Hi, Can anyone help me to figure out why my husband's application is undergoing extensive background checks? I sent his application to CPC-M June 30, 2008. His application has been in Havana since August 6, 2008. I have CAIPS notes going up to March 10, paper-screening passed and recommended that the selection interview be waived was completed by January 26.
My husband did mandatory military service as a common soldier on a border patrol ship. He didn't do any longer than the mandatory 2 years. Besides that he worked for a short time for SEPSA, as a hotel security guard - that was until 2000. Other people who worked for SEPSA as their last job before immigration, did not udergo such extensive background checks. He never worked for the Gov't. directly but worked in a Military controlled hotel (Gaviota)as a waiter - still doesn't warrant an extensive background check for anyone else. He has never been out of Cuba.
Could it be my job? I work for the Federal Gov't., in Canada, in a job that requires low level security clearance. It hadn't occured to me until I read something here that made me wonder.
I am getting sooo frustrated by the delays. We are past our DoNotDisturb date of April 6. The CAIPS notes showed several delays that seemed to be caused by inefficiency or they could have been purposely created. i.e asking for information on two different dates when they knew they required all the info. on the earlier date - thereby requiring two trips to Havana from Varadero, calling and asking for the same info some weeks later and then two months later asking him to come in to sign the same information - which could have been asked of him when he went to the Embassy with the information. Anybody else experience these kinds of delays?
The next BF date was May 3, 2009 (a Sunday - go figure), so we were hoping to hear from them this week. No word yet.
I know that many people on here are experiencing long delays ,as well, and I feel for your frustration and know your desire to just get on with your life with your loved ones.
For most of us with loved ones in Cuba our wait is rife with other frustrations - the most expensive long distance in the world and very few of our loved ones have much access to internet and when there is internet, it is not high speed and there are no webcam chats - my husband doesn't even know what that is. Then after the Canadian Visa is granted, the Cuban citizen must apply for another Visa from Cuban Immigration to exit the country.
I hope there are people who might be able to answer my questions.
jennalcy
As far as them requesting information from you
Quote:The CAIPS notes showed several delays that seemed to be caused by inefficiency or they could have been purposely created. i.e asking for information on two different dates when they knew they required all the info. on the earlier date
What sort of information were they looking for? Was this stuff that was on the checklist & should have been sent in the beginning?
Was your husband's police check clear? Has he ever been to Canada as a visitor? Has he lived anywhere else in the world?
Havana's timelines for last year indicate that 80% of cases are processed
within 8 months. You are just over that now at 9 months.
I'm thinking, without knowing what they requested earlier, that that could possibly be the reason for the hold-up. He's obviously one of the "lucky" 20% whose cases run longer than the states guidelines.
Keep in mind that CSIS also has to deal with Cuba (and anyplace else he may have lived)
jennalcy Wrote:Hi, Can anyone help me to figure out why my husband's application is undergoing extensive background checks? I sent his application to CPC-M June 30, 2008. His application has been in Havana since August 6, 2008. I have CAIPS notes going up to March 10, paper-screening passed and recommended that the selection interview be waived was completed by January 26.
My husband did mandatory military service as a common soldier on a border patrol ship. He didn't do any longer than the mandatory 2 years. Besides that he worked for a short time for SEPSA, as a hotel security guard - that was until 2000. Other people who worked for SEPSA as their last job before immigration, did not udergo such extensive background checks. He never worked for the Gov't. directly but worked in a Military controlled hotel (Gaviota)as a waiter - still doesn't warrant an extensive background check for anyone else. He has never been out of Cuba.
Could it be my job? I work for the Federal Gov't., in Canada, in a job that requires low level security clearance. It hadn't occured to me until I read something here that made me wonder.
I am getting sooo frustrated by the delays. We are past our DoNotDisturb date of April 6. The CAIPS notes showed several delays that seemed to be caused by inefficiency or they could have been purposely created. i.e asking for information on two different dates when they knew they required all the info. on the earlier date - thereby requiring two trips to Havana from Varadero, calling and asking for the same info some weeks later and then two months later asking him to come in to sign the same information - which could have been asked of him when he went to the Embassy with the information. Anybody else experience these kinds of delays?
