Cedars1974

4 minutes ago, USS_Voyager said:

Many many many people have traveled with the combo card and had no issue whatsoever, myself included. 

 

Just a couple of notes:

 

1. The standard procedure of the CBP is to send the combo card holder to secondary where they can verify your I-485 is still pending. Well, at least that was the case few years back. So do plan to spend about 1 hour or so in secondary depending on how busy they are. 

 

2. In some foreign countries, the check-in agents of the airlines might not be familiar with the combo card. Again that was few years back. They may go back and forth trying to understand what a combo card is and whether or not they should let your board the plane heading to the US. Worst case is the might make you sign a form that if you are denied entry to the US, you're responsible for your transportation back. 

Thank you for that response. 

Just received her combo card yesterday. We filed for AOS on May 14th, 2019 and we were married in February. Has anyone had experience with travel and return into the US with a combo card while waiting for green card? I thought I remember hearing it's not recommended. Would love to take a short vacation while waiting. 

3 minutes ago, Raulandlisa said:

Cedars...I was hoping to be of help to others so they wouldn't get rejected like I did by the Cuban Embassy but  now it is unclear again.  I exchanged numbers with another girl going through the same process that I met there in line at the embassy and I just called her and she said they did charge her for the translations.  She said she paid $560 for four documents. Im thinking maybe they gave me a break (I cant imagine them feeling bad for sending my docs back without explanation but I dont know why they charged her and not me..).  Everyone else online on this site seems to say to pay for translations so I would go with that or show up in person like I had to. With that said Im unsure why they rejected my docs again if that is the case.

 As for  if you need the Single Status document, Im going off of the document they gave me in Cuba with the extranjero requirments to marry.  It says .... 

 “Servicios notariales Para las personas interesadas en contraer matrimonio en Cuba, siempre que una de ellas sea extranjera, los requisitos son: La parte extranjera: Certificado de Nacimiento o Acta de Nacimiento. Pasaporte vigente o Documento Oficial de Identidad ( Tarjeta de Embarque o Visa de Turista ) Si es soltero, certificación de Soltería 8 el documento caduca a los 6 meses de expedido ) Si es divorciado sentencia firme de divorcio o certificado de divorcio Si es viudo, certificado de matrimonio y de defunción del cónyuge Todos los documentos deben presentarse traducidos al idioma español y legalizado por el Consulado de Cuba en el país donde haya sido expedido. Los documentos de haber sido expedidos en un país donde no exista Oficina Consular cubana, deben legalizarse en un Consulado cubano radicado en un país a elección del interesado  ”.    I am taking this to mean you need the Single Status Doc  if your single but if you are divorced you need the divorce decree(s=.  I am not an attorney and I will not know until I get there if I am correct. Maybe let me know how you interpret it. 

I interpret it the same way now that I've read it. Did you get in and out the same day? I am going to book a flight there to be sure and need to know how long I should plan on being in Washington. 

Thanks 

I am so happy for you and happy to hear anything current about these steps!

So just to recap here. You are saying I do NOT need a single status affidavit? Just Divorce papers, birth certificate, Spanish translations of both, all documents sent to BOTH state and federal apostille service for certification and the what is the total to Cuban embassy? $280 (2x$140) ? Thanks you for the help. I am trying to get all this done before September and can't spare the time to have documents rejected.

Also if you don't mind, what was the Cuban embassy visit like? Same day service? 

I looked at the envelope and I can't make it out either. I was told I would need the single status affidavit even if I was divorced. Maybe that is what you missed? 

6 hours ago, Raulandlisa said:

I'm about to lose my SH!?@. My docs just returned from Cuban embassy without processing or explanation of what I did wrong. I'm so exhausted I don't know if I can keep going and I'm so darn mad. If anyone can help, I've tried contacting the embassy they won't answer, return voice message nor emails. I live in Fl or else I would be there already this am.  

Hey man sorry to hear that. What did you do different from what I listed above? Maybe we can figure it out together and see what we might be missing. 

So let's see if I have this all correct

1. Certified divorce papers, single status affidavit and birth certificate all translated to Spanish. 

2. All 6b of these new documents sent to the state apostille for certification.

3. All 6 documents sent to the federal apostille service for certification.

4. All 6 of these documents sent to the Cuban embassy with a money order for $840 and a self addressed envelope for return shipping. 

Once received back from Cuban embassy I am all set to take all of these documents with me to Havana to get my wedding license. 

Did I miss anything?

Thank you all so much for this help. You have been lifesavers. 

Ramze

3 minutes ago, TatiyPablo said:

You have to have translations of all your documents and the translations have to be certified. You will need to send English and Spanish copies to the embassy, they will charge $140 for each document, including the separate translations 

Do both English and Spanish versions have to be certified by my state? Any recommendations for a translation service? Thank you 

14 minutes ago, Raulandlisa said:

I am going through the same process right now. After each document from vital statistics or the courthouse is received you have to send them to the Secretary of State for authentication and then the Department of State for further authentication before sending to the Cuban embassy in Washington DC for legalization. The translated docs also must be sent for legalization with a fee for each of those also. I sent mine off two weeks ago with return postage paid express mail and am waiting. 

So the secretary of state is obviously my home state and then I have to send them off to a department of state? Should I wait until I have translated copies? Do i submit both English and Spanish copies to the Cuban embassy? Thank you for your quick response. 

Hi guys

This has been a very helpful site so far. As you all know there is so little information available out there. I am engaged to a Cuba woman. I have been spending half the year in Havana for the last 7 years. I am just now trying to figure out how to get all my papers in order for us to marry in Havana in September. Can someone tell me if i am going down the right path?

I have a certified copy of my divorce papers issued by the courthouse in my state. 

I have my birth certificate in hand

I am still trying to understand this single affidavit thing (help please if you know of a service or a step by step guide to this)

2 questions.

1. Can anybody recommend an approved translation service?

2. Am I missing anything? Do I just send those documents and $420 ($140x3) to the Cuban embassy in Washington with a prepaid express envelope for return when I have finished having them translated? 

Thank you in advance for any help

Ramze