My husband needs to go back to Cuba in order to maintain his status in Cuba and primarily to see his little daughter.
He is in the process of filing for citizenship including advance parole that gives him permission to travel.
Someone told me that it is possible to go back to Cuba if one hasn't obtained citizenship yet. Any truth to this?
Anyone with experience - do you know what can be done - if anything?
I am totally confounded!!
Magica, is he filling for Permanent Residency or Citizenship? I am not aware of Advanced Parole being given or needed for when applying for Citizenship. This is typically done only with Conditional/Unconditional Residency
Your husband does not need Citizenship from US or any country (your in Fairbanks?) to return to Cuba (Cuba doesn't recognize it anyway) rather he needs to get his Residency and Cuban passport rehabilited (and possibly renewed) with the Cuban Consulate/Embassy.
This process can be very lengthly in general and even longer if he left Cuba illegally.
I worked through this last August my wife and son for our first trip back since they had immigrated to the US.
How did/is he adjusting to Fairbank? I though Cuba to Seattle was extreme but Fairbanks? I think I have read some of your posts on CA site?
http://www.aduana.co.cu/
I hope this helps. PM me if you have more questions.
Viejo
He can probably get the paperwork done in Miami quicker than he can in Fairbanks. Cripes, it's mighty cold up there. He's a brave Cubano. He is worth keeping.
He has to be a Resident of the United States (with his Residency Card in Hand), and he also has to have his Cuban Passport valid.
He is only allowed 1 visit every 3 years. As long as he has the above, he has no problem in going. He can go for up to 21 days. Also, once in Cuba, he can ask for a an extension of time from the Cuban Government if he has a valid reason for extending his stay.
The Cubans don't care about American Citizenship, and the Americans don't care if you are a citizen or not when leaving the Country. What you have to be is a Legal Resident in order to get back in.
Good Luck. The Cuban Passport is about $300 to $350 here in Miami. There are agencies all over the place that handle this.
Regards and good luck.
Mercy,
Is it 21 or just 14 days?
My wife's recent trip was for 30 days thru the church, but only because the normal process was for only 14 days....or so she understood. And BTW, the church route costs almost double the regular way, that is since the church is "helping" you. Looks to me like the Pope has his hand in my pocket...................
I rather liked the idea of tithing rather than just having the church use extortion tactics.
Man, there is no way to win when Cuba is the subject.
Sonney, I don't think the Pope is taking your money. Yoruba is. These churches are NOT catholic churches but Santeria Churches.
Mercy Wrote:Sonney, I don't think the Pope is taking your money. Yoruba is. These churches are NOT catholic churches but Santeria Churches.
Thanks for you replies - all very helpful! First, he is adjusting famously to Fairbanks. What spirit!! He goes outside daily decked out in all his winter gear to smoke a cigar and walk and comes in perfectly warm - because he, unlike all of us old Alaskans, goes out dressed properly!!
We are sending in the Application for Permanent Residency along with the Request for Advance Parole so he would have his permanent resident card before we travel.
I have been thinking that he really cannot wait three years to see his daughter - she would be almost 8 years old the next time he sees her and that just isn't right. Even if he can't come back. But that tough decision is down the road.
Someone at the USCIS office in Anchorage told us that it is possible for a Cuban to go home after they get conditional residency and before they become citizens. They said that the every 3 year rule applys to Cubans who have already become citizens. Whether this is true or not I don't know.
And we know of Cubans who have returned within the 3 years under the current administration. These two things make me think it must be possible.
Nevertheless, we are applying for Advance Parole and hoping for the best. If anyone has suggestions on how to word this best please pm me.
His Cuban passport is fine and isn't an issue at the moment.
The three year law applies to Residents and Citizens. There is no distinction.
What I have heard from the Cubans here in Miami is you need your Permanent Residency Card before you can go to Cuba. That is because you need it in order to get back into the United States.
There used to be something called "Re-entry Permit" which the US Government used to give out but I do not know if that is still available. They are always changing the rules.
The Cubans that return within the 3 years are those that are going through the Churches or are just travelling illegally.
Best of luck.
Magica, I am happy to hear that he is adjusting so well.
As for Cuban's going back to visit before there 3 year rule/law, yes this can be done through a third country or via a Church Humanitarian visa.
Either way he still will need his US Residency and his passport Rehabilitated. I suggest you look into this because I have personally known more than one Cuban who got as far as Jose Marti airport and was told they couldn't not enter because there passport didn't have rehabilitation sticker.
I suggest going through an agency in Miami like Mercy mentioned earlier. You could call ABC Charters or Marazul and have them refer your to a specific agency.
I would stay clear from La Perla del Caribe/Mambo Travel in Miami area. We had very, very bad luck with them. PM if you want to hear details.
This whole process can take a 2-4 months.
http://www.abc-charters.com/
http://www.marazulcharters.com/index.html
Cuban Embassy/Consul
Postal Address / Dirección postal:
2630 & 2639 16th Street, N.W.
Washington DC, 20009
Opening Hours / Horario:
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.: Monday through Friday
(202) 797 8507, (202) 797 8609, (202) 797 8610
Mercy Wrote:Sonney, I don't think the Pope is taking your money. Yoruba is. These churches are NOT catholic churches but Santeria Churches.
Well, I guess that makes more sense........not that I've ever been a fan of the Catholic church, but I thought it a little strong for the church to be profiting so from the trials and tribulations of ordinary Cubans. Now that it is Santeria organizations in Cuba.......well hell, that makes perfect sense!!!! Who should be more likely to profit from tha fact that someone's only crime is being Cuban than a Cuban organization!
The Cubans have a saying. They have a frigging saying for everything and I learn them.
"No hay peor cun~a que la del mismo palo".
My husband recently got his approval for advanced parole. He isn't applying for Citizenship yet. First residency. Has not received his permission to reside here yet.
There is possibly a Humanitarian visa to travel with.
Any thoughts on that from the US side of things.
We are working on the get into Cuba part