Havana, Cuba

[V_Gonzalez]

I'm in Quebec, and I haven't heard anything.. But I'm only just over 3 months.

 

[luigui]

I'm in Quebec, and I haven't heard anything.. But I'm only just over 3 months.

Well, I guess I would have to plan go to visit my wife once more, I'm from Calgary transferred from work to Winterpeg (Winnipeg) next month.

 

[Er84]

Hey all. New here. Just submitted our app for my husband. Wanting to know if someone could share how to order the GCSM notes? How long does it take to receive?

Thanks and best of luck to everyone waiting

 

[mslolita]

Hi all, i'm in the same situation. The file was sent to Havana on March 3rd, the only update on the website is "application received" "medical check recieved". I see no point in looking at the website it's just torture....very disappointing that it took 90 days to have me approved to sponsor due to the rolling strikes in Canada... i am hopeful that we will hear back around the 6 month mark. if there is anyone with similiar application dates to mine, i would like to connect to see if we can share progress...good luck everyone!

 

[Mapleson]

Er84, if you have just submitted, you are better off waiting until they have finished your Sponsor Approval and the application is in Havana. Unless you obviously failed one of the stated criteria of sponsorship, you will be approved (overall it's 98% approval, rising to 99.9% if you exclude the obvious people).

Your GCSM notes can be received through an Access to Information Request and will cost $5 and take 30 days to receive (information only up to the date that the request was submitted).

Mslolita, you need to remember that the timelines are separate, so your clock reset on March 3. You'll have to be lucky to hear back by October 3, flip of a coin by Halloween, and a good chance by the end of the year.

From last years data regarding spousing processed in Havana:
20% were less than 5 months from date of receipt in Havana
30% were less than 6 months from date of receipt in Havana
50% were less than 7 months from date of receipt in Havana
70% were less than 9 months from date of receipt in Havana
80% were less than 10 months from date of receipt in Havana

How to Order GCSM Notes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_E_dq_uLVo

 

[Europeo]

From last years data regarding spousing processed in Havana:
20% were less than 5 months from date of receipt in Havana
30% were less than 6 months from date of receipt in Havana
50% were less than 7 months from date of receipt in Havana
70% were less than 9 months from date of receipt in Havana
80% were less than 10 months from date of receipt in Havana

Hi Mapleson,

I've seen you post these stats a few times now, but was curious what the source of this data is? personally, I've had so many different stats thrown my way throughout this process, at times it's hard to differentiate between conjecture and reality (being emotionally compromised in this makes it even harder).

In my case, I've had the luck of knowing 3 other individuals who all submitted their applications within a 3 week span of my own, so other than being able to compare notes and use them as a de facto support group, it's also allowed my to compare timelines and responses so far.

With the last of these applications having been confirmed as transferred and received by the VO in Havana in mid April, the only communication since has been 2 weeks ago, when one of my friends got an email requesting additional documentation.

Hence, this leads me to believe that something is actually happening there (contrary to apps just collecting dust on a shelf) and that other than the spouses getting the call, no news is good news, but still makes it difficult to estimate when that call might come.

it will be telling to know if all of us within my group will be called around the same time, as our circumstances differ significantly, or is this really a first come/first served process such as it was on the Mississauga end of the process.

 

[Mapleson]

Hi Europeo,

The information comes from CIC via Open Data. There are a number of spreadsheets, but the easiest one for these figures is:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/opendata-donneesouvertes/data/000001-eng.xls

Other facts of interest:

Of 558 Cuban spousal applications between Oct 2013 and Sept 2014, 501 were approved and 39 were rejected (93% approval rate).
Of these applications, there were an additional 112 dependants approved.

Of 347 Cuban spousal applications between Jan 2014 and Sept 2014, 314 were approved and 26 were rejected (92% approval rate), 3 were withdrawn and 8 were ineligible.
Of these applications, there were an additional 104 dependants approved.

