Havana, Cuba

[Kiva667]

Yes - but as I was telling the reporter - what I am advocating for with my MP is that Cubans be allowed to land and get biometrics/medicals in Canada within 7 days of landing. I do realize with the status quo and the bias against allowing Cuban spouses to visit, it isn't viable.

For now, we've gotten an extension of 60 days for the medicals. This is actually very little help because our son doesn't finish in the service until then end of July, but it gives us time to think and to plan.
Hoping we have more news within a month. Meanwhile, they are going to go through the process for visas to Panama and maybe we all have a vacation in August, in Panama. The next choice would be Bahamas - no visa required but a bit more expensive.

Panama visa is only a formality if the applicants have their plane tickets in hand and even better if they have been abroad before. I know lots of people who go to Panama regularly to shop.

The Bahamas, on the other hand, is a different story. I don’t know what you’ve heard but I’ve never seeen a Cuban who successfully got a tourist visa to go there:

http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/wps/wcm/connect/bf838397-2677-410e-9987-87fa188e4966/Visa+Requirements+for+Visitors+Travelling+to+The+Bahamas1.pdf?MOD=AJPERES

 

[Kiva667]

How did you go about getting an extension? I have tried my MP, webform, the IRCC call line, hell, I even emailed Justin Trudeau, just to either get an extension for my biometrics OR to issue us the medical request so we can just bite the bullet and deal with all of this nonsense. I have received 0 response to date, and we are quickly running out of time.. any advice you could share would be greatly appreciated!

PS - are you sure you can go to Panama sans visa? I know they allow Cubans to stop over... but the Gov of Canada (and all online resources) are basically saying that Trinidad & Tobago is the only option... Barbados *could* in theory work, but its waaay too expensive.

To clarify your options, we have been to Trinidad and Tobago 3 times and once to Barbados.

Firstly, almost no Cubans successfully get into POS. Local immigration always turns them around on the next flight out. Unless they are accompanied by their Yuma spouse and have confirmed hotel reservations. Their immigration system is grim and I’ve even seen them hassle American backpackers without hotel reservations and American oil workers who didn’t have all their paperwork handy. So beware....

As for Barbados, prices there are the same as POS and the beach is a LOT nicer lol

And Barbados Immigration welcomes Cubans with open arms!

 

[Slamee]

To clarify your options, we have been to Trinidad and Tobago 3 times and once to Barbados.

Firstly, almost no Cubans successfully get into POS. Local immigration always turns them around on the next flight out. Unless they are accompanied by their Yuma spouse and have confirmed hotel reservations. Their immigration system is grim and I’ve even seen them hassle American backpackers without hotel reservations and American oil workers who didn’t have all their paperwork rwork handy. So beware....

As for Barbados, prices there are the same as POS and the beach is a LOT nicer lol

And Barbados Immigration welcomes Cubans with open arms!

Getting answers from the internet is exhausting. So much conflicting information.

My husband has already been to Trinidad once, with his Cuban cousin, just to go shopping.

And when we looked, flights to Barbados were double the price than Trinidad.

 

[Kiva667]

Getting answers from the internet is exhausting. So much conflicting information.

My husband has already been to Trinidad once, with his Cuban cousin, just to go shopping.

And when we looked, flights to Barbados were double the price than Trinidad.

Well, I was just explaining what I’ve seen with my own eyes. I’m glad your husband was successful. Since we’ve been there so much the immigration workers got to know us and only worked us over the first time.

Btw flights with LIAT from POS to Barbados are cheap if booked well in advance. At least they were in 2017. About $150 per person r/t

 

[Osmel86]

I called the IRCC call center at 6:30 am and discovered you can enter your application number and get the newest updates for the PR application:

Medical check passed.

No interview required.

BGC not yet started- anyone know how long this usually takes?

But good news regardless - we won’t have to struggle for a Mexican visa.

Hello. Do you mind to share the phone number of the IRCC call center? Do they have a site where I ca enter my application number and get all that information? And which month are you from? Thank you sooo much...

 

[Kiva667]

Hello. Do you mind to share the phone number of the IRCC call center? Do they have a site where I ca enter my application number and get all that information? And which month are you from? Thank you sooo much...

We applied for PR in 06/2018.

Since I currently stay full-time in Cuba my only option to call the IRCC was via Skype:

613.944.4000

 

[stephtigger]

Hello. Do you mind to share the phone number of the IRCC call center? Do they have a site where I ca enter my application number and get all that information? And which month are you from? Thank you sooo much...

You go into your gckey and ecas screens shows the status. This has always been an available service.

 

[stephtigger]

I called the IRCC call center at 6:30 am and discovered you can enter your application number and get the newest updates for the PR application:

Medical check passed.

No interview required.

BGC not yet started- anyone know how long this usually takes?

But good news regardless - we won’t have to struggle for a Mexican visa.

