A2 Visa / Property Purchase

lavidaloca89, do yourself a favor and seek the PR status first before you do anything else so that you can register the new casa with your name on the deed. You're just setting yourself up for a lot of heartache otherwise. Putting the ownership of the new casa exclusively in the name of your common-law Cuban wife is an absolute disaster waiting to happen... repeated time and time again by those yumas who just can't seem to put the horse in front of the cart because they're 1) too over anxious, and 2) they feel that their relationship is different and that disaster could never happen to them. If you ignore what I'm telling you now, don't later say that you weren't forewarned. It's really not rocket science.

Terry

At the end of the day, I agree. As much as i trust my wife, which i do completely... We've been together for 15 years, better to protect yourself. I'm going for PR and the house will be in my name.

If anything happens to me, she'll get the house, outright, so nothing lost, in her case or my case. Unless i divorce her. Not going to happen unless she does something that is not pardonable. In that case, she doesn't deserve this.

Less than 1 year. Can't wait, even knowing what we will go through buying a new house and everything else involved. Can't wait. In the meantime, we'll live in her house in Havana. Hey, life could be worse...lol

lavidaloca89, do yourself a favor and seek the PR status first before you do anything else so that you can register the new casa with your name on the deed. You're just setting yourself up for a lot of heartache otherwise. Putting the ownership of the new casa exclusively in the name of your common-law Cuban wife is an absolute disaster waiting to happen... repeated time and time again by those yumas who just can't seem to put the horse in front of the cart because they're 1) too over anxious, and 2) they feel that their relationship is different and that disaster could never happen to them. If you ignore what I'm telling you now, don't later say that you weren't forewarned. It's really not rocket science.

Terry

I'm well aware of this issue. I could recoup my loss on this property very quickly if she were to take it and boot me out. If I was buying a property of significant value then I'd be concerned. If I take a hit on something of this nature I'm really not too concerned. I'd probably spend 10-15k anyway in buying another place for her to have a decent place to raise our daughter.

Another issue is the length of time it will take me to get PR. I don't get the impression that will happen in a month or two months. Add to that there are costs in terms of getting PR. I'm putting up only half the money for this property. If PR costs me $2,000 to obtain. Takes 6 months during which time I'll have to rent. I'm already out $4,000. If my own personal investment in the property is $15,000ish as I'm only putting up half of it. We are talking a $10,000 risk more or less. Getting PR also takes up a lot of mine time which is quite valuable. I'd probably guess that the time I spend messing around trying to get PR I could probably make back that $10,000 if not more.

I 100% agree with you though. If I was making a significant purchase I would highly agree with you. Something like a seaside apartment in Vedado or a Detached Home in Miramar I'd be all over it.

I realize for many retirees and people going to Cuba that would be a significant loss. That would just mean I won't have the fun money to travel South America or Eastern Europe for a few months for one particular year. I fully intend to spend $4-$5,000 a month when I'm outside of Holguin travelling. I guess instead of living in Holguin for 6 months one year I'd have to live 8 months. It really wouldn't be a big deal.

I'm not investing my life savings in some girl who charged me by the hour the first time, or in a resort worker as I read about often happens. With that said I'm aware that the rates of marital breakdown are high in any country and even higher with foreign-cuban couples.

I will look into PR and see the difficulties in obtaining it and speak with my accountant regarding issues I have which are way beyond the scope of this post.

Keep in mind given we have a child together I do have some level of leverage in terms of funding. Her state job doesn't even nearly cover her cost of living. In this case there is no concern about the baby's paternity. The features the baby has are quite distinctive and it was planned.

Getting PR costs nothing. There are no fees. Normal time frame to obtain it is about 3 months.

And you can apply in the comfort of your place in Canada.

That I wasn't aware of I read elsewhere of people spending $2,000 and even $5,000 attempting to get PR to only get rejected. 3 months isn't as bad as I expected either.

This is the one site I read about it recently on. http://www.casasparticulares.net/en/resper.php

This is exactly why I posed these questions on this site. The information and knowledge of wealth here is far greater in regard to Cuba than I've seen anywhere else. (Perhaps Cubamor has some knowledgeable posters) I looked at that once a couple years ago and quickly realized that wasn't the place for me.

Thank you to everyone who has assisted me with advice regarding the numerous issues and pitfalls I have.

I won't deny and pretend like it's likely I'll get PR. I had absolutely 0 intention of doing it prior to posting in this thread. I will canvass the idea with my accountant though in the near future.

