Information specifically addressing the case of a parent wishing to visit his or her children in an Eastern European country could not be found among the sources currently available to the DIRB. Nevertheless, the information that follows and is attached to this Response provides some general information on foreign travel conditions for Cubans that adds to information provided in previous responses.

According to Americas Watch, "Cubans are required to seek permission from their government to leave and return to their country, and those who wish to travel must be age twenty and over" (News From Americas Watch Feb. 1994, 5).

The United States Department of State reports that persons over 20 years of age are now allowed to apply for permission to travel abroad (Country Reports 1993 1994, 413). Discussing immigrant visas and refugee status, the source states that "the Government continues to delay or deny exit permits in certain cases, often without explanation" and adds, in a separate sentence, "[o]thers are refused permission because the Government considers their cases sensitive" (ibid.). Finally, the report states the following:
There is no right of repatriation. Exit permits for temporary travel specify that the person must return within 30 days, although extensions are available (ibid., 414).

A report on attempts by Cubans to travel to the United States quotes a Cuban national radio program as saying that "the present policy of the Cuban government [is] to give exit visas to anyone who wanted to leave the country" and blames the U.S. government for preventing Cubans from travelling to the United States (Reuters 9 Feb. 1994). Another article that discusses travel by Cubans to the United States reports:
More and more Cubans are lining up to travel abroad. Until 1992, only older Cubans could apply to leave the country. But the Cuban government has relaxed travel restrictions. Most people over 18 can get permission to go overseas now. [...] Now, the challenge for Cubans is getting the U.S. government to grant them a travel visa (The Christian Science Monitor 12 Nov. 1993).

Previous Responses to Information Requests quote Cuban authorities as stating that exit permits are granted on a case by case basis, after evaluating each case, and thus no general response to questions on granting of exit permits can be provided. Response to Information Request CUB11569 of 21 August 1992 states that, according to Cuban authorities, a foreign visa and a sponsor abroad willing to guarantee expenses by the visiting Cuban are required in order to obtain the documentation necessary for foreign travel. The Response also mentions that people who have had access to restricted information, among others, are not allowed to leave the country. Information on changes to these policies could not be found among the sources currently available to the DIRB. Cuban authorities were not available for comment on possible changes to these policies in time to meet the deadline of your request.

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find attached the list of sources consulted in researching this information request.

References

The Christian Science Monitor. 12 November 1993. David Clark Scott. "Cubans Visit the U.S. in Droves, But Most Are Happy to Return." (NEXIS)

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1993. 1994. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.

Immigration and Refugee Board Documentation Centre (IRBDC), Ottawa. 21 August 1992. Response to Information Request CUB11569.

News from Americas Watch [New York]. February 1994. Vol. 6, No. 2. "Cuba: Stifling Dissent in the Midst of Crisis."

Reuters. 9 February 1994. BC Cycle. "Cuba Accuses U.S. of Hampering Visits by Cubans." (NEXIS)

Attachments

The Christian Science Monitor. 12 November 1993. David Clark Scott. "Cubans Visit the U.S. in Droves, But Most Are Happy to Return." (NEXIS)

News from Americas Watch [New York]. February 1994. Vol. 6, No. 2. "Cuba: Stifling Dissent in the Midst of Crisis," pp. 5-6.

Reuters. 9 February 1994. BC Cycle. "Cuba Accuses U.S. of Hampering Visits by Cubans." (NEXIS)

Sources consulted

Consulate of Cuba, Montreal.

Consulate of Cuba, Toronto.

Embassy of Cuba, Ottawa.

Human Rights Watch. Yearly. Human Rights Watch World Report. New York: Human Rights Watch.

Latin America Press [Lima]. Weekly.

Latin American Newsletters [London]. Monthly.

Latin American Regional Reports: Southern Cone Report [London].

NACLA Report on the Americas. Monthly.

On-line searches.
Note on oral sources:
Oral sources are usually contacted when documentary sources have been exhausted. However, oral sources must agree to be quoted in a publicly available Response to Information Request. If they refuse, the Response will read "no information currently available." Contacting oral sources is also subject to time constraints; for example, periods of the year when academics are unavailable.