THIS WEEK TOPIC
(From Thursday, January 28, 2010 to Wednesday, February 3, 2010)

Cuban Interests Section in Washington (Part VI)

Consular Services

Certificate of Citizenship or negative and Alien Registration Certificate

Certificate of Migrant and Certificate of the Department of National Identity

Name and last names
Date and place of birth
Civil status
Last address in Cuba
Citizenship
Name of both parents
Number of Cuban ID
Number of Cuban Passport
Occupation
Complete name and address in United States of petitioner
Telephone number                         

         It is important to send all the date required, the omission of some data may cause the service not be completed.

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• Cuban Interests Section in Washington (Part V), (From Thursday, January 14, 2010 to Wednesday, January 20, 2010)

• Cuban Interests Section in Washington (Part IV), (From Thursday, January 7, 2010 to Wednesday, January 13, 2010)

• Wave of trips to Cuba following the opening from the U.S.

• Cuban Interests Section in Washington (Part III) (From Thursday, November 26, 2009 to Wednesday, December 2, 2009 )

• Cuban Interests Section in Washington (Part II) (From Thursday, November 19, 2009 to Wednesday, November 25, 2009 )

• Cuban Interests Section in Washington (From Thursday, November 12, 2009 to Wednesday, November 18, 2009 )

• Family Visits from Cuba (Part II) (From Thursday, November 5, 2009 to Wednesday, November 11, 2009 )

• Family Visits from Cuba (Part I) (From Thursday, October 29, 2009 to Wednesday, November 4, 2009 )

• Documents II (from Thursday, October 23, 2009 to Wednesday, October 29, 2009 )

• Documents I (from Thursday, October 15, 2009 to Wednesday, October 21, 2009 )

• Fact Sheet: Treasury Amends Cuban Assets Control Regulations
  To Implement the President’s Initiative on Family Visits, Remittances, and Telecommunications  (from Thursday, October 8, 2009 to October 14, 2009 )  

Cuban Interests Section in Washington (Part V)

Consular Services

 Document’s Request

        To apply for certification of documents you should send the information as detailed below. The omission of some data may result in not being able to complete the service.
        With the application you must send a Money Order in the amount of $20.00 for processing with the Civil Registry of Cuba; in the event that the requested document can not be found this amount will not be returned.
       Once the document is located, you will receive a notification to send a Money Order of $180.00 for the issuance of the document and $17.00 for the Express Mail.

         Next week we will conclude with the Consular Services provided by the Cuba Interests Section in Washington.

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Cuban Interests Section in Washington (Part IV)

Consular Services 

Document’s Request 

       To apply for certification of documents you should send the information as detailed below. The omission of some data may result in not be able to complete the service.
       With the application you must send a Money Order in the amount of $20.00 for processing with the Civil Registry of Cuba; in the event that the requested document can not be found this amount will not be returned.
       Once the document is located, you will receive a notification to send a Money Order of $180.00 for the issuance of the document and $17.00 for the Express Mail. 

           Next week we will continue with more of Consular Services provided by the Cuba Interests Section in Washington.

Wave of trips to Cuba following the opening from the U.S.

It is estimated that there will be a total of 200,000 crossings by islanders to their homeland to meet with family this year

By Gerardo Arreola 
From La Jornada

A CubaNews translation by Will Reissner 
Edited by Walter Lippmann. 

HAVANA -- The desire to see family weighed more heavily than the economic crisis. After Barack Obama opened the doors, Cubans who live in the United States have descended on the island in greater numbers than ever, and this year their trips could reach the unprecedented figure of 200,000, according to Francisco Aruca, a long-time operator of those charter flights.

         Aruca, a participant in the dialogues between emigrants and the Cuban government, such as the ones held in 1978, 1994, and 1995, thinks that a new meeting would need to broaden the agenda to include points such as the emigrants' interests in purchasing homes, establishing a form of medical insurance, or making investments in the island, or the situation of the rafters who left in the past 15 years and that Havana does not allow to return to the island. 

         The life of Aruca, 68, reflects the fundamental trajectory of recent Cuban history. He supported the insurrection that triumphed in 1959, but he joined with the Catholics who opposed the new regime. He became a prisoner, was sentenced to 30 years in jail and surreptitiously fled the colonial fortress of La Cabaña, taking advantage of a family visiting day. He spent a year and a half in asylum in the Brazilian embassy, then left for the United States, where he earned a degree as an economist and where he worked until the decade of the 1970s he came to the conclusion that the emigrants had to talk to the Cuban government, an idea he put forward in the pages of the magazine Areíto. In 1979, he set up the Marazul charter travel agency, which links the two sides of the Florida straits. Now, in Miami , he has a radio program featuring political commentary, which he shares with the journalist Edmundo García.

         Aruca spoke with La Jornada in Havana and recalled that in 1979, during Jimmy Carter's administration, there was great excitement when 100,000 Cuban travelers from the United States arrived. In the Bill Clinton period there was also a growth in travel, but nothing like now. If the projected arrival of 200,000 Cubans from the United States is reached this year they would make up the second largest group of tourists to the island, behind only the Canadians. 

         Last April, Obama implemented his campaign promise to eliminate all the restrictions -- which George W. Bush had intensified -- on travel by Cubans to their country. Aruca says that there are now around 50 weekly flights, counting those that go from Miami to Havana (at least 31), those that land in the provinces of Camagüey, Cienfuegos , Santiago de Cuba , and Holguín, and those arriving in the Cuban capital from New York and Los Angeles . 

         He recalls that the Bush government's restrictions were so stifling that Cubans traveled to the island through third countries such as Mexico or the Bahamas . This path allowed only some 10,000 people to fly there per year. In Grand Cayman, the plane to Havana would only leave after the one from Miami arrived, because it arrived filled with Cubans. And he notes that people used subterfuges like pretending that trips were for religious purposes, which were more readily authorized in that period.

Q. Did this change with the present liberalization?

A. Now things that were illegal before have been made legal. Even so, as far as we know, thousands of Cubans continue arriving through third countries. My opinion is that they do this to totally avoid all the hassles that they can face in Miami regarding baggage.

Q. What are the baggage regulations for coming here?

A. In the Bush era they stated more clearly than ever that passengers going on family visits were supposed to take no excess luggage. They have always been allowed 44 pounds of baggage. Above that they are charged excess. We are charging one dollar per pound. Before, the charge was two dollars. Now it is still not clear how much excess baggage one can take and as a result there are people who continue to come through third countries. Some of the regulations deal with exporting products from the United States . 

"And if the Treasury Department feels like it, it can say that this excess baggage actually involves the export of products, because they obviously are not personal effects. Therefore we continue having to deal with gray areas, which depend on how they choose to enforce things."

Q. What has had more influence on Cubans who live in the United States : interest in traveling to Cuba or the weight of the economic crisis?

A. Interest in traveling is paramount. This did not surprise us. Cubans are people for whom their family is very special. The Cubans who arrived at the start of the revolutionary period don't feel that way, because they did not leave family members behind. The Cubans who arrived until 1961, 1962 brought along everyone including the family cat. The change began, above all, starting in 1980. After that the people who left are very different. And these people could not bring everybody with them and therefore they want to come back.  

"I would add that this was shown at the time of the collapse of the socialist world, when we saw that their family and their friends also became their partners. Many of the ovens that made pizzas when the paladares (family restaurants) were opened and many of the tools for personal workshops that were set up to repair automobiles were bought with hard currency, which was sent by family members. In some cases this was done for love and was just handed over, or they did it saying, ‘set aside 20 percent, 30 percent for me’.”

Q. And this is what the surveys show...

A. When they give you responses among Cubans registered to vote... at most, 52 percent are still against allowing trips to Cuba by Cuban families and Americans in total. Now, you do a survey among Cubans in Miami , in Dade Country, Cubans whether they are registered or not registered to vote, 65 percent are saying that even Americans should be allowed to travel. Everything points to the future moving in that direction in Miami . The Cuban right-wing knows it, recognizes it, but that right is a problem at this time.

Q. How long can the Cubans who come from the United States stay here?

A. They can come as often as they want, for however long they wish. Before this regulation Cuba had already established the updated passport [pasaporte habilitado]. The entry permit no longer exists. That could be requested here, directly in Havana , or through the Interests Section, but those on family trips obtained them through Havanatur (Cuban travel agency). When you arrived at the airport they were waiting for you with a list of names. It was a contradiction and offensive, because citizens should not have to ask permission from their government to enter the country. This no longer exists. With an updated passport a Cuban can come. They issue it to you for six years and it is renewed every two, and you can use it from any nation in the world. Someone who comes can stay up to 90 days. That is, on day 89 you spend two days in Mexico and you can return.

Q. As a veteran of the dialogs between the Cuban government and the emigrants, how do you see this process now?
A. A new meeting is pending. The last one, which took place in March 2008, was with people who were on the whole in solidarity with Cuban policy and against the embargo. All the previous ones have always had a political character, in opposition to the U.S. foreign policy, although many people who held that position also had differences with Cuba . Now I would be pleased if they understood on the island that Cubans who live abroad have legitimate points.

Q. For example?

A. For example, that one could come to Cuba and buy a house here, that one could get health services here. You can be sure that an enormous number of Cubans in Miami don't have those services. I am convinced that the day will come when some insurance company in the United States will authorize hospitalization in Cuba . This would lower costs enormously and, of course, would mean an agreement with Cuba . Other examples: coming to retire, the return of the rafters since 1995, the possibility of investing here...

Q. What return of rafters?

A. Those who left on rafts after the migration agreements of 1994 and 1995. The exact figure is not known. It could be 20,000 or 30,000. These people have not been allowed to come back. For 15 years they have not been able to visit their families. This is worse than the Mariel people who only waited five or six years.  

“Our position is that you need to develop a migration policy that ends up taking into account that 95 percent of these people just want to come in peace. Edmundo García was in a meeting that took place a short time ago in New York with the minister of foreign relations, Bruno Rodríguez, and he asked him about this situation. And Rodríguez responded, almost literally, that it is a problem to which a solution must be sought, when and if it does not create a conflict with the United States government. But the United States knows that Cuba does not encourage illegal exits.”

Q. Would a new meeting involve opening the agenda?

A. It would, as a minimum, have to try to find out what those points are. How can the Cuban government more methodically address the needs of its emigrants.

Q. Have the migratory regulations applied in Cuba , such as the exit permit, been dealt with in some of these meetings?

A. Certainly in 1978. Afterwards the community flights were opened. It was one of the agreements. Also some 3,000 political prisoners were freed. In the 1994 and 1995 meetings they again talked about facilitating leaving, but nothing at all about the investment of the emigrants.

Q. What has been said about the next meeting?

A. There has not yet been a public announcement, but it has already been stated on a private level. Bruno Rodríguez told Edmundo that it is planned for January 27, 28, 29. This meeting had already been called for April, then was postponed to November, and now to January. I'm inclined to think that it is going to begin to take steps in the direction of drawing closer to the emigrants. What I don't know is how far it will go. And there is no agenda yet, as far as I know. Cuba is not known for establishing agendas three months in advance.

Q. How soon do you think before we see authorization for all Americans to be able to travel to Cuba ?

A. I am not sure that that will be approved, although there are changes: for the first time the U.S. travel industry, including big companies like Orbitz and associations that represent airlines and tourism companies, are still not saying they are for it, but rather they are working for it to be opened.

Q. The sector is in motion...

A. Yes, actively. Unfortunately, the U.S. political process is very tainted by money. The lobbies make contributions. In the past the rightwing Cuban-American lobby bought the votes of dozens of Democratic members of Congress. I don't see the opening taking place through the legislative route. I have serious doubts that it would be passed, although it is known that Obama would not veto it. As far as I know, the money that the private travel industry is spending in favor of lifting the prohibition on going to Cuba has been done in compliance with the spirit of the law. The Cuban lobby is expending whatever money it needs to.