The next BF date was May 3, 2009 (a Sunday - go figure), so we were hoping to hear from them this week. No word yet.
I know that many people on here are experiencing long delays ,as well, and I feel for your frustration and know your desire to just get on with your life with your loved ones.
For most of us with loved ones in Cuba our wait is rife with other frustrations - the most expensive long distance in the world and very few of our loved ones have much access to internet and when there is internet, it is not high speed and there are no webcam chats - my husband doesn't even know what that is. Then after the Canadian Visa is granted, the Cuban citizen must apply for another Visa from Cuban Immigration to exit the country.
I hope there are people who might be able to answer my questions.
jennalcy
Thank you for replying,
As I indicated in my earlier post, he has never been out of Cuba - not for a visit, not to live - never. So, no checks for other countries.
The info. they asked for: The date of his separation from 1st wife - we had divorce date on app.- not separation date, a "Not Applicable" in # 13, a block of time of employment for #11, exactly how much remittance I've given to my husband and the full names of my husband's parents on the Police Certificate, since first one didn't contain middle names. The Police Check was clear.
I know of many people who have been asked to bring as much or more into the Embassy just on the date of the interview.
Believe me, I understand your frustration - and I know how it is to feel almost paranoid about how things are (or are not) progressing with an application - but, I really don't think you have reason to suspect that your husband is undergoing "more extensive" background checks than anyone else does. How long background checks take has a lot to do with how well the overseas agencies contacted for information cooperate with CSIS. Your husband does have a military background - and you can expect that to have a tendency to make checks more time consuming - but from what you've said about your timeline, I don't think it's unusually so.
I do agree that it seems there might have been some "inefficiency" in processing at the Embassy - but that's true across the board. My CAIPS notes revealed that our application sat from mid-June (when they received information they'd requested from us) until mid-December without one single thing being done . . . even though we made an inquiry about the delay, through the MP's office, in late October. There were also several errors made in processing. Ultimately, as long as the errors don't result in a refusal (which, unfortunately, is exactly what happened in our case) you just have to let them go.
Might they be stalling? Possibly - but I'm going to tell you from experience: it doesn't do you a bit of good to throw that out there and try to hold them to some sort of "standard". You're the only ones with something to lose. Pushing certainly didn't do us any good . . . our ap was refused almost 18 months ago - in part (I think) because our MP's inquiry got someone's hands slapped due to the 6 months delay I mentioned earlier - and now it's been nearly 18 months since and we're still waiting for our appeal. Take a deep breath, hold your tongue and try to be patient. No matter how long it takes, you will eventually have a decision and, hopefully it will be a positive one.
RobsLuv Wrote:Believe me, I understand your frustration - and I know how it is to feel almost paranoid about how things are (or are not) progressing with an application - but, I really don't think you have reason to suspect that your husband is undergoing "more extensive" background checks than anyone else does. How long background checks take has a lot to do with how well the overseas agencies contacted for information cooperate with CSIS. Your husband does have a military background - and you can expect that to have a tendency to make checks more time consuming - but from what you've said about your timeline, I don't think it's unusually so.
Thank you for your response,
Actually, two years of military is mandatory in Cuba and young men who have not completed this service are not normally eligible to emigrate. My husband's military service is normal for Cuba and not out of the usual. I am aware of many people sponsoring Cuban citizens and they are not going through nearly as long a process as we are. Extensive background checks are not done routinely in Cuba, regardless of the fact that most men have completed military service. I was informed by the Embassy, a month ago, that my husband's file required extensive background checks that were taking longer than expected, and that is why I said it....and I was wondering what in my husband's file would cause extensive background checks, since mandatory military service at a soldiers rank is not normally cause for an extensive background check. Service at a high rank, could be, or longer than mandatory service is, but neither of these apply in my husband's case. Work for the Gov't. would be cause for an extensive background check, but that doesn't apply. A Police record would be, but that doesn't apply.
