Havana, Cuba

[KJG]

I am stressing re Juan's interview on the 25th. Trying to decide if I should be there or not. What should he take with him? I was there 1 week in august and last 2 weeks in September. I believe Juan has his liberation letter; what else should he take with him for immigration office after approval (I'm being optimistic). Is it after approval you decide on PRE OR PVE? We are doing the PRE. My husband is from Cardenas; so if he can get everything done while in Havana that would be great.
If I don't go I'll have to be sedated here on the 25th...ahhh
Have a great trip Avana.

Luvcuba whether you go or not is totally up to you. I went...but they did not interview me (thank goodness!!) but they knew I was there because they asked my husband.......your husband does not need to take his liberation letter to the interview what he needs to take is any additional proof....phone bills, emails, pictures.....if you have these and he does not you can send them via email or fax and quote application number and interview date......to apply for the pre or pve is done at the local office and not in Havana......I am not sure if there is one in Cardenas or if he will have to go to the one in Matanzas City....ask him about that....but once he gets his visa.....we got ours same day...but not everyone does then he can apply for the pre/pve...he will need his liberation letter, a marriage certifcate less than 90 days old, and he has to hand in his food book and pay the $550 cuc all at the same time.......hope that helps!!!

 

[sassylassie]

I am stressing re Juan's interview on the 25th. Trying to decide if I should be there or not. What should he take with him? I was there 1 week in august and last 2 weeks in September. I believe Juan has his liberation letter; what else should he take with him for immigration office after approval (I'm being optimistic). Is it after approval you decide on PRE OR PVE? We are doing the PRE. My husband is from Cardenas; so if he can get everything done while in Havana that would be great.
If I don't go I'll have to be sedated here on the 25th...ahhh
Have a great trip Avana.

Obviously I cannot make suggestions about what to bring etc (you are more experienced at this process than me ) and KJG made some really good points. What I will give you is my opinion on whether you should go. IF It was within my budget I would go just to be there with him for support. It is prolly very overwhelming for them to deal with another government. Even though they did not interview KJG I think (what do I know?!) it shows support and true genuineness of your relationship if you were there with him. Just my 2 cents. Of course...the cost to go there just for the interview my not be possible. Good luck Luvcuba I know that is prolly a hard decision to make.

 

[shuster2210]

I want to be there if there is an interview.
I was hoping it would be at the end of October, I have to be down there that week, but doesn't look like its going to happen.
If its in the budget, I'll try and go down if/when they call for an interview.

I wasn't sure if it was wise with all he cost of PRE, his ticket, plus I'm in a new condo waiting for closing to happen...
But he is selling his house, and will be making a good profit, so with what we have leftover after buying the newer, smaller house for his mom, he will now have the money for all his paperwork and ticket!!!!

So I think with him being able to cover all the other costs, I'll def be able to go down....as long as my work schedule allows.
And, it's Friday, no news, no calls, and I'm officially depressed lol!!!

 

[Luvcuba]

Thanks Ladies. I'll keep checking cost. Maybe prices will drop very last minute. I've spent over 50 days so far this year in Cuba; running out of time off and was hoping to take a few days when hubby joins me. I'm so torn. Does it go in our favour being together over 5 years and married just over 1 year? Ive been to cuba over 25 times; some for 1 week; 2 weeks and 3 weeks. Ive provided pics of hubby with my sons. (23, 21, 17) to show his relationship with them.

Shuster you will be the one to get the call that he has his visa; no interview required.

 

[KJG]

Yes.....I wanted to be at the interview with my husband because I wanted to present a united front.....to show that we are committed to one another.....and I was so very lucky that the interview fell within my 4 month time period that I usually go to Cuba in. I was so glad to be there and share that moment and by the same token....if it had not gone well I would have wanted to been there all the more to draw comfort from each other.

Shuster2210 bet you no interview and just a call!!!!! Luvcuba you too might get the call for the "interview" but when you get there it is just for them to advise you are going to receive your visa!

Either way sharing that moment with your husband should be done if it can be done.

I was so surprised by the quickness of everything that like Shuster2210 the expense can be overwhelming so I really was not expecting VISA same day and my husband had all his paperwork ready this week and needed the $550 cuc. I had to borrow the money for this because I thought I would have till the end of the month to pay for it but boy my husband can make things happen sometimes!!! I did not want to wait another two weeks till I got my pay so good old mom and dad helped out and I sent it yesterday and he got today. He goes Monday morning first thing but they told him today should be in his hands in 20 days. I really hope they are right and not just throwing that out there!!!

The other thing I want to share with my husband is his first plane ride and entry into Canada so once he has his PRE I will fly down on a Friday and return on the Sunday with him....of course I have no vacation time left so it will be **cough cough** flu and the nice thing about cell phones is that if work phones me or texts me they have no idea where I am!!!

Shuster2210 don't get too depressed.....don't forget the embassy would have been off Monday for the Canadian Holiday and on Wednesday for the Cuban Holiday so a very short week for them!!!!

Luvcuba your relationship is long and strong...hang in there and all will be fine!

 

[Luvcuba]

well I just spoke to my hubby and he says save the money; he'll be fine. We've been together 5 years; lots of pictures and proof. He's not the least bit worried. I told him to take his birthday cards he got from my mom and brother & sister-in-law plus friends.
KJG - how do you send money to your hubby? There is immigration in Cardenas; so I'll have him get the marriage certificate before his interview so he has it and can go the next day.

Have a great weekend ladies.

 

[KJG]

Luvcuba.....I use Caribbean Transfer.....

