A Cuban woman identified on TikTok as @cuquitaquintana_oficial was overwhelmed with emotion this Monday upon physically receiving her permanent residency card in the United States after seven years of waiting, and she shared the moment in a video that garnered over 217,000 views within just a few hours.
"I've already broken it, I've already broken it, I'm leaving my residency. My God, sir," exclaimed the woman at the beginning of the video, visibly excited and holding the card in her hand.
According to what he said, on September 14, he received the notification of approval for his application, although at that moment he didn't know when the physical document would arrive. “On the 14th, I cried a lot; on the 14th, I knew my residency had been approved, but I didn’t know when it would arrive,” he recounted.
Obtener la residencia permanente es un proceso largo y complejo para muchos cubanos en Estados Unidos. Sigue toda la actualidad sobre trámites, residencia permanente y otros temas en nuestra sección de
Exactly seven days later, the card appeared in his mailbox.
"After 7 years in this country, I am just now obtaining my permanent residency," she stated. She also took the opportunity to send a message to those still waiting for their documents: "Do things the right way, take the correct path, focus on what you need to do, and always take the high road."
The video also gathered 37,200 "likes" and over 4,270 comments, with numerous reactions from users to the Cuban's excitement after seven years of waiting.
Residence approvals for Cubans have experienced significant delays in 2026. In January of this year, with more than 7,000 pending applications, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) approved only 15 green cards for Cubans during that month, according to data reported in April.
This situation is compounded by the uncertainty faced by Cubans who entered the country and received the I-220A form, amid the legal dispute over whether certain circumstances of their release can be considered parole for the purposes of applying for residency under the Cuban Adjustment Act.
A class action lawsuit, known as Bello-Rubio v. DHS/Noem, brings together 992 Cubans in this situation and seeks to have the courts recognize their release as parole, which would allow them to apply for permanent residency under the Cuban Adjustment Act.
On September 10, federal judge Jacqueline Becerra rejected the government's attempt to dismiss the lawsuit, allowing the case to proceed. The decision does not automatically grant residency or definitively resolve the litigation, but it enables the plaintiffs to continue defending their arguments before the court.
In this context, videos of Cubans celebrating the acquisition of their permanent residency have become increasingly common on social media. Other cases of Cubans celebrating the arrival of their residency have also generated numerous reactions from fellow citizens who are still awaiting their documents.
The Cuban woman ended her video with a reflection she shared with her followers: "Remember that the compass was created before the clock, which is why it's more important to know where you are going than what time you arrive."
The next deadline in the Bello-Rubio case is on October 9, when the government must present its arguments before the federal court.
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