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A Cuban mother has been enduring a harrowing ordeal for months following the loss of her daughter's passport at José Martí International Airport in Havana, a document that contained a Mexican visa valid for 10 years.
Betsaida Castillo reported on social media that the passport was lost in Terminal 3 of the airport and, since then, she has been unable to find it despite having gone to the lost and found office multiple times and having filed reports with the police and the Mexican embassy.
"I've been there a thousand times and I've called; I've been at this for months," the mother recounted, desperate over the impossibility of recovering the document that guarantees her daughter's legal entry into Mexico.
Other users on Facebook recommended that he insist on reporting the loss or try to transfer the visa to a new passport. However, Castillo explained that this is not possible: "The visa is unique; if you lose it, there is no duplicate. Everything has to be done again."
The case illustrates the immense vulnerability faced by Cubans when they lose a travel document, in a context where obtaining a visa is nearly impossible. The desperation of this mother also reflects the bureaucratic hurdles encountered by those who must go through the entire process again, facing both significant economic and emotional costs.
Situations like this are not isolated. In July 2024, a young woman from Mayabeque lost her passport with a visa and offered a reward in dollars to get it back.
Months later, in May 2025, another family promised 100,000 Cuban pesos for the lost American residency card of a four-year-old girl.
These background details illustrate how many families, faced with urgency and a lack of institutional solutions, turn to civic solidarity and even economic incentives.
A public plea
Castillo shared a photo of the lost passport and included his contact number on social media to ask for help. Although he acknowledges that the chances of retrieving it are minimal, he holds hope that someone might have found it and returned it.
His call resonates among hundreds of Cubans both inside and outside the island who understand how difficult it is to lose not just a passport, but also the chance to travel, reunite with family, or build a better future away from Cuba.
Frequently asked questions about the loss of travel documents in Cuba
What to do if I lose my passport in Cuba?
If you lose your passport in Cuba, it is important to immediately go to the lost and found office at the location where it was lost, such as the airport. Additionally, you must file a report with the local police and notify the appropriate embassy to verify the necessary steps to obtain a new document.
Is it possible to transfer a visa to a new passport if the original is lost?
It is not possible to transfer a visa to a new passport if the original is lost. In the case of single visas, such as the Mexican visa with a validity of 10 years mentioned in the article, it is necessary to reapply for the visa, which involves going through the entire bureaucratic process again and bearing the associated costs.
What risks are associated with losing travel documents in Cuba?
Losing travel documents in Cuba can entail significant risks, such as facing complex and costly bureaucratic procedures to obtain new documents. Additionally, there is a risk of theft, where documents can be intentionally taken and then "found" in exchange for a reward, exposing victims to extortion.
How can Cubans cope with the loss of important documents?
Cubans can face the loss of important documents by promptly reporting the loss to the authorities and the appropriate embassies. In some cases, they turn to citizen solidarity and use social media to spread the news of the loss and offer rewards, although this can involve risks of extortion.
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