 

[Krys]

Hi Europeo, as I've been at this for 9 months now since my application was received in Havana I can definitely tell you this is not a first come first serve process. I've also received only one communication after our application went to Havana and that was also because I was missing a document (I thought they were working on my application and were going to have a decision soon). They e-mailed me about two weeks after they received our application at the embassy to request for the document. So no news is definitely good news! Although, other applicants that have been waiting around the same time as me and have never received a communication from Havana after receiving their applications, so they are assuming they are not missing any documents (we are all from Ontario by the way). Just to tell you a bit about my application, my husband and I both have never been married before, we have no kids, we are 1 year apart (in our mid 20's), we got married almost 2 years after meeting each other and our GCMS notes state that our relationship has no concerns and that my husband is recommended to be passed... yet we are still waiting 9 months in! and applicants that have applied after me now have their husbands here. sooo there is really no telling how long your application will take to be processed. my husband and I keep thinking what could be wrong with our application that it's taking this long.. the only thing we came up with is that his brother and father live in the US. Anyways, 1 month left until 10 months! I will keep you all updated on the process, their are about 5 of us that I know of that are at 8-9 months and are waiting for the call any day now, so we'll see if we get calls around the same time

Hi Mapleson,

I've seen you post these stats a few times now, but was curious what the source of this data is? personally, I've had so many different stats thrown my way throughout this process, at times it's hard to differentiate between conjecture and reality (being emotionally compromised in this makes it even harder).

In my case, I've had the luck of knowing 3 other individuals who all submitted their applications within a 3 week span of my own, so other than being able to compare notes and use them as a de facto support group, it's also allowed my to compare timelines and responses so far.

With the last of these applications having been confirmed as transferred and received by the VO in Havana in mid April, the only communication since has been 2 weeks ago, when one of my friends got an email requesting additional documentation.

Hence, this leads me to believe that something is actually happening there (contrary to apps just collecting dust on a shelf) and that other than the spouses getting the call, no news is good news, but still makes it difficult to estimate when that call might come.

it will be telling to know if all of us within my group will be called around the same time, as our circumstances differ significantly, or is this really a first come/first served process such as it was on the Mississauga end of the process.

 

[mslolita]

is my husbands formal consent via signature required on the application for the GCSM notes?

 

[Krys]

Yes you need his signature on the paper

is my husbands formal consent via signature required on the application for the GCSM notes?

 

[Europeo]

Thanks Mapleson, some very telling (although not encouraging) data on those spreadsheets.

Krys, in terms of the factors that would delay an app, his immediate family being in the US is definitely a factor, as the inconvenient truth about Canada's policies towards Cubans is that there are definite pressures there from the south to make this process as tedious as possible. There are other factors that can slow up an application as well, but in the end everything can be ideal, but the process can still be held up due to bureaucracy and lack of transparency.

In short, hang in there, and I hope that you'll soon hear something and be able to put this behind you. It will be worth it in the end.

 

[justagirrl]

It's been quiet on here. How's everyone holding up? Any updates?

How about some of the old members, the spouses that are in Canada now, how are they all doing?

Hi newgirl -my hubby is doing well. He has settled into the Canadian way of life, timmies coffee in the morning and a 45 hour work week lol. He misses his family back home but he says he doesn't miss Cuba.

I commiserate with all of you still waiting. The process sucks the life out of you.

 

[Galano1213]

Hi

I just got back yesterday from spending a week with my hubbie in Guardalavaca Cuba . He has heard that one of the reasons some applications are being held up is because of heaving relatives in the USA and that they seem to think that when people get to Canada that they will move to the USA . I can't imagine where this idea is coming from. Has anyone heard this theory ? Our application has been in Havana since Jan 6,2015 and not a peep.

 

[Europeo]

Hi

I just got back yesterday from spending a week with my hubbie in Guardalavaca Cuba . He has heard that one of the reasons some applications are being held up is because of heaving relatives in the USA and that they seem to think that when people get to Canada that they will move to the USA . I can't imagine where this idea is coming from. Has anyone heard this theory ? Our application has been in Havana since Jan 6,2015 and not a peep.

Hi Galano, this idea of having relatives in the US posing an elevated risk is unfortunately all too real. It comes from the "wet/foot dry" policy in the US Cuban Adjustment Act, and how it's impacted landed immigrants or Cubans temporarily/in transit through Canada. There are noted cases of sponsored spouses, athletes and temporary visitors basically going straight to the US border shortly after landing in Canada, and having immediate family already there to greet them only increases this risk in the eyes of CIC.

 

[Krys]

I heard the Pan Am games might be the reason for long waits right now at the embassy

Hi

I just got back yesterday from spending a week with my hubbie in Guardalavaca Cuba . He has heard that one of the reasons some applications are being held up is because of heaving relatives in the USA and that they seem to think that when people get to Canada that they will move to the USA . I can't imagine where this idea is coming from. Has anyone heard this theory ? Our application has been in Havana since Jan 6,2015 and not a peep.