Spanish couple ask for help after visiting Cuba: “They require a visa to go to the US.”

Alazne and Juan, a Spanish couple known for their active presence on social networks and their passion for travel, asked for help to be able entering the United States after having visited Cuba in 2023.

They cannot use the THIS (Electronic System for Travel Authorization), which is permission to be in the country for 90 days, without the need for targeted and that must be filled out in advance by all tourists, as explained in a video published on TikTok.

The problem that this couple living on the outskirts of Barcelona faces is that since January 2021, the United States Department of State updated some of its conditions and imposed a requirement that if someone has previously traveled to Cuba they need a special visa, and not the ESTA.

In Spain, you can only obtain the special visa in Madrid “and the waiting time for an appointment is 700 days“Alazne explained in the video that has reached 39,000 views.

Juan added that they plan to do the procedure in other cities like Rome or Lisbon, where the wait is less days, and that is why he asked the followers if anyone has been in that situation.

The couple's drama increases because "if we apply in Madrid, we cannot move on to another place, for example, to Lisbon," Alazne lamented.

Both acknowledged that they also do not know if, in the case of them who are Spanish, they can simply go to any office in another country and start the visa process to the US, "we understand that yes, but we have no idea," they said. the woman.

The tiktokera also explained that if they make the request in the Spanish office, when the 700 days pass, "they can ask for an urgent interview, but whether they give it to you or not depends on the consulate and if they deny it, you lose the money and you lose everything."

After explaining the scenario that "overwhelms" them, the couple asked for advice from followers who have been in a similar situation, "for having been in Cuba or in countries that are supposed to support terrorism" and who need help. B1 visa to enter the USA.

“Please, can anyone take it out? How long I wait? If you have obtained it in another country, how did you do the process? Any advice you can give us is welcome, please,” Alazne stressed in the video.

The United States embassy and consulate in Spain confirmed to the newspaper ABC that the ESTA permit is insufficient for people who have traveled to Cuba since January 12, 2021.

The reason is that the US included Cuba in its list of state sponsors of terrorism.

All people must apply for a visa but, aware of the high waiting times that currently occur, as long as they have a scheduled travel date prior to the first available visa appointment, an emergency appointment can be requested, reported ABC.

To obtain it, it is essential to create a user account on the official portal of the Embassy and schedule any available appointment through the visa area.

Finally, if you have logged in, the possibility of “Request an emergency appointment” will eventually appear and you only need to follow the relevant instructions to get it, according to the newspaper.