Solicitud de Cambio de Clasificación Migratoria a Residente Permanente
Organismo: MININT
Entidad: Dirección de Inmigración y Extranjería
Trámite: Solicitud de Cambio de Clasificación Migratoria a Residente Permanente.
Actualizado: 07-03-2008

Descripción: Como norma este trámite debe solicitarse en el consulado cubano, excepcionalmente se recepciona la solicitud en el territorio nacional y en este caso los extranjeros deben presentar:
Certificado de nacimiento de los hijos del ciudadano extranjero con residentes cubanos que no hayan formalizado matrimonio.
Certificado de matrimonio acorde a las leyes cubanas.
Antecedentes penales del país de residencia del extranjero.
4 fotos de 1×1 cm.
Sellos del timbre por valor de 40.00 CUC.
Carta de posible intención laboral o certificado jubilación.
Solvencia económica (banco metropolitano) 5 000 pesos en moneda convertible.
Carta de solicitud personal.
Declaración jurada del propietario de la vivienda ante notario.
Chequeo médico que incluye VIH, Serología y Placa de Tórax. De presentarse en Cuba, realizado en un hospital que brinde atención a extranjeros.

**Para los menores, hijos de extranjeros.
Poder notarial del padre o madre hijo de ciudadanos extranjeros.
Certificado de nacimiento del menor.

Todos los documentos emitidos en el exterior tienen que ser legalizados en nuestros Consulados en el país de residencia del solicitante.**

Nota: Los trámites de Extranjería en Ciudad de La Habana se solicitan en calle Factor y Final, Nuevo Vedado, Plaza de la Revolución. Además, en la Villa Tarará, Habana del Este, se pueden realizar trámites de prórrogas de estancia en Cuba de extranjeros que permanecen en el país en calidad de turistas.

https://cubanosune.wordpress.com/sobre-tramites-migratorios-2/

caney2, I believe all of what you posted about what is needed for the PR application is rather old information. Here are the current requirements as of this year:

For applications for permanent residence in Cuba - (from immigration office in Camagüey)

Applications for permanent resident visas will be made by foreigners interested in the Consulates, offices of procedures in Cuba or by their relatives, for which they will present:

1_ Results of radiological examinations of the thorax, serology and HIV test _ AIDS, legalized in the Cuban Consular Office of the country of residence.

2_ Certification of legalized birth in the Consular Office of the country of residence.

3_ Certification of criminal records legalized in the Cuban Consular Office of the country of residence.

4_ Argumentation letter that motivates the request. (in español, of course)

5_ Front photo 1 × 1.

6_ Photocopy of the general passport information page.

7_ Marriage certificate in accordance with Cuban laws or birth certificates of the children that substantiate the reasons for their request, as appropriate.

8_ Sworn Statement before a Public Notary in Cuba of a relative of reference, where he expresses his agreement that once authorized he will reside in his home.

** Note: Countries that have another language, documents 1, 2 and 3 will be translated.

I have all of my documents ready to submit to the immigration office in Cam city later this month. There ARE costs involved with acquiring, translating, notarizing, authenticating, and certifying, all of these documents.

The medical tests and report cost me 105cuc at the hospital in Cam.

My lawyer in Toronto charged me $100.00 for translating and notarizing my RCMP police record report, my birth certificate, and correlated copies of my passport. Acquiring the police record report cost me approx. $50.00.

My translated and notarized police record report and my birth certificate then had to be authenticated at the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services in downtown Toronto - cost was $16.00 per document - $32.00 total.

My affidavit to confirm where I will be living in Cuba after receiving the PR status was acquired at the Notary Public office in Cam city - cost was 2 x 5cup stamps + 5cuc to have a cubano sleep in front of the office door so we could be first in line in the morning).

My translated, notarized, and authenticated police record report and birth certificate then needed to be certified at the Cuban Consulate in Toronto... both the English copy, and the translated Spanish copy. Total cost for that was 4 documents @ $175.00 each + $100.00 more for certifying my correlated passport pages = $800.00 all together.

I also have a copy of my marriage certificate to submit with my PR application - my Cuban wife and I were legally married in Cuba last year (another good chunk of change to first acquire that).

Terry

Well, thanks! (guess the OP will thank you too!). After reading it, it's just a couple of things that differ, but thanks again for posting a recent one.

De nada! I think the most important thing about the current stipulations for PR status submission is that the government no longer needs any proof of financials. That might be especially attractive to the OP as well given his financial situation and/or worry about divulging too much.

To the OP... one last tidbit of protective advice... once you have the PR status and can buy a casa with your name on the deed, you should buy a small casa first to be your primary residence with your new family. Then buy another much bigger casa with your name on the deed to perhaps serve you as a licensed casa particular. Should your common-law marriage later end in divorce, the Cuban court will award the smaller primary residence casa to your esposa, and you will be allowed to keep the much larger casa for yourself. Hope for the best, but always plan for the worst. Be smart.
Terry

Terry and Caney,

The figures posted by Terry are more in line with what I expected. I think you also got a great deal in regard to "My lawyer in Toronto charged me $100.00 for translating and notarizing my RCMP police record report, my birth certificate, and correlated copies of my passport." - The translating part alone on that I would've thought would have cost more than $100.00.

I actually have a notary stamp. (Not that I can notarize my own documents) But in any event in stuff aside from that which needs to be done by the consulate any notarizing I could have done with no cost.