No Change in US Migration Regulations for Cubans

No Change in US Migration Regulations for Cubans

HAVANA, Cuba, March 11 (acn) US Migration regulations have not changed
and the requirements for a temporary or permanent visa application are
the same ones, said an official with the US Interest Section in Havana
(USINT).
Cuban News Agency
Juvenal Balán/Granma

USINT General Consul Timothy Roche told Granma newspaper that his
government "positively welcomes" the changes made to the Cuban Migration
Law, but US regulations keep the same.
Roche said that Cubans who intend to travel to the United States must
apply for a permit that must be approved by a consular official in an
interview. He also stressed the need for the strict meeting of all
established procedures to get a visa.

At present, Cubans have two wait 18 months to get an interview at the
USINT, while the period of time to get the visa after the interview is
done may vary, said the US official.
Non-immigrant visas are granted in two or three days, though for some
cases needing an administrative process it could take up to 90 days, he
said.

Those who apply for immigrant visas have to wait about 30 days after the
interview to get their travel document, but some specific cases have to
wait up to 120 or more days, said the official.

As to tourist visas, the law is strict, since the persons intending to
travel to the United States must prove their strong links to the island
in order to avoid that such persons do not stay in the U.S. to work, the
Consul pointed out.

Roche said that all consular officials are required to assume that all
Cubans applying for temporary visas are possible immigrants; therefore,
it is very difficult for the youths to get a visa to the United States.

However, figures published by the Cuban government revealed that most
Cubans who travel to the U.S. return to the island.

Since the year 2000 up to August 31, 2012, a total of 941 thousand 953
Cubans traveled abroad on personal interest. Out of that figure, 120
thousand 705 did not return, which makes up for just 12.8 percent,
Granma daily reported.

The General Consul avoided talking about the Cuban Adjustment Act, which
privileges illegal Cuban emigrants, or about the Cuban Medical
Professional Parole program (CMPP), which promotes the defection of
Cuban doctors working abroad.

The US official did not refer either to other plans aimed at promoting
subversion and destabilization in Cuba, and at justifying anti-Cuban
propaganda or distorting the reality of the country.

http://www.cubanews.ain.cu/2013/130311US%20Migration.htm