A Cuban mother shared an emotional message this Friday after, as she reported, her 11-year-old daughter received a second visa denial to travel to Mexico, where she resides, a situation that reflects the anguish experienced by many families separated between the island and abroad.
Yuly Soler Damian shared her experience in the public Facebook group Consulado México en Cuba. Citas con NUT, where she explained that the minor remains in Cuba under the care of family members and, according to her testimony, is experiencing a particularly complex family situation.
If the Chinese knew that this girl lives in Cuba with a blind great-grandmother suffering from dementia, bedridden and with an orphaned cousin who suffers from schizophrenia, cancer, and incontinence, maybe he wouldn't have denied her to me twice already, he wrote.
The expression “the Chinese”, used by the mother, refers to a consular worker that some applicants identify in the group due to his participation in interviews.
Beyond that reference, there is no information that allows us to publicly attribute responsibility for the outcome of the case to a specific official, so the publication should be understood as the personal account of the mother regarding the process.
Soler also emphasized his daughter's academic performance despite the circumstances she reportedly faces every day.
If she knew that amidst all that she is the best student in her class...," she expressed. She later shared that the girl had been unable to sleep the night before and that in the morning she had a severe headache that prevented her from attending classes.
The mother also responded in advance to those who might question her for being away from the minor.
"And before anyone judges me for being far away, believe me, no one suffers from this distance more than I do," he wrote.
His message concluded with the hope that a new request would have a different outcome: "I just hope that the third time someone manages to see everything that lies behind that file, because as time goes by, my daughter continues to live a reality that she should never have to face at the age of 11."
The post generated numerous expressions of solidarity from other Cubans, including some who reported having gone through similar experiences.
Someone wrote to him: "I embrace you with my heart, I know how hard it is to be away from the person you love."
Another participant stated that they had also experienced two rejections before receiving a positive response: “This happened to me with my son, and the third time was the charm.”
Another mother stated that she is in an even more prolonged situation: "I completely understand how you feel; I am in the same situation; my youngest child has already been denied five times."
This Chinese person says no to everyone, noted another internet user.
Among the responses, some recommended seeking advice to review the file before attempting it again.
"Have faith and try to consult with someone, let's see what happens. I only wish for you that the next time will be the one that works," a participant commented.
Visa denials are causing particular concern among Cuban families trying to reunite in Mexico, a country that in recent years has become an increasingly important migratory destination for citizens from the island.
In 2025, 28,700 Cubans had applied for asylum in Mexico between January and September alone, according to data collected from the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR).
The movement towards Mexico has also intensified following the closure or tightening of various migration routes to the United States.
Mexico has become an alternative destination for thousands of Cubans, not just a transit country towards the U.S. border.
For those who already have family members legally established in Mexico, there are different immigration categories.
The Mexican Consulate in Havana itself provides the family unity visa with prior authorization from the National Immigration Institute and a Unique Processing Number (NUT).
The procedure includes a consular interview and the submission of documents that prove the family relationship, among other requirements.
Prior authorization from the INM, however, does not automatically imply that the visa will be issued: the application remains subject to the procedure and the corresponding consular interview.
The official documentation also establishes a non-refundable processing fee.
The Mexican Consulate in Havana has also had to warn about the misinformation surrounding these procedures.
In January, it denied that the visa requirement for Cuban citizens had been eliminated and requested to consult exclusively the official Mexican platforms to understand the current procedures.
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