Is this the gckey and ecas system. ? This was always available or did they give you another source to check your application ?

 

[Kiva667]

Is this the gckey and ecas system. ? This was always available or did they give you another source to check your application ?

I used their automated phone system, inputted the PR application number, and a nice computerized voice gave me the precise info for my file.

As far as I can tell the only remaining step is the BGC - which is prolly already underway because they don’t update that item - and then the PPR.

 

[Slamee]

Yes - but as I was telling the reporter - what I am advocating for with my MP is that Cubans be allowed to land and get biometrics/medicals in Canada within 7 days of landing. I do realize with the status quo and the bias against allowing Cuban spouses to visit, it isn't viable.

For now, we've gotten an extension of 60 days for the medicals. This is actually very little help because our son doesn't finish in the service until then end of July, but it gives us time to think and to plan.
Hoping we have more news within a month. Meanwhile, they are going to go through the process for visas to Panama and maybe we all have a vacation in August, in Panama. The next choice would be Bahamas - no visa required but a bit more expensive.

Hey! Who sent you the extension? I just got one from the Mexico VO... but my file hasn't been transferred out of Sydney yet. What about you?

 

[stephtigger]

I used their automated phone system, inputted the PR application number, and a nice computerized voice gave me the precise info for my file.

As far as I can tell the only remaining step is the BGC - which is prolly already underway because they don’t update that item - and then the PPR.

This automated phone system is the same as what’s in the ecas screen it’s just another way to find out. If you use your gckey ecas you can check, but agree lots times things are not even updated.

 

[laleona]

Hey! Who sent you the extension? I just got one from the Mexico VO... but my file hasn't been transferred out of Sydney yet. What about you?

So - to get an extension I used the webform and got a response from the Mexico VO - even though our file is in Mississauga.

 

[laleona]

Panama visa is only a formality if the applicants have their plane tickets in hand and even better if they have been abroad before. I know lots of people who go to Panama regularly to shop.

The Bahamas, on the other hand, is a different story. I don’t know what you’ve heard but I’ve never seeen a Cuban who successfully got a tourist visa to go there:

http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/wps/wcm/connect/bf838397-2677-410e-9987-87fa188e4966/Visa+Requirements+for+Visitors+Travelling+to+The+Bahamas1.pdf?MOD=AJPERES[/Q

Panama visa is only a formality if the applicants have their plane tickets in hand and even better if they have been abroad before. I know lots of people who go to Panama regularly to shop.

The Bahamas, on the other hand, is a different story. I don’t know what you’ve heard but I’ve never seeen a Cuban who successfully got a tourist visa to go there:

http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/wps/wcm/connect/bf838397-2677-410e-9987-87fa188e4966/Visa+Requirements+for+Visitors+Travelling+to+The+Bahamas1.pdf?MOD=AJPERES

I totally mispoke - I meant Barbadoes. I had morning brain when I wrote this lol

 

[laleona]

How did you go about getting an extension? I have tried my MP, webform, the IRCC call line, hell, I even emailed Justin Trudeau, just to either get an extension for my biometrics OR to issue us the medical request so we can just bite the bullet and deal with all of this nonsense. I have received 0 response to date, and we are quickly running out of time.. any advice you could share would be greatly appreciated!

PS - are you sure you can go to Panama sans visa? I know they allow Cubans to stop over... but the Gov of Canada (and all online resources) are basically saying that Trinidad & Tobago is the only option... Barbados *could* in theory work, but its waaay too expensive.

To get your extension, go through the IRCC webform (you can google it) and explain the situation in Cuba and that you need an extension. They usually respond in 2-3 days. Writing directly to an MP or the PM won't help you get a definitive reply on a extension.

 

[Ferengi]

I received a response from the Minister of Immigration's Office.
It reads:
Thank you for your correspondence of May 10, 2019, addressed to the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, regarding your sponsorship undertaking on behalf of your spouse’s application for permanent residence. I have been asked to respond to your concerns.

I note your wish to be reunited with your spouse as soon as possible. As a result of the current health and safety situation in Havana, Cuba, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) office is now closed.

The Department has issued a web notice describing adjustments to our programs and services, in accordance with the announcement from Global Affairs Canada: Statement on health and security of Canadian diplomatic staff in Havana, Cuba.

The IRCC office in Mexico has been designated to handle the Havana files and thus enable IRCC to continue to provide its services as efficiently as possible.

IRCC records confirm that your spouse’s application is pending a final review by officials at the Canadian visa office in Mexico. Nothing further is required from you or your spouse at this time.

While I am unable to provide a precise timeframe for the completion of this application, please be assured that your spouse will be contacted should additional information or documentation be required, or once a final decision has been made.

Thank you for expressing your concerns. I regret that a more positive reply cannot be provided.

The good news...our applications are already in Mexico!
The bad news...no timelines