Numerous Cubans with dual nationality residing in Spain and other countries have seen their travel authorizations canceled without targeted a USAcalled ESTA, by virtue of a change in the measure that came into force on Thursday, July 6.
The decision also affects all Spaniards who have been in Cuba since January 12, 2021who will see their authorizations canceled due to the inclusion of the Island’s regime among the State sponsors of terrorism.
According to testimonies collected by DIARIO DE CUBA, numerous Cubans residing outside the Island who had ESTA authorization have received an email informing that this permit has been revoked. In case they want to travel to the US, they must apply for a non-immigrant visa at Washington consulates around the world.
In accordance with The dispositionpublished by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), those who have already obtained the approval of the ESTA and are identified as residents in Cuba or with dual nationality will receive a revocation of the authorization.
This change comes under the so-called Terrorist Travel Prevention and Visa Waiver Program Improvement Act of 2015, which provides that nationals of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries who have visited a country designated as a sponsor of the terrorism, “as well as those who have dual nationality (…) will be ineligible to travel to the United States” under that program.
These changes were introduced by the US Department of Homeland Security in the ESTA application form last Thursday, so the announcements of revocations of the travel permit are being communicated in the last hours.
“If an ESTA has already been approved and it is later determined that the traveler has been to Cuba or has dual nationality with both a VWP country and Cuba, the ESTA will be revoked,” the notice says.
“Travellers whose ESTA has been revoked will receive a notification stating that their ESTA status has changed,” it adds. The updated status can be checked by the individual on the ESTA mobile app or on the CBP ESTA website: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov.
“It is emphasized that travel to the United States is not prohibited for those travelers who are affected by the restriction and do not meet the exemption criteria”clarifies the note, which indicates that travelers with the ESTA revoked can apply for a non-immigrant visa at any embassy or consulate of the United States to travel to that country.
The Embassy of Washington in Spain also indicated that those who urgently require a trip to the US for business, medical treatment or humanitarian causes can request an emergency appointment for an interview at the embassy or consulate.
Those applicants must include the ESTA authorization refusal or revocation message in their emergency appointment request, along with the urgent reason for their travel, indicated EFE.
FUENTE: diariodecuba.com