Q. How was Clinton able to open things?

A. What Clinton did -- and there are people who say that somehow it can be done now -- was the people-to-people program, people-to-people visits. It was set up to facilitate relations between professionals, such as architects and engineers, from the United States and their Cuban counterparts. There are analysts and members of Congress who say that this is the way to proceed now. Carter was able to open totally because at that time you did not have

Cuban Interests Section in Washington (Part III)

Consular Services  

            We continue this week with Consular Services offered by the Cuba Interests Section in Washington .  

Legalization and Certification of Foreign Documents:

            Any document issued by U.S. authorities for legal effect in Cuba must be legalized by the Consulate, but previously, depending on the document in question, must be certified in the state where the document was issued.
           Documents issued by the civil records, prior to its submission to the Consulate must be legalized the signature and stamp of the Registrar and the Court of the State where the document was issued.
           All documents issued in the United States that take effect in Cuba , should bring the original document in English or notarized photocopy and attach your Spanish translation notarized by a Public Notary.
           In the special case of documents issued in Puerto Rico , the document must have attached legalization by the Deputy State Department of Puerto Rico, signed by the Director of the Division of Certification and Regulations of the Department of State of Puerto Rico.
          The medical documents or certificates prior to their presentation at the Consulate must be authenticated by the Medical Association or the American Medical Association whichever is registered the physician certifying the document. 
          The medical documents or certificates issued by veterinarians prior to submission to the Consulate must be legalized by the College of Veterinary .
          All documents in English and Spanish are legalizes independently. The cost is $140.00 for each document.  

Legalization and Certification of Cuban Documents:

         Any document issued by the Cuban authorities for legal effect abroad must be legalized by the MINREX first and subsequently by the Consulate.
         The cost is $140.00 for each document.

Register Procedures  

Birth Transcription:  

         The birth transcription is made to those foreign-born children of Cuban citizens. The implementation of this act does not imply automatic obtaining Cuban citizenship, as this is obtained after complying with the provisions of the Citizenship Act of 1944.
         The legalization of the original birth certificate and its translation into Spanish has a cost of $ 280.00

Marriage Transcription:

        The marriage transcription it can be obtained by Cuban citizens who are married abroad with a Cuban citizen or a citizen from any nationality.
        The cost is $ 280.00 for the legalization and certification of the marriage certificate and its translation into Spanish.  

Death Transcription:

         Death transcription is done only to those Cuban citizens or foreign citizens that the close family decides to bury in Cuba . 
                 The cost is $280.00 for the legalization and certification of the death certificate and its translation into Spanish.  

Transfer of body or ashes to Cuba :

         A member of the family in the United States should go to a funeral home in the town of residence, for purposes of applying the relevant transfer to Cuba under the existing provisions to this effect.
         The cost per document is $ 140.00 as the originals in English and Spanish translations duly notarized.
         Payments to the Consulate Service are only accepted via Money Order payable to "Cuban Interests Section", including the name and the two last names of the person requesting the service. Cash is not accepted.
         If document requested need to be returned by mail, each application must be accompanied by an envelope with name and address of the applicant or Money Order for $ 20.00 for each procedure.  

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Consular Services

Migration Service:

           We cover the Migration Services offered by the Cuba Interests Section in Washington at Marazul Informa and can be found in “Topics in Prior Weeks” at:

• Documents II(from Thursday, October 23, 2009 to Wednesday, October 29, 2009 )

• Documents I(from Thursday, October 15, 2009 to Wednesday, October 21, 2009 )

Notary Procedures:

Consent or Authorization document for a departure of a minor child:

     It is necessary to submit to the Consulate:

1.- Full name of the person consenting or authoring the departure of a minor child (parent or guardian), date and place of birth, identity card or Cuban passport, marital status, occupation and current address in Cuba.

2. - Full name of the child for whom this document is granted, date and place of birth, identity card number or Cuban passport and current address.

3.-  The data of the parent or guardian requesting the departure of the minor child, name, date and place of birth, Cuban passport, date and departure information of Cuba, current occupation and current address in the United States.

      The consent or authorization is granted to one person only.

      It is very important to know that if the parent or guardian illegally left the Cuban national territory or resides in the United States for less than one year, that person must go to the Consulate Office in Washington to personally request this procedure. Documents signed before a Public Notary will not be valid in Cuba .

