Havana, Cuba

[KJG]

Welcome Home Avana!!
I want to know more about the immigration. Are they weighing the luggage now or anything? I have never had one problem ever going through Holguin, and I take 150 lbs. I want to know what to expect since all the changes. If I shouldn't take any weight this time. Hard to travel light for Christmas. Is looking like I do need to go in November LOL.

Thanks for the stats sandy, that cheered me up!! I'm sure it will happen in God's time. I'm sure it's the stress of this immigration stopping it!

Hey DDG......I had no problems....they are targeting Cubans it seems...was asked twice if I was cuban....I think it is the dark curly hair....anyway said no.....took my four bags and out the door I went....but I was worried but the cubans are being forced to a weigh scale whether they have 1 bag or 4 bags....so not right....

 

[327856]

lol I was wondering what stats. Bonjour Avana i hope you had a great time this weekend with hubby.

KJG gave me an idea of how long it takes for the file to be transferred to havana, 3 weeks was her time. Can anyone else tell me how long it took from CIC approval and when it got to Havana? I would love to get more ideas please!!!

 

[KJG]

Shuster2210.....praying for you that you hear this week and sending positive thoughts your way.....it is time.......hopefully hubby is done with the scaffolding (?) and can have his phone attached to his hip!!!!

 

[Avana]

they gave me absolutely no problems for my bag!! but i was below the limit even with bringing piles of extra clothes for ppl, only immigration problems

 

[shuster2210]

Shuster2210.....praying for you that you hear this week and sending positive thoughts your way.....it is time.......hopefully hubby is done with the scaffolding (?) and can have his phone attached to his hip!!!!

Hahahahahahahaha.... Thanks for making me smile. Yes he is done on the scaffolding. He repainted the house to sell it, colonial house in Havana vieja and the ceilings are 20 feet high!!!
While warned him to have his cellphone at all times, I also told him that if he fell and got hurt I'd kill him!!!

Hoping this is our week!!! Started packin today. Fairly easy since I left all my summer clothes there when I was there is September. So just the usual "gifts" and I'm bringing him down a winter coat so he will be warm on his way here. He was terrified thinking that in Toronto try let you off the plane on the Tarmac and that you have to walk to the terminal, I said Amor, if they have the gates in Havana, do you really think there wouldn't be any in Toronto???

 

[sassylassie]

Heyyyyyy everyone!! I'm baaaaaack! What a crazy weekend it has been, and came back with a fever and terrible cough, but I had 49 amazing hours with hubby and it was well worth it! Landed in Varadero Friday morning and got pulled out by immigration to get interrogated by 2 pretty intimidating ladies, but obviously they let me go in the end. then we talked to a guy for 3 hrs trying to rent a car to avoid the overnight viazul, finally got one for a nice little negocio tip, drove 10 hours.. well 9, hubby drove for one until I couldnt take the stress anymore of him driving, got pulled over by the cops, had a WONDERFUL party all day Saturday and was once again reminded that they know how to party! and left this morning (sniff, sniff) only to get interrogated again. UGGGHHH. lol oh well, it all worked out.. think they got suspicious of my weekend trips all over cuba... lol

Welcome to the ppsandy! I am from Quebec and it took 25 working days for me to get a response... They claim 20 but apparently getting more apps now than before. One of the reasons I was there this week was to bring him his CSQ so hes all ready when he gets a call from havana...

Hope you ladies had a wonderful wknd. Cant believe how fast it went! back to work tomo for 11 hrs ??? lol

Welcome back! Holy crap that is a crazy weekend! Freaking me out how you got questioned so much. Glad you are back safe...and somewhat healthy. Do you have to go right back to work tomorrow or can you take a day to recover from the cough? Remember the cough/flu thing I had? It took 3 weeks before the cough let up and 7 days in bed. I wish that on no one....take care of yourself girly!

 

[DDG]

Thanks everyone for the info!!

Shuster...I know this is your week too. I feel it. I've been following your times and trips and getting ideas, I really think you are the one with no interview. I envision this for you so more positive thoughts from me too!!

Sorry about my confusion ladies, when I get on here, my head spins!! LOL I get excited, nervous, happy, relieved, reassured, soooo many emotions!!!

I used to travel alot, but it's so much money flying from the East!! I had to stop for a bit and catch up !! Still, I'm stressed beyond belief about it.

 

[Avana]

Shuster- I agree, this is your week! Has to be! Hahaha, Leonel also assumed there were no gates in Montreal!! I dont think they truly understand what we mean by "big cities". There were 4 Cubans on my plane landing for the first time on my flight! made me so excited for our hubbies!

Sassy-- Thanks!! To be honest I dont blame them, going so much, and short trips and landing in all diff airports, they probably thought I was a mule or smthg, but after I explained my situation, they took all our information down, but I guess they understood by then... I didnt even have my marriage certificate and I think I shoulda brought it! oh well... all worked out in the end! I hope this cold/flu lasts less than 7 days :s I can NOT afford to miss work at this point!! I have a long 10.6 hours ahead of me today!

DDG-- I can imagine flying from MTL can be expensive sometimes too, so Halifax must be a whole other ball game... plus, must be harder to find flights! Toronto is def the easiest!

Last night my family and I started planning our Xmas vacay there too! Now counting down to Dec 21!! yikes, that seems forever away....

 

[DDG]

Yes, if I was living close to Toronto or Monrtreal I would be there so so often. I should have went in August to early September but my son was home from University and took this semester off because he has depression. I couldn't leave him. He finally just started to feel better and went out to Calgary to stay with his Dad until Christmas to work so I can go at my leisure now however I'm starting a new position until end of December. I know the scheduler and could maybe try to squeeze 4 days off together. e talked about it and he for sure wants a weekend if I can do it financially, but it's sooo much money from here. I could swing it but I would get behind again, and I just got caught up!! I don't want to be in debt when he get's here!!

 

[DDG]

So has anyone ever gone to the embassy to drop off more evidence before the interview ? I seen in a few fews posts you were all talking about it. I've been getting all the stuff together in case I do go on a quick trip. Or, I am sending it with friends who have a project in Cuba.

 

[shuster2210]

Thanks for all the positive vibes ladies!!! It really really helps!!!
Had a shitty weekend, and I've been sick with this awful cold going around, so I've just been a grump ass lol
Had a dream last night that I somehow had the VOs hand written notes and that he was denied a visa....like really?? Did I really need to have that dream???

Just can't wait to get down there 10 more days!!!

Hope this is a great week for everybody!!!

 

[DDG]

Thanks for all the positive vibes ladies!!! It really really helps!!!
Had a *censored word*ty weekend, and I've been sick with this awful cold going around, so I've just been a grump ass lol
Had a dream last night that I somehow had the VOs hand written notes and that he was denied a visa....like really?? Did I really need to have that dream???

Just can't wait to get down there 10 more days!!!

Hope this is a great week for everybody!!!

Don't worry shuster2210!! This week is it and if not, then you have your trip to look forward to!! Hope you feel better soon! 10, 9, 8, 7...........you are almost there!! Wheeeeeee!!!

 

[KJG]

So has anyone ever gone to the embassy to drop off more evidence before the interview ? I seen in a few fews posts you were all talking about it. I've been getting all the stuff together in case I do go on a quick trip. Or, I am sending it with friends who have a project in Cuba.

DDG....you can drop off evidence anytime unless an interview has been set.....once the interview is set you cannot drop off further evidence it has to be brought with you on the day of the interview......

 

[KJG]

Well ladies my husband went to apply for the PRE this morning....got there nice and early and was told he had to fill out another form and then take that to the bank...pay the $550cuc at the bank and then bring back the form.....so by the time he did that and got back to immigration.....shortly after 9am....they were not accepting anymore id's for the lineup so now he has to wait till tomorrow morning........hopefully when he goes bright and early tomorrow there will not be yet another form.....he was upset because they could have given this form to him on friday and he could have went friday afternoon to pay and have everything in order this morning....but es cuba.......why do more than you have to.....so here is hoping tomorrow is a better day!!!

 

[Luvcuba]

DDG....you can drop off evidence anytime unless an interview has been set.....once the interview is set you cannot drop off further evidence it has to be brought with you on the day of the interview......

Am I able to e-mail them further information as I'm unable to get to my husband before interview? If not play dumb didn't know???

Thanks Ladies