when it was going to be enacted. He advised her to immediately flee the country before she no longer can leave. She "quit" being a dentist around January 3rd-5th. I don't remember the exact date. Because she quit a few days into January, she was still in the system for some work pay for January which is paid any day now in February (This money is basically nothing... Normally it's roughly 30 USD for the month, but she expects this Feb pay will be less than a dollar for her). Anyways, It's not until March that her name will be removed from the financial system and then MAYBE she wouldn't be included on this list. Quite honestly I think March will be too late. 

 

https://www.cibercuba.com/noticias/2023-01-30-u191143-e191143-s27061-gobierno-cubano-impedira-salida-especialistas-medicos?fbclid=IwAR0wcG189pYMxR8XoFKMPl0VuSvCpgqhG4yvu6KVsvf9x2EqLWjDX5tmUX4 

 

I feel I am in a desperate situation. I have three daughters (8,16,17) that I am going to leave and go live abroad with my fiancée if I can find SOME place where we can live.  I have exhausted just about every avenue I can. My application for parole submitted on January 6th (The first day) sits untouched. I have called USCIS multiple times and have been told my application is marked Urgent for a Tier 2 agent to contact me. They have not contacted me yet. I have sent urgent emails to my congressman urging his help. I am not complaining about unfair processing times, which I could be because they are certainly not processing in order... I am concerned about a real threat that could destroy what I have been working towards for over the last 2 years by a criminal regime that has brought nothing but hardships to the people in Cuba. 

 

[wazzujoel 76]

8 hours ago, Timona said:

Have her go to Mexico..

 

I just met a friend who tevales periodically between Cuba and Mexico. He's Cuban-Mexican. He's un Cuba as we speak. He left Mexico this past Friday. 

 

It's very difficult to get visa's in most country's. Trying to get her a visa for Mexico would likely take many bribes and months and months of processing. The best bet right now is Trinidad and Tobago, or Guyana as both don't require Visa's. One issue I am having with these two places is to get to Guyana I need to somehow secure a transit visa through panama which is looking like it could be quite difficult and maybe impossible. According to flight tracker I found an airline with direct flights 3 times a week between HAV and POS, however using their website I can't locate any fares and I can't get anyone on the phone from reservations because I think they dont work on the weekend. It sure is difficult trying to make travel arrangements for a Cuban who can only travel to a couple countries Visa free. Technically there are 31 countries she could travel too, but of those 31 realistically there is only 3-4 that she could take because all the rest would require impossible to get transit Visa's. 

[Boiler 45,731]

I have been trying to think of comparable cases for K1 etc and the only ones that came to mind were national service and that did not meet the requirements

 

I know this is not true but theoretically this program is for people needing to flee so you are putting a case together where everybody is sort of in the same situation

 

So what would I do, the safest option is to focus on leaving asap, I would think there are a few places that would allow this, should be easy to find out and pick one

Edited February 4, 2023 by Boiler

[wazzujoel 76]

3 minutes ago, Boiler said:

I have been trying to think of comparable cases for K1 etc and the only ones that came to mind were national service and that did not meet the requirements

 

I know this is not true but theoretically this program is for people needing to flee so you are putting a case together where everybody is sort of in the same situation

 

So what would I do, the safest option is to focus on leaving asap, I would think there are a few places that would allow this, should be easy to find out and pick one

 

I agree with you. I understand everyone in Cuba can make a humanitarian claim to flee the country and get away from this oppressive regime. And this law specifically targets anyone associated with medical facilities which isn't everyone, but I agree it is probably a large percentage. Maybe as high as 10% of the total population might be restricted by this law. I hope the regime comes to their senses and doesn't activate it, because doing so would kill all medical education in their country. You'll see an overnight mass drop out of medical school with no one ever considering this sort of education in Cuba again.   

 

Right now I am focused on getting her out asap. Finding direct flights between Havana and a country she can go to visa free is not easy. I have a few leads but nothing yet. so many flights want to go through places like Panama or Miami, which kills the option for her because they wont issue her transit visas. As an American it's super easy to get to almost any country I want to. I can buy tickets tonight and leave tomorrow and be almost anywhere I want to. When you are a Cuban national your options are severely limited and it's difficult to find these airlines that are an option. 

[Boiler 45,731]

There must be Cuban groups who knows all the ins and puts, maybe Facebook or Telegram?

 

Los of people have left so there must be a way

[TBoneTX 45,591]

1.  Avoid panicking.

 

2.  Narrow down the travel options and speak with a travel agent on Monday.

 

3.  Make a list of the diplomatic options (asylum, expedited USCIS petition, et al.) to discuss with the Congressman's aide.

 

4.  Think long and hard about leaving your daughters.  They'll be affected whether you want to think otherwise.

 

5.  See (1.).