Some procedures for Cubans in Uruguay are being halted for these reasons.

Bureaucracy between Cuba and Uruguay slows down Cubans' procedures in the South American country and affects lives and processes to settle normally in a "trendy" country among those leaving the island today.

The Uruguayan press has recently covered several cases, one of which is that of Marisa Hernández, who fled the violence in Venezuela in the hope of rebuilding her life in Uruguay. There she found work, a partner, and stability, but she didn't expect the bureaucracy to play another trick on her.

For more than six months, her attempt to marry Cuban José Antonio Pérez has been stalled by an unusual conflict of laws between Uruguay and Cuba, affecting dozens of citizens.

The problem has a name and surname: the impossibility of registering Cuban divorces in UruguaySince 2023, Cuban courts have only issued divorce certificates in extract, instead of the complete and legalized sentences required by Uruguayan law to validate these processes.

This administrative change, driven by the increase in document requests for immigration procedures on the island, has left Cubans legally stranded in Uruguay. They cannot marry, sell property, or complete basic procedures. In other words, they cannot fully exercise their civil rights in the South American country.

An obstacle that delays the lives and procedures of Cubans in Uruguay

At least a dozen files have been blocked in the Uruguayan Civil Registry due to this situation, according to what was confirmed to the diario El País of Uruguay, Lourdes Sánchez, advisor to the organization.

However, the actual number could be higher. Every week, government offices receive Cuban citizens with documents in hand who are repeatedly turned away.

"It's a cruel situation," acknowledged Silvia Facal, the new director of the Civil Registry, who asserted that they are working with the Ministry of Education and Culture to resolve these cases and seek legal alternatives.

But until there is a response from the Cuban consulate in Montevideo, any attempt is futile.

The Cuban consulate, contacted by El País, did not provide a formal response. His representative, Ezequiel Ricardo Díaz Rueda, simply stated that the problem "is the Uruguayan government's responsibility" and recommended interviewing its authorities.

Meanwhile, