What is it about Cuba?

[bakofoil 27]

I read somewhere on here that the reason Cubans are priority processed is that it takes a long time for them to receive an interview in Switzerland. I'm not sure whether this is a fact, but if you do a timeline search (there are only 34 Cuban K1 applications within the VJ timeline data) the average no of days for the entire process is between 175 and 382 days - with CSC averaging 320 days.

By contrast, the average processing for a UK beneficiary is 143 to 215 days and they don't receive priority processing before receiving an NOA2.

Here's some more (chosen fairly randomly):

Canada 169-237 days

China 233-322 days

Mexico 146-206 days

Turkey 182-208 days

Vietnam 225-286 days

This is not a comprehensive analysis of the data, data skewing could be caused by the total number of applications or incomplete timelines but on balance it looks pretty fair to me. Cubans get processed faster in the early stages but typically end up waiting longer for the whole process to complete.

Plus, I am just guessing here, but I imagine it also causes some logistical and planning issues for the Cuban to get to Switzerland.

[Ovaltine Jenkins 5]

I read somewhere on here that the reason Cubans are priority processed is that it takes a long time for them to receive an interview in Switzerland. I'm not sure whether this is a fact, but if you do a timeline search (there are only 34 Cuban K1 applications within the VJ timeline data) the average no of days for the entire process is between 175 and 382 days - with CSC averaging 320 days.

By contrast, the average processing for a UK beneficiary is 143 to 215 days and they don't receive priority processing before receiving an NOA2.

Here's some more (chosen fairly randomly):

Canada 169-237 days

China 233-322 days

Mexico 146-206 days

Turkey 182-208 days

Vietnam 225-286 days

This is not a comprehensive analysis of the data, data skewing could be caused by the total number of applications or incomplete timelines but on balance it looks pretty fair to me. Cubans get processed faster in the early stages but typically end up waiting longer for the whole process to complete.

Plus, I am just guessing here, but I imagine it also causes some logistical and planning issues for the Cuban to get to Switzerland.

That´s true...no fun really having the Embassy on the other side of the world...on the other hand I remember snowangel (I hope I am not mistaken) talking about how poorely they treat people in US Embassy in Egypt... sometimes they don´t receive their passport with visas for another 3, 4, 5, 10 months after the interview...so I dunno...think it would just be fair to say how things are and not to keep saying they take petitions as they come..

[Ovaltine Jenkins 5]

You Are right! Cubans are getting approved very quickly, some in just days. I have posted a thread explaining my understandings as to why the quick approval. Cuban Fiance(e)s are not treated as political gesture....Your analogy of "sort of asylum" is not true...K-1 applicants are treated the same as any other applicant from any other country. The processes are just the same, if not a bit more problematic as the Cuban government tries to make it more costly and difficult for any cuban to leave.

What do you mean by saying K1 applicants (you mean the ones from Cuba?) are treated the same as any other applicant from any other country?

[crew1980 1]

Hey All,

Babbelsgirl is correct in that the overall process for Cuban fiancees/es is much longer. For example my finance had his interview 8/8/06 and did receive his k-1 on that day. Now, Cuba is different than most countries in that you must apply and receive permisson to leave the country.

Maybe not all countries but most countries allow you to leave as long as you obtain USA visa.

My fiance applied to leave Cuba on 8/10/06 and did not receive permission to exit until 2/6/07 which was 1 day before his k-1 would expire.

He flew into JFK airport about 12:30am on 2/7/07 with no problems with his entry.

I picked him up at the airport and we stayed in a hotel overnight and applied for the marriage license that morning and were married on 2/8/07.

I think that the conoffs do all they can to approve Cubans ASAP because SOMETIMES they get caught waiting well after the k-1 expires. I think they try to avoid this as much as possible because they absolutely cannot intervene on the Cuban side.

Also, Cubans don't travel to Switzerland for the interview. They interview at the US Interests Section which is housed inside the Swiss Embassy in Havana.

Toria and Salva

[StillThePrettiest 3]

but that doesn't quite explain matters; if Cuba is trying to make things hard for people to leave, and waiting til the last minute to give permission, then they would do that anyway, whether the K1 had been granted early or late; it's a separate part of the process

I don't have any issues with the expedition of Cubans, let me hurriedly clarify; I just don't think that aspect of the explanation plays a huge part... may be wrong of course

[crew1980 1]

StillthePrettiest,

Of course you're not wrong!! Most of us aren't and I really don't think we're judging each other this way. I was just sharing our experience and how it fits in with the topic. I was just putting it out there.

I remember when we started our visajourney back in 2002. I was just so eager to get any info at all because there were only 1 or 2 Cuban fiance/couples who were willing to share any info. Now, there are many more and each post helps someone with their research.

Short of actually asking a conoff in HAV, I really don't know how they make their decisions, I just wanted to put our experience out there.

Toria and Salva