JacNCoke

19 minutes ago, Livet&Alayn said:

Hey, can someone add me to the facebook group? I applied in September 25, and should be receiving by NOA2 soon, this month. I would like to know how long they give you the interview for, after you receive the NOA2, and what things we should have ready for that.. Please, someone. I'm a 1st year dental student, always full of exams and very little time to research about this, and need a support group or some guidance in case I have any questions. 

 

Thank you!

Hey there,

Private message me with your name and I will add you.

12 hours ago, lilit829 said:

Cuba!! Felicidadesss! Congrats, I hope you'll be in el yuma soon! 

Gracias!  I am American, but my fiance is thrilled!  You know how the internet connection is there.  

1 hour ago, BibisCoco said:

Any updates?? I'm in Atlanta also, but just filed and trying to get a sent of the current timeframes.

Hi @BibisCoco...I am 177 days into the wait for the NOA2. I was pretty excited because yesterday, my timeline moved up one day! That’s the first time it has not pushed out since I started the process. So it’s looking like they will be reviewing my file in about 3 weeks. Glad to hear you filed! Stay strong!

Hi everyone,

Happy New Year! A while back, several people were interested in information on a local photographer in Cuba to take engagement photos.  Well... I found one!  His name is Eduardo and he is the owner of Eddos Studios.  My fiance and I took our engagement photos on Christmas Day and had a great time with the photographer and his team. He has very reasonable packages.  We had 3 different looks in 3 different locations.  There was a make-up artist that traveled with us (she was amazing and did a great job with my makeup and hair).  It was such a fun day and I cannot wait to see these pictures.  Below is the contact information.

Eddos STD

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eddos.fotos.cuba/

Phone: +537 830 6220 / +537 873 4490 / +535 292 6581

Have a great week!

4 hours ago, AriSmith said:

Update. The U.S. Embassy in Bogota CANCELED our K1 visa interview 10 DAYS before we were scheduled to attend. We had this interview booked for a month! I want to cry but I have too much fight in me to sit down and cry. 

 

So upset. 

 

I emailed the consular section IVBOGOTA@ state.gov to ask why our appointment got cancelled for no reason. I'm waiting for their reply. This is really saddening. 

OMG...I'm so sorry @AriSmith.  My heart breaks for you.  I've watched your videos on Facebook so I know you have the strength to get through this.  Hopefully you will get a quick response from Bogota and I pray it was just an error that can be reversed.  Thinking of you!

1 hour ago, pukka said:

All, I do want to keep chatting and sharing info, but given the public and searchable nature of VJ posts, I have some privacy concerns. At this point the info we may share given the unique situation we find ourselves navigating may be identifiable/revealing. Is there any way we could create a private group chat (on VJ) and keep any docs private to us/others applying who ask to join our group? What do you think? 

I completely agree with that.  I haven't seen a way to do that on VJ, but there are other options through Facebook or maybe a Google Hangout/shared drive. 

1 hour ago, SazKap said:

Hi Team Cuba,

 

In the data-driven spirit of VJ, trying to aggregate a list of Cuba filers and their status/updates on NVC/Visa Interview in Colombia. Hoping our collective knowledge can land us answers and maybe even an estimated timeline.

 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1T92HV6FyMPMY5N68eQ-Iz7Mmf_eWVWIsT3nXO1MTLxQ/edit#gid=0

 

Here's a list of folks I believe are planning to have their visas processed in a 3rd-party embassy. Would appreciate if ya'll indicate your status and respective dates/milestones.

 

@DiamondEyes490 

@CubaAndChill 

@VeredAK

@Marianatomas

@Kirenia

@AriSmith 

@Sarah&Michel

@pukka

@YandJ

@pukka

@Raulandlisa

 

Am I missing anyone?

 

Feel free to edit/add columns with any other important milestones I'm missing like date of receipt for Bogota Instructions email, etc.

Hey there!

I just added my information to the spreadsheet. I’m still waiting on the NOA2...we have about 2 months to go before we will receive it. I will be in Cuba with my hunny for Christmas, but unfortunately, the Colombian embassy will be closed. I’ll keep you guys posted on any information I find out while in country.

Hugs!

9 hours ago, pukka said:

any news on when they will announce something? I am still in havana. Today is a cuban holiday. I will be calling the embassy tomorrow at 9 am...

There is no new news out of the White House on this situation. On the Embassy website, there is the following excerpt. The Facebook page says something similar and is dated 10/6...

The Department of State will work with its colleagues in the Department of Homeland Security to ensure continued operation of the Cuban Family Reunification Parole program, and the refugee processing center. The State Department will soon announce arrangements for immigrant visa applicants.

This is a nightmare and I can't imagine how hard it is for you to be trying to figure this out in Cuba. We all know how hard it is to get communicate from there. If you want me to contact your congressman/woman on your behalf to try and lobby for help, please message me with the state and district you are in. I will work on it tomorrow morning. 

On 9/28/2017 at 11:15 AM, Kirenia said:

My fiance live in Manzanillo Granma and I'm from Camaguey. I'm going next month to cuba again 😊 to visit my fiance, I'm super excited!!

Please Excuse my English, I'm trying to learn.😊

Your English is way better than my Spanish! I wish I was going in October, but I just don't have enough vacation time work. I know you will have a wonderful time!!

12 hours ago, Mocuepa25 said:

For those visiting your fiancée, under what category are you traveling? Is it possible to travel under the family one if I’m going to apply for a family visa once I get there? What’s the best approach, as I want to make sure we do thing right.

 

Also, with this new issue with the Embassy, anyone know how the process was before the Embassy was opened a couple of years ago?

I have friends who went through this process about 12 years ago. The interview was held at the Office of Interest in Cuba (don't know where it was, but I will ask them for more details and circle back on this post). The process was the same, but was not managed by the embassy because it was not open. 

I am going to spend Christmas with my fiancé and will be traveling under the Support of the Cuban People license. Not sure about how you should handle your situation, but I wish you the best of luck and safe travels!

20 hours ago, Kirenia said:

Hi Jacqueline!! I'm from cuba but I live in Texas,  my fiance is from cuba too, and I'm waiting for the NOA2! Do you speak Spanish? Good luck for you!

Hi @Kirenia! I was just in Dallas for a wedding a couple weeks ago!  My Spanish is decent, but could be much better...I am going to start classes soon while I find ways to pass the time.  Where are you from in Cuba and where does your fiance live?  I'm going to spend Christmas there with my fiance...only 86 days to go.  I wish you the best of luck in this process!

20 minutes ago, Jesus said:

Thank you, where do i do this haha  .. sorry 

No worries at all!!  Go to Menu>> Account>> Profile.... then scroll down to where it says "Immigration Timeline".  From there you will be prompted on how to create it.    There is also a quick link to the left under the country flag.

11 minutes ago, Jesus said:

If I filed mine on August 31st and received NO1 on September 5, do you know an expected day?  this waiting is killing me /=

(hahaha...figuring out how to use this site)  

Hi there!  There is a pretty cool tool that you can use to help track this.  Go to your profile and fill in the VJ timeline.  Once you put all of your receipt dates in, it will give you an estimated wait time.  It's pretty neat.  You can track your status all the way through the US immigration process.  Best of luck to you!!

Hi there!  There is a pretty cool tool that you can use to help track this.  Go to your profile and fill in the VJ timeline.  Once you put all of your receipt dates in, it will give you an estimated wait time.  It's pretty neat.  You can track your status all the way through the US immigration process.  Best of luck to you!!

5 hours ago, MandW said:

Keep in mind those of you like me that plan on being there when the interview takes place remember they will NOT let you the petitioner be present at the window, only the person needing the visa. If when they call his/her number and you walk to the window with them they will ask you to go back to your seat. Only the person needing the visa is allowed to be interviewed, I know it sucks, but it's part of their method to determine fake or real relationships.

I do plan to be there at the interview, in the waiting area, my fiancé will motion to the VO that I'm there when they ask her how many times he come to visit you. so the VO will know I'm sitting there.

That's really good to know. I was under the impression that we could do it together. I still plan on being there. Thanks!! I hope your process goes quickly. And yes...thank God for football season!

13 minutes ago, forthesoul said:

Heeyyyy!!!!

 

My Fiancé is in Cuba too!!! Aayyyyy!!  What part of Cuba?

I just came back from a visit last month. I am sure we will need to swap notes later on. I've had other family members marry Cubans as well. 

 

My my story is kind of similar to yours. I met my fiancé through my cousin when i went to visit family in Cuba in the beginning of 2017. I really didnt think we would keep in contact and grow a bond, but I was wrong.  Like you i recently visited to see if it was really worth it.  I'm trying to go out there for another visit hopefully before the interview process (i will go for that too).  

Hi!!! 

That's so exciting!! He lives in La Habana. I was planning to go again in October, but now think it may be better to go during the holidays. I am definitely traveling back for the interview as well! Where does your fiancé live?

Hello new friends!

So excited to have found this forum! Nobody else understands what I'm going through during the process so I'm very happy to meet you all. My name is Jacqueline and I met my fiancé, Osmany, in Cuba earlier this year at a friend's wedding. Went back a couple months ago to make sure that love at first sight is a thing...I'm here to tell you it is! He proposed on the beach in Guanabo on July 4th.  

My timeline so far:

Aug 11: shipped paperwork via UPS to Texas

Aug 15: received notification it was delivered

Aug 18: received email and text message from USCIS with receipt number

Aug 25: received NOA1 in the mail (woohoo!)

So now I wait for the NOA2...keeping myself as busy as possible. Anyone else have a fiancé in Cuba? Praying that this process is swift and smooth for everyone! And I'd be down for an Atlanta meet up...saw the Atlanta Fish Market in an earlier thread...yum!!