zezinho
Yes, I have invited a couple of Cubans to the UK. One, a man, never got the visa, despite having a child and a house in Cuba. The other, a woman, had a child (but not a house nor a job) in Cuba and did get the visa ... and even (miracle of miracles) went back to Cuba bang on schedule.
I have to say you are taking a massive gamble here and it's by no means guaranteed that your guest would feel obliged to go home once their 6 months (maximum limit for UK visitors' visas) are up .... which means that YOU are lumbered with having enabled an "illegal immigrant" - unlike Canada, Britain will not make you legally liable for all their living expenses until the end of time/until they get residency - but YOU MAY NEVER BE ABLE TO ACT AS A SPONSOR FOR A FOREIGNER VISITING BRITAIN AGAIN. Which is a large risk.
The chances of your friend getting a visitor visa don't sound too hopeful, to be honest. (Your relationship being not close or longstanding enough to overcome the likelihood of an unemployed, broke Cuban overstaying in the UK.) It's a lovely idea, and it's up to you whether to pursue it, but it's such a gigantic cost and hassle, not to mention the danger of getting someone's hopes up and having them dashed. Have you considered, even tentatively, the idea of sending this friend some of the money you'd spend on a prospective trip, so that he could use it to start up some sort of business in Cuba which would make their life more bearable?
And a couple of details I missed out:
The application for the carta blanca (PVE) actually costs around CUC 220 these days, and involves at least three trips to the immigration office that deals with the area where your friends live. 1 - to obtain the application forms, which will not be issued without a visa and a Carta de Invitacion, 2 - to submit the application, which is where the fee will have to be paid, 3 - (usually around 2 weeks later) to collect the permit (which is stamped into their passport like a visa).
This fee has to be paid with special bank stamps – check with the Immigration staff first how much / in what denomination they need to be. Also make sure to keep the receipt from the bank for buying the stamps, it may be demanded later.
As part of the application your friends will also need to provide a document from the office that issued their carnet, this may take a few days / weeks to obtain depending on the office involved. Note that many immigration offices in Cuba are closed on one day a week (usually Wednesdays), so make sure your friends check this before attending and don't have to make a wasted journey.
NOTE ALSO that a PVE only gives permission for the Cuban to be out of Cuba for 30 days though it is renewable (for up to 11 months) once they are abroad. An extension costs about GBP 28 per extra month at the consulate in London, though there is an GBP 18 admin fee charged on top of that each time you pay- so you are better off extending the PVE only once for all the extra time required rather than doing this each month. It doesn't matter whether the PVE is kept up to date month-by-mont while the Cuban is abroad, as long as it is brought up to date prior to their return to Cuba.
ViajeraUK the solution is not sending money, it doesn't resolve it. Maybe he wants to get out of here to know other 'world' different from here. Go to other places, be free of what he want. Sendying money to make a business is just a was to scape, understand?
Zezinho be feith and hope, if finally your friend can not go to UK, at least you tried, no matter what! you tried it, ok.
It is what I think.
Thanks,
Yuni.
The idea of providing the funds required for the application and travel, to instead provide an opportunity for you friend in Cuba, is a good one. This amount of money, if utilized well, could make a huge change in your friend's life. If he is truely poor, and not someone existing through association with tourists, it could make almost as much difference in his life as travelling outside Cuba. I only know of one person who was successful with the Canadian application process,( I was turned down twice, and know others rejected as well) and although his friend returned, she was refused the next three times she applied. Nothing had changed in her life--she still had no job, no property,no criminal record, had children, obviously had known him even longer--but now she was not approved. Go figure. Of course it cost him for the application each time, and it is better now than it was then, because getting the Cuban "Letter of Invitation" was necessary BEFORE the Canadian Embassy interview. Again good luck with whatever you decide to do; and again cudos to viajera for his information and ideas.
Yuni,
Thanks for the kind words amigo but i am nothing special! i just want my friend to experience what life is like over here. Like i said in my previous post, me and my friend are working class Enlgish boys, but compared to the average cuban we are rich!
For us, sure it takes time effort and money but I think it would be worth it for my cuban amigo don't you think?
I am not overly worried of him arriving here and doing a runner as he has a house, wife and a child. His English is fairly poor too.
The only thing that worries me, is that a visit to the UK might corrupt him!
He might start to worry about having the latest trainers, ipod's, when the next Heat mag is out etc
I actually think a visit to england could have a negative effect on him, in terms of the culture bieng so different.
Over here we give too much value to gadgets, celebrities, gossip, image etc
Kids take education, freedom of speech and health care etc for granted over here.
The average cuban is happy to sit on rocking chair sipping a mango smoothie with friends & family listening to a bit of reggaeton. A far better lifestyle if you ask me!
I probably haven't put my ideas accross very coherently but I hope you get my drift!
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How long does it take for a cuban citizen to get a cuban passport?
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What is the process of applying for a UK visitor visa? (Viajera your steps are very helpful but have they changed since 2007 - the date of your post?)
Infoplease:
Take a hint from this video of a New Years Eve concert by the Band ca. 1974. An old revived thread desires an old revived song. This is from a classic live recording btw that should be available on CD for anyone who's interested .
I've invited a friend from Cuba to stay with me in England. Going throught the process of all the forms that they want, but can anyone tell me how I can pay for the flight. Cuba does not accept Western Union so I'm stuck.
darganna: I don't understand the question. The Cuban doesn't have to travel with Cubana, they can fly with any airline (except charters) that covers your route. OK, coming to the UK that means the additional hassle of an EU transit visa if they fly Air France (via Paris), Iberia (via Madrid) or via say Amsterdam or Rome. BUT it doesn't have to be Cubana, you could try Virgin - though it's not cheap - instead.
What is NOT NECESSARY is to buy that flight within Cuba. Even Cubana will let you buy the ticket in the UK, but because they don't take card payment it is a hassle - you may have to deliver the cash to their offices in Docklands, east London. With Virgin you can pay over the phone with a credit card. You don't need to send money to Cuba for this.
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