Thanks, for your tips and I'm sorry to hear that your own process has been so long. I have only contacted the Embassy twice, once for a medical renewal form - three weeks before my husband's medical was to expire, and once, after the Do Not Disturb date to enquire about the delay. I wrote to my MP last week, but have yet to hear back from him.
Hi robluv, Hi Jenn,
I know Jenn for another forum about Cuba. We both know of males with military service done that came here in such as 3 or 4 months in total. It means that ordinary militar service, has nothing to do do with the extensive check.
Jen may i suggest something new? Since we know that people that recently work for Gaviota are waiting long time for the « liberation letter», And since we know that our hubbys worked for SEPSA at one point and that SEPSA, is providing security guards for hoteles, would it be that CSIS is waiting for Gaviota answer to their requests?
My husband has been in the FAR several years but you no. The only thing they have in common is working as a security in a Gaviota Hotel.
What do you think?
Valou14 Wrote:Hi robluv, Hi Jenn,
I know Jenn for another forum about Cuba. We both know of males with military service done that came here in such as 3 or 4 months in total. It means that ordinary militar service, has nothing to do do with the extensive check.
Jen may i suggest something new? Since we know that people that recently work for Gaviota are waiting long time for the « liberation letter», And since we know that our hubbys worked for SEPSA at one point and that SEPSA, is providing security guards for hoteles, would it be that CSIS is waiting for Gaviota answer to their requests?
My husband has been in the FAR several years but you no. The only thing they have in common is working as a security in a Gaviota Hotel.
What do you think?
Thanks Valou,
It is difficult for people who aren't going through the process with a Cuban spouse to quite get how different the process is there, I think. But, this forum has a lot of great information, especially with regards to background checks, that you don't find anywhere else.
You could be right about Gaviota and SEPSA. I know it took my husband 7 months to get his Liberation Letter from Gaviota. I just know of two recent (in past 6 months) arrivals that worked for same and more recenly, who arrived within 7 months of applications being sent. One who applied after me and whose husband received his visa in February. Thats why I'm stumped about my husband's. I know it takes a bit longer, but not usually past the DND date - unless there is the Military background, like your husbands, or Gov't. background, or other trips out of the country.
As things happen....shortly after my last post, I received a message from my husband saying that he got the call from the Embassy. He is to appear with passport on May 20th. It goes without saying, we are beyond excited!
Valou, I will be very interested to know if your husband gets the same call soon, as you know the Security interview is only conducted twice a year in Havana. If your husband doesn't get a call to appear around the same date, it's possible that my husband won't have a Security Interview.
There wont be a security interview. If they said to come with passport on a wednesday IT'S THE VISA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
dON'T WORRY AND CELEBRATE. DAMN IF I LIE !
By the way, my husband got the call this morning to come monday to recuperate the renewal form fo medical. Good news, the childrens don't have to go. My MP assistant called CIC and it says the same thing in the file. The CIC agent also said that only miss one security report out of the ones ordered. She thinks it wont be long now.
But we will wait for the medical results now............................
Valou14 Wrote:There wont be a security interview. If they said to come with passport on a wednesday IT'S THE VISA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
dON'T WORRY AND CELEBRATE. DAMN IF I LIE !
By the way, my husband got the call this morning to come monday to recuperate the renewal form fo medical. Good news, the childrens don't have to go. My MP assistant called CIC and it says the same thing in the file. The CIC agent also said that only miss one security report out of the ones ordered. She thinks it wont be long now.
But we will wait for the medical results now............................
Hey Valou!!! That is great news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!....................For both of us. It looks like yours will be soon too and I'm sure it makes it much easier not to have to take children for medicals again too!!!!!!!!!!!
Valou, you were right, my husband got his visa and no interview. I guess we will never no why he had the extensive background check.. I had hoped the PVE would go quickly and he would be here by the end of the weeks, but it looks like I will have to wait a couple of more weeks. How are things going in your case?
Still waiting for 2nd med check results i guess.
There was a bf may 23th but i didn't call my mp after. If no miracle, the med results won't be in before end of june anyway.
I will probably go july 3rd and hope to come back with hubby 3 weeks later
Hope your PVE comes back quick. Wich city imm. office are you dealing with ?