Legalization of Consent or Authorization document for a departure of a minor child prepared before a Public Notary in the United States .

        The required information is detailed in "Consent or Authorization document for a departure of a minor child". The legalization signed before a Public Notary is only accepted if the applicant left Cuba legally and reside for more than 1 year in the United States .

The consent or authorization document must be given to one person only, an adult, signed before a Public Notary. Once prepared the document must be certified in court before sending the document to the Consulate.

Legalization of Trademarks and Patents

The document needs to be authenticated by the Department of State of the United States and the Secretary of State of the State which is the custodian of the archives, where it established his signature stating the name, the number of licensed and address where it is located, and the same data if it is certified that it is a merger with another firm, before being legalized in the Consulate.  

This document should be translated into Spanish and notarized.

In the case of a sale, transfer or assignment of title and rights of one firm to another, a document shall be prepared explaining the transactions, which must also be translated into Spanish and notarized.

Remember that every document must have the names and signatures of all parties concerned and have the stamps and / or seals necessaries.

It is very important to note that a person born in Cuba is considered a Cuban citizen, therefore, not accept the term as a citizen of another country in documents intended to take effect in Cuba .  

Next week we will continue with more of Consular Services provided by the Cuba Interests Section in Washington .

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Cuban Interests Section in Washington

General Information

Box Office Information

At the Cuban Interests Section in Washington

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             We continue this week with the second part of Family Visits from Cuba. This process is in the United States Interest Section in Havana .

             The United States Interest Section in Havana approved the applicant nonimmigrant visa, but it can not issue the visa until the necessary administrative process has concluded.  At this time the waiting period is up to 93 working days.

             Please note that applications for Cuban nationals are subject to special visa processing procedures under Section 306 of the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Reform Act of 2002 by the United States Interest Section in Havana .  

             In case of an emergency the applicant may request an ‘Expedited Appointment’. The applicant will be required to present documentation of the urgent travel need at the time of their interview. Those found to have made an expedited appointment under false pretenses will lose their appointment and will not be interviewed.

             Now the applicant has a nonimmigrant visa to travel to visit family in the United States in its current Cuban passport, the next step is to apply for the exit permit (White Card) at the Immigration Department in Cuba, once obtained they may go to any Havanatur office in Cuba to purchase a round trip ticket to travel to Miami, Los Angeles or New York.

             The ticket may be purchased for a period of 30, 60 or 90 days, departing from La Habana, Cienfuegos , Camaguey , Holguín or Santiago de Cuba .

             It is very important that the visitor confirm the return ticket 72 hours after arriving in the United States by calling Marazul at 305 265 1111.

Our Topic next week at Marazul Informa:

Cuba Interest Section in Washington

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         We begin this week with a topic about which we have received many questions on our e-mail marazulinforma@marazul.com.

         We can invite our family members that wish to travel temporarily to United States thru a Nonimmigrant Visa Petition.  

         The applicant should ask the family in the U.S. contact the “Visa Information and Appointment Scheduling Service”     with the Consular Personnel of the United States Interest Section in Havana . By calling 1-866-374-1769 you purchase a Personal Identification Number (PIN) at a cost of $11 USD (using credit cards only) nonrefundable. This PIN will allow you to access the service multiple times for information and appointment scheduling for up to a total of 8 minutes. 

         To schedule the appointment, you need:

• Full name of the applicant as it appears in the passport

• Date of birth

• Country of birth

• Applicant's complete address, including contact phone number in Cuba

• Passport number

• Purpose of visit

         The service is available Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm where they will schedule an appointment with consular staff from the United States Interests Section in Havana .  

         Due to the small number of appointments each day, the interviews requested for first time travelers may take up to two years. Currently interviews are being planned for 2011.  

         The day of the interview the applicant shall provide:

• Electronic Visa Application (EVAF) duly completes all 3 pages.

• Supplemental Visa Application DS-157Valid Cuban passport.

• One photograph (passport size)

• $121.00 convertible pesos (consular fee for the interview) non refundable.

   A consular member will meet with the applicant and determine eligibility under "The Immigration and Nationality Act," if the response is favorable the application will be processed and verified. This process can take up to 90 days.

   Only the applicant and a consular member will be present at the interview.

         The U.S. Interests Section will contact the applicant by telephone as soon as this process has concluded and a determination has been made on the applicant's case. The applicant will then be able to come to the U.S. Interest Section, to pick up the results of his or her visa application.

         Applicants who have traveled to the U.S. in the last 5 years are eligible to “Interview for a Renewal”. This usually is a faster process.

         The applicant is not required to carry a "Letter of Invitation" or an "Affidavit of Support" to the interview, but must provide evidence that can cover travel expenses or someone will do it for them.

         Once the applicant has received the Non-Immigrant Visa, which is the next step? This will be our topic next week at Marazul Informs.

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           We continue this week with our "Documents", a summary of all consular services that can be obtained from the United States from "Marazul" or directly from the Cuba Interests Section in Washington .

Extension of permission to travel abroad (PVE)

           PVE is the permission for those who leave Cuba for particular issues with a "Letter of Invitation" and follow the procedures with the immigration authorities in Cuba . This permit is valid for 30 days and is extendable to 11 months in the Cuban consulate. To apply you need:

• Original passport

Cost:
Directly with the Cuba Interest Section
$150.00   (Application fee for each month after the first month staying abroad)
$ 20.00   (if the application is send by mail)
With Marazul: $29.00

Humanitarian entry Permit (PE-1)

           PE-1 is the permission for those Cubans who do not have a validated passport and who are approved by the Directorate of Immigration, after processing the application submitted by their relatives in Cuba , which must submit documents proving an illness or death in the family. To apply for this permit one must submit:

• Original passport

• One photograph of 2 inches by 2 inches taken from the front with nothing in your hair and no glasses.  

Cost:
Directly with the Cuba Interest Section
$ 60.00   (application fee)
$ 20.00   (if the application is send by mail)
With Marazul: $29.00

Entry permit with a foreign passport (PE-11)

                    This permit applies to those Cubans who left the country before December 31, 1970 and who possess U.S. citizenship.  In order to apply you need:Photocopy of the United States passportDocuments showing your departure from Cuba before December 31, 1970One photograph of 2 inches by 2 inches taken from the front with nothing in your hair and no glasses.

Cost:
Directly with the Cuba Interest Section
$ 20.00   (permit application)
$130.00   (granting of the permit)
$ 20.00   (if the application is send by mail)
With Marazul: $29.00

Invitation Letter

        It is an invitation to Cuban citizens for private travel abroad. According to the "Regulations of the Migration Act" the invitation applies only to travel by family and friends to the country were his relative resides. The letter of invitation must be notarized.
For U.S. visit, you can:

• Go to a notary and request the making of an affidavit, according to the Standard Letter of Invitation. This document must be duly authenticated by the authorities of the state of residence o

• Request a Letter of Invitation in one of the travel agencies that contract with the Cuban Interest Section and whose notaries are duly authorized to do so, such as is the case with Marazul.

Cost:
Directly with the Cuba Interest Section
$136.00   (for the issuance of the Invitation Letter)
$ 20.00   (if the application is send by mail)
With Marazul: $39.00

        And remember that if you make your arrangements directly with the Consulate Office at the Cuba Interests Section in Washington , you must submit paperwork and the application form for the desired service plus a copy properly completed and signed copy. As a rule they do not accept personal checks and the Consulate is not responsible for the loss of documents in the mail, thus we emphasize the need for a safe route such as Marazul.
Until next week, where we will keep reporting on travel and services to Cuba.

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Documents I

       This week our topic in Marazul Informs is Documents a summary of all consular services that can be obtained from the United States through Marazul o directly from the Cuba Interests Section in Washington .  

Cuban Passport

Passport application for the first time

         If you have lost, misplaced your passport, or applying for the first time, you must submit: 

• Original birth certificate. 

• Original Cuba identity card or driving license (if in possession) Or U.S. document that has your photograph as Passport or ID.

• Two photographs of 2 inches by 2 inches taken from the front with nothing in your hair and no glasses.

Cost:
Directly with the Cuba Interest Section
$350.00   (processing fee)
$ 20.00   (if the application is send by mail) 
$  5.00   (mailing fee)
With Marazul: $29.00

Passport Renewal

      If your Cuban passport expired 6 years after issue, you must renew it for a new one and need to submit: 

• Original passport expired.

• One photograph of 2 inches by 2 inches taken from the front with nothing in your hair and no glasses.

Cost:
Directly with the Cuba Interest Section
$350.00   (processing fee)
$ 20.00   (if the application is send by mail) 
$  5.00   (mailing fee)
With Marazul: $29.00

Passport Extension

       Since the passport is issued for 6 years, you must request the extension every 2 years. To be eligible for the second extension, you must have made the first extension, for that you need:

• Original passport

Cost:
Directly with the Cuba Interest Section
$ 160.00  (processing fee)
$  20.00  (if the application is send by mail)
With Marazul: $29.00

Passport Habilitation

       ”Passport Habilitation” is the entry permit to Cuba , (applied only to Cuban passports) once requested is valid for life unless for some reason is repealed.  Once the passport is authorized, you can enter the country from any country when needed.
        If you have a valid passport and only need the authorization you must send:

• Original passport.

Cost:
Directly with the Cuba Interest Section
$ 20.00 (processing fee)
With Marazul: $29.00

        It is important to remember that if you make your arrangements directly with the Cuba Interests Section in Washington , you must submit paperwork and the application form for the desired service plus a copy thereof properly completed and signed. As a rule they do not accept personal checks and the Consulate is not responsible for the loss of documents in the mail, so that reiterate the need for a safe route for processing.
       Next week we will continue helping you with your immigration procedures, notaries and registration from Marazul Informa.
       Remember that you can send us to our e-mail marazulinforma@marazul.com. Your questions and comments brief and concise.

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Fact Sheet: Treasury Amends Cuban Assets Control Regulations To Implement the President’s Initiative on
Family Visits, Remittances, and Telecommunications  

           The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued on September 3, 2009 a final rule amending the Cuban Assets Control Regulations related to family travel and remittances, in order to implement the President's initiative of April 13, 2009, to promote greater contact between separated family members in the United States and Cuba, and increase the flow of remittances and information to the Cuban peopleFamily visits. As part of a general license, OFAC has eased restrictions on travel-related transactions to visit "close relatives" who are citizens of Cuba,  (including, for example, aunts, uncles, cousins and second cousins) citizens of Cuba.

• No limit on the frequency of visits to these “close relatives”.

• No limit on the duration of a visit to these "close relatives".

• No limit to the frequency of visits to these "close relatives"

• Authorized expenditure limits for travel within Cuba have been increased to match the expenditures allowed for all other authorized categories of travel to Cuba -- specifically, the current State Department "per diem rate" for Havana (for use anywhere in Cuba) plus amounts for additional transactions directly incident to visiting close relatives in Cuba.  The current "maximum per diem rate" is $179.  In other words, that is the maximum amount you can spend on your daily expenditures while in Cuba . For future updates to this rate, travelers may check the Department of State's Office of Allowances web site (http://aoprals.state.gov).

• Travelers may be accompanied by persons who share a common dwelling as a family with them.

 Remittances.  OFAC has also eased restrictions on remittances (including from inherited blocked accounts) to "close relatives" who are nationals of Cuba by issuing a general license.

• Persons subject to the jurisdiction of the United States may send remittances to "close relatives" (including, as noted above, aunts, uncles, cousins, and second cousins) who are nationals of Cuba.  These amendments do not affect the prohibition on remittances to a "prohibited official of the Government of Cuba" or a "prohibited member of the Cuban Communist Party," as defined in the CACR.

• There is no limit on the amount of such a remittance. 

• There is no limit on the frequency with which persons subject to the jurisdiction of the United States may send such remittances.

• Authorized family travelers may carry up to $3,000 of such remittances to Cuba.

• Remittances for emigration-related purposes continue to be subject to separate restrictions.

• Remittances may be made from depository institutions.  To facilitate this, depository institutions are permitted to set up testing arrangements and exchange authenticator keys with Cuban financial institutions

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