Havana, Cuba

[Kiva667]

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

I just got a near identical email from the same office:

“Departamental records confirm that this Application was transferred to the Canadian visa office in Mexico City. At this time, no interview has been requested. While I am unable to provide a precise timeframe for the completion of this application, please be assured that you your wife will be contacted should any additional information or documentation be required, or once a decision has been made.”

 

[StaceyBicetR]

Had medicals done for my Spouse and 2 kids on the Friday before the embassy closed. Recieved an email yesterday saying our deadline to get the medicals has been extended. My immigration consultant sent in the medical receipts. Fingers crossed they forward the results without issue. Especially since i flew down especially to help to take the kids to Havana 12 hrs on the bus.

One question. Our application went in Oct 2018. I read somewhere that biometrics may not be required if it was submitted before December 31 2018. Any truth behind that?

 

[Kiva667]

Had medicals done for my Spouse and 2 kids on the Friday before the embassy closed. Recieved an email yesterday saying our deadline to get the medicals has been extended. My immigration consultant sent in the medical receipts. Fingers crossed they forward the results without issue. Especially since i flew down especially to help to take the kids to Havana 12 hrs on the bus.

One question. Our application went in Oct 2018. I read somewhere that biometrics may not be required if it was submitted before December 31 2018. Any truth behind that?

I’m not sure about biometrics cut-off date, but a good Cuban friend of mine who got her PR last year told me it took a month for Canada to receive the medical results from Havana.

 

[Osmel86]

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

Yes, I have full access to my accounts in boths sites but it's the same since January 16 when I got passed my medical exam.

 

[Osmel86]

Hello guys. I wrote to Mexico through the Webform the same date the Embassy informed about closing the immigration section here in Havana and I still don't get any response from them..Any other way to contact them? My application is at 7 days to reach the year on the process and now it's getting my wife and I so anxious with all this...

 

[Kiva667]

Hello guys. I wrote to Mexico through the Webform the same date the Embassy informed about closing the immigration section here in Havana and I still don't get any response from them..Any other way to contact them? My application is at 7 days to reach the year on the process and now it's getting my wife and I so anxious with all this...

This is what the Canadian embassy in Mexico website says, and I quote:

“Immigration and visas:
Telephone: (55) 5724.7900
All the information regarding immigration and visas can be found in this website or in www.cic.gc.ca. Please be informed that the estimated time of reply is 20 working days. Please do not send duplicates of your enquiries.”

 

[starnaenae]

Hello guys. I wrote to Mexico through the Webform the same date the Embassy informed about closing the immigration section here in Havana and I still don't get any response from them..Any other way to contact them? My application is at 7 days to reach the year on the process and now it's getting my wife and I so anxious with all this...

Unfortunately it may take more than a year. Ircc promises to complete 80% of applications within a 12 month timeframe. I would lower expectations to be completed by a year. You can email MXICOIMMIGRATION@international.gc.ca

 

[laleona]

Had medicals done for my Spouse and 2 kids on the Friday before the embassy closed. Recieved an email yesterday saying our deadline to get the medicals has been extended. My immigration consultant sent in the medical receipts. Fingers crossed they forward the results without issue. Especially since i flew down especially to help to take the kids to Havana 12 hrs on the bus.

One question. Our application went in Oct 2018. I read somewhere that biometrics may not be required if it was submitted before December 31 2018. Any truth behind that?

I have been told numerous times by different IRCC representatives that, because our application was submitted in October 2018, biometrics will not be required, and that it is not retroative. But I'll believe it when I see it lol.
If I do have to send my husband and son out of Cuba for the medicals you can be sure I am going to pay for them to just get their biometrics done at the same time. Not going to wait for them to ask...

 

[NDS10]

Hello all,

So quick question - if they do approve the PR application, does the applicant then have to go to Mexico to pickup their visa or how would it work ?

Ps: we are January 2019 applicants so looks like we’ll have to do everything (medical check, biometrics, interview) out of the country unless something changes.

 

[mike 1977]

My MP's office got the following letter from IRCC today. The recommendation from IRCC is to find another doctor in Cuba to do the medical. Here is the letter:

Good day,

Thank you for contacting Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. As discussed, you will find below complementary information to our conversation:

Panel physician dispensation

Only a Panel Physician authorized by IRCC can do the immigration medical examination.

You may request a dispensation to use an alternate medical practitioner who is not a IRCC designated Panel Physician if, after consulting the Panel Physician list on our website, you do not find a doctor:

- Who is located within 250 km (4 hours, one way) of your residence, or
- Who offers service in your preferred official language (English or French) within 250 km (4 hours, one way) of your residence.

If you are inside Canada, please contact the Client Support Centre to provide us with contact information once you have found a doctor who will accept to do the examination:

- Name
- Complete address
- Phone
- Email address and/or fax number (mandatory)

IRCC will review their credentials (this process may take approx. 5 business days) and send them instructions by fax or email.

