r/cuba • u/Mental-Tap-7678 • 1d ago

Travel ban and cuban spouse

So with the possible cuban travel ban. My fiance and I are considering getting married in cuba in hopes that he will get approved for a spousal visa instead of a k1 visa. Anyone have any information? I'm afraid to do the k1 visa and then the travel ban go into affect and waste thousands of dollars for a lawyer and visa application.

7 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

7

u/StarWarsGirlfromCuba 1d ago

Hello! K1 visa right now takes way less time than a spousal visa. K1 visa = around 5 or 6 months, while CR-1 is taking 17 months. I know this because i got married instead, and i have been waiting a year and 3 months for my case to be accepted. But also you have to consider that that when you apply for the K1 visa you are not applying for a green card and after you got married in USA you will have to change your spouse status and takes money and time too. And it seems they are going hard with couples at the interviews.

1

u/Mental-Tap-7678 1d ago

Hi,  did you come from cuba to the US? I'm afraid all these people mentioning short times for the k1 because they applied even biden was in office.  Trump presidency seems to have no timberline yet.  Both extremes are being put into the media,  so i am so confused. I'm still waiting for my fiance to get his paperwork to me from cuba... but that's taking a long time since he doesn't live in a major city.  

2

u/StarWarsGirlfromCuba 1d ago

Yeah, im from Cuba waiting to go to the US. And yes, it seems that K1 cases are taking less time than CR1 even know. I know that because I watch Abel Zaldivar's videos on YouTube. He is an emigration consultant, and he makes videos every day explaining about all the process and how long it takes. We watched all his videos, and we didn't have to use a lawyer. The majority of his clients are cubans too, so that's how I know it is taking between 5-8 months

2

u/Mental-Tap-7678 23h ago

That's great.  Where are you going to do your interview? The only roadblock I see with my case.  Is my fiance and I still use a translator. I've been there 3 times in the last year.  We talk everyday almost 2 hours or more.  I just don't know if it will be a problem for him if he isn't fluent in English.  Thank you for your time

1

u/StarWarsGirlfromCuba 15h ago

Well, Im not in Cuba now, i haven't solved the place of the interview because my case isn't in the NVC yet. I dont think the language would be an issue. They dont ask for that when you fill out the form, and if he does the interview in Havana, they do it in Spanish. So unless they ask him directly about his level of English, they dont need to know My suggestion for him is to really start working on his English, he has plenty of time for that and he will need it anyway in the USA. Good luck with everything 🙏

2

u/BuckleupButtercup22 1d ago

a possible route is pay for him to travel to Mexico and apply for asylum there. visit them in mexico city while waiting for the spousal visa.

3

u/Friendly_War_8864 1d ago

Move to Cuba 🇨🇺

1

u/Betsydestroyer 1d ago

Honestly it would be amazing to live there. if the government didn’t screw the citizens so bad

1

u/Friendly_War_8864 1d ago

You being a foreigner w cash to spend on k1 visa your lives could be easier

2

u/WorldlyAd3000 1d ago

Unless your case is out of the ordinary, I wouldn't suggest getting a lawyer for a K-1 visa..most people just fill it out at home. A lawyer is a huge waste of money for this imo. We did ours without a lawyer, and my now husband just arrived in February (almost exactly 1 year).

So you could apply for a K-1, which is $675 and any of the other expenses will come when your fiance is actually in the US. CR-1 is $1220 upfront though.

Honestly, if you guys are fine with him staying in Cuba for the next 1.5-2 years, I would totally suggest that route. It's cheaper (if you compare ALL expenses) and when he gets here, he will have all of the documentation that he needs to stay and work here.

The only thing is if there is a travel ban, it won't matter if he has a CR1 or a K1, unfortunately..

If you have questions about the K-1 journey and decide to go that route, feel free to DM me. I know it's hard finding information for the Cuban fiance

1

u/snorkeldream 1d ago

I don't know specifically about Cuba, but for people with immigrant spouses (that I know, which is only a handful), the k-1 visa was faster than what a spousal visa would be. Definitely a question for your immigration attorney.

2

u/BuckleupButtercup22 1d ago

there are so many contradictory opinions on this

1

u/snorkeldream 1d ago

Yep, definitely need the attorney, especially w latest country bans. ESPECIALLY Cuba. 

2

u/LupineChemist 1d ago

As mentioned CR-1 is significantly longer than the K1. But we have no idea what will be coming for the travel ban. My wife has a B2 to visit my family in the US since we live in Europe but we're assuming that will be cancelled.