 

[327856]

Hello everyone, My name is Sandy and I have been married to my wonderful cuban husband for about a year now! We have been together for almost 3 years. i have been reading some of your posts and decided it was time to join

I just got my approval from Canada on Oct 10th and was wondering if anymore can tell me how long does the file take to get to Havana?
Also anyone from Quebec here? I was told if Havana does not get the MICC selection certificate they do not start to work on your file, is this true?

I wish everyone the best of luck and thanks for all your help! This forum rocks!!!!! ;D

 

[Luvcuba]

Luvcuba.....I use Caribbean Transfer.....

I've used Caribbean Transfer. I didn't think you could transfer over $500?

Have you tried Transcard? Fees are a bit less; you have a account you transfer funds to and they wire it directly to his transcard. He gets in less than 2 hours.

Congratulations Sandy on your approval.

 

[KJG]

I've used Caribbean Transfer. I didn't think you could transfer over $500?

Have you tried Transcard? Fees are a bit less; you have a account you transfer funds to and they wire it directly to his transcard. He gets in less than 2 hours.

Congratulations Sandy on your approval.

You are right...two transfers of $275....fees work out to be the same regardless.......and he gets same day....Transcard sounds good....but lucky for me really won't need to worry about that now!!!!

 

[KJG]

Hello everyone, My name is Sandy and I have been married to my wonderful cuban husband for about a year now! We have been together for almost 3 years. i have been reading some of your posts and decided it was time to join

I just got my approval from Canada on Oct 10th and was wondering if anymore can tell me how long does the file take to get to Havana?
Also anyone from Quebec here? I was told if Havana does not get the MICC selection certificate they do not start to work on your file, is this true?

I wish everyone the best of luck and thanks for all your help! This forum rocks!!!!! ;D

Hey Sandy welcome to our Cuba thread!!! My husband and I will be married a year on October 19th...what's your date....and we have been together almost 3 years as well.....so our timelines are very similar!!!

Congrats on your approval that is awesome. Takes about 3 weeks for the file to reach Havana...so your file should be in Havana by November 1 at the very latest!!!!

I believe the letter from Quebec takes around 20 days. Avana in this group just recently got hers and I believe it was around that length of time.

I am sure she will be on in the next day or so and she will let you know......also I believe she started a thread for people from Quebec so you might want to check that out.

So glad you joined us!! Where is your husband from in Cuba??

 

[shuster2210]

I took out a secondary master card in his name in case he needs to take any out.
$5 service fee and just normal exchange rate, based on the daily rate at the bank.


Did everyone do their double top-up on ezetop this week? I did 2 recharges to get the most bang for my buck!

I forgot about the double holiday this week!!! ;-)

 

[327856]

thank you KJG and Luvcuba!!!!

We got married on September 7 2011 so not very far before you KJG. My husabnd is originally from Guantanamo however we met in Varadero while he was working there for a canadian construction company. I believe yours is from Matanzas (as I previouslly read) good luck on that upcoming interview!!!!

Wow 3 weeks alright. When do I exactly get this famous AOR? Is that when I can see update on the websit using my client identification number? Is the AOR the official date Havana receives it? sorry for all the questions. I am beyond nervous and excited.

Have a great day everyone!!!!

 

[KJG]

thank you KJG and Luvcuba!!!!

We got married on September 7 2011 so not very far before you KJG. My husabnd is originally from Guantanamo however we met in Varadero while he was working there for a canadian construction company. I believe yours is from Matanzas (as I previouslly read) good luck on that upcoming interview!!!!

Wow 3 weeks alright. When do I exactly get this famous AOR? Is that when I can see update on the websit using my client identification number? Is the AOR the official date Havana receives it? sorry for all the questions. I am beyond nervous and excited.

Have a great day everyone!!!!

So you are officially into 1 year of marriage...congrats!!!! So is your husband still in the Varadero area then?

We had our interview on Oct 4th and got the visa the same day...we are now in the process of applying for the PRE......we should know on Monday the expected arrival date of it!!! Hopefully not too far off!

So the infamous AOR is from CIC in Mississauga and is currently taking about 2 months.....some people are closer to 3 months and some people are less than 2 months it really is a hit and miss....the AOR is just an acknowledge of receipt of file and if you get one....not everyone does....it will be by email and it will contain your "unique client indentification number" which is what you use to log into ecas under your information and the "application/file number" which is the number you log into ecas with using the applicants info.....once you receive an AOR sponsorship approval is not far behind...usually within 2 weeks...sometimes within 2 hours......don't ask...crazy system.....the sponsorship approval may come by email or may come by mail.....there is no consistency in this....do not assume you will receive by email just because you got an AOR by email....it does not work that way.....

The file is deemed to have been sent to Havana the day the sponsorhip approval letter is dated......but it takes the file up to 3 weeks to get transferred...i.e. Approval was given Oct 1/12....your file will be in Havana by Oct 21/12......seems to be a three week turnaround between Havana and CIC.

Hope this helps....

 

[KJG]

I took out a secondary master card in his name in case he needs to take any out.
$5 service fee and just normal exchange rate, based on the daily rate at the bank.


Did everyone do their double top-up on ezetop this week? I did 2 recharges to get the most bang for my buck!

I forgot about the double holiday this week!!! ;-)

That mastercard is a great idea shsuter2210...some much more economical for sure....

I did not do double top up....figured....phone or pre......pre won..LOL...sad but not even an extra $20 this week for that but oh well...such is life and thankfully that part of it will be over soon.....