If you are outside Canada, please contact the Visa Office

Thank you,

Agent #4321
Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada


The MP's office said the agent was helpful and that they have rules like this to help people who are in difficult situations

 

[laleona]

My MP's office got the following letter from IRCC today. The recommendation from IRCC is to find another doctor in Cuba to do the medical. Here is the letter:

Good day,

Thank you for contacting Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. As discussed, you will find below complementary information to our conversation:

Panel physician dispensation

Only a Panel Physician authorized by IRCC can do the immigration medical examination.

You may request a dispensation to use an alternate medical practitioner who is not a IRCC designated Panel Physician if, after consulting the Panel Physician list on our website, you do not find a doctor:

- Who is located within 250 km (4 hours, one way) of your residence, or
- Who offers service in your preferred official language (English or French) within 250 km (4 hours, one way) of your residence.

If you are inside Canada, please contact the Client Support Centre to provide us with contact information once you have found a doctor who will accept to do the examination:

- Name
- Complete address
- Phone
- Email address and/or fax number (mandatory)

IRCC will review their credentials (this process may take approx. 5 business days) and send them instructions by fax or email.

If you are outside Canada, please contact the Visa Office

Thank you,

Agent #4321
Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada


The MP's office said the agent was helpful and that they have rules like this to help people who are in difficult situations

WOW - that is the most interesting information yet. If anyone finds a doctor in the Havana - Varadero corridor let me know. We have good connections in Cardenas (we know the chief medical officers for Matanzas province) so I am going to get right on that.

 

[mike 1977]

WOW - that is the most interesting information yet. If anyone finds a doctor in the Havana - Varadero corridor let me know. We have good connections in Cardenas (we know the chief medical officers for Matanzas province) so I am going to get right on that.

How about the former Panel Physician, his credentials must be OK.

 

[mike 1977]

WOW - that is the most interesting information yet. If anyone finds a doctor in the Havana - Varadero corridor let me know. We have good connections in Cardenas (we know the chief medical officers for Matanzas province) so I am going to get right on that.

If we can solve the Doctor problem, the next step is the Biometrics problem.

They just close the VAC totally without any logical thought or common sense. Biometrics are just fingerprints and photo.
Fingerprints are done with a laptop and a fingerprint pad (no ink and paper) It only takes maybe 3 minutes. A photo only takes seconds (Cuba does one every time you enter the country). The Canadian Embassy is still there with security and now lots of empty office space. My logic and common sense says they could hire one Cuban for one day a week and save all the difficulty and cost of Cubans having to go to another country for a 5 minute appointment. Please help get this message to your MP and the Immigration Minister.

PS: My wife and her son have already passed the medical and don't need biometrics. Just trying to help solve a problem.

 

[laleona]

How about the former Panel Physician, his credentials must be OK.

I heard his credentials were pulled. So maybe not OK

 

[Slamee]

How about the former Panel Physician, his credentials must be OK.

Canada pulled his licence to be a panel physician. I'm very interested in what you received, because this is what IIIII got from both the IRCC and then the Mexican immigration office in response to a webform I submitted:

Thank you for contacting Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. As discussed, you will find below complementary information to our conversation:


Changes to IRCC services offered in Havana, Cuba

On May 8, 2019, IRCC’s programs and services offered in Havana, Cuba, have changes. The Canadian government has initiated security measures and decided to reduce by up to half the number of Canadian staff posted to Havana due to the potential causes of the unusual health symptoms experienced by some Canadian diplomatic staff and their family members.

We invite to you to visit our website for more information on:

• Services affected,
• Other ways to apply for a visa,
• Biometrics,
• Etc.

If you are required to give your biometrics (fingerprints and a photo), you can travel to any visa application centre (VAC) outside Cuba. Trinidad and Tobago is the closest country with a VAC and IRCC visa office that does not have visa requirements for Cuban nationals to visit.

Once biometrics are provided, IRCC’s Mexico visa office will contact you directly on next steps required for your application.

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This refers to your application for permanent residence to Canada.

As part of your application process, you have been required to provide your biometrics (have your fingerprints scanned and your photograph taken) within a period of 30 days. However, given that the Visa Office in Havana is now closed and considering that you will have to travel to a country where there is a biometric collection service point, you are being granted 60 additional days, from the date of this message, to present yourself at a biometric collection service point to give your biometrics.

You eventually will receive the appropriate instructions to complete the medical examinations. However, given that the service of panel physician in Havana has been discontinued, you will also have to travel to another country to visit an authorized panel physician who may perform your medical examinations. We then encourage you to have your biometrics taken and complete medical exams in one visit.


Regards| Cordialement,

Immigration Section| Section d’Immigration

Embassy of Canada| Ambassade du Canada, Mexico

Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra 193, Col Granada

11520 Ciudad de Mexico

www.mexico.gc.ca