The Embassy of Spain in Havana has resumed this week the appointments to process Schengen and transit visas after two years suspended due to the covid-19 pandemic. This Tuesday, the diplomatic headquarters published on Twitter a link with the requirements for the process, which is resumed after the change of requirements to enter Spanish territory.
In its informative thread, the Consulate warns that although the appointments “open every day”, the only day reserved for these procedures is Thursday.
Immediately, many Cubans who were waiting for the renewal of the service complained on social networks. The general regret is that it was “impossible” to make an appointment.
“What time of day do you open the dating page? Because it seems impossible to catch one. I’ve been opening the page every day and at all hours for more than 15 days and it’s impossible,” says Aracely García on the same social network.
The diplomatic account itself announced the problem: “There is a high demand. Remember that our capacity is limited.”
The diplomatic account itself announced the problem: “There is a high demand. Remember that our capacity is limited”
Among the clarifications made by the Spanish embassy are that the visa applications that were put on hold before the closures due to the covid-19 pandemic “will be resolved immediately” and they will receive an email with the explanation, although they can reach the offices of the walk-in consulate
Those who are not very lucky are those who received their visa and were unable to travel due to the pandemic, “they must start a new procedure, with the corresponding appointment reservation,” says the Spanish consulate.
This decision has caused negative reactions in those who already had an approved visa and affirm that the consulate had given another answer before. “It seems to me that they should rethink this decision. In previous and official announcements of this page during the pandemic, they published that nothing was going to be charged to those people who, due to the pandemic, could not use that visa,” Laura complains. .
According to the Spanish consulate website, the visa fee is 1,130 pesos for children between 6 and 12 years old and 2,255 pesos for all other applicants.
On May 21, Spain announced that it modified the requirements for travelers who want to enter its territory: if until then it only accepted those who presented the vaccination certificate with vaccines approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), now will also accept anyone who has a negative test for covid-19.
Until that date, Cubans who had received one of the two vaccines made on the island could not travel to Spanish territory since the Soberana and Abdala antidotes have not been recognized by the WHO.
These new health requirements will be requested at the border and not at the time of requesting the visa, points out the Embassy, which also advises filling out the health form 48 hours before leaving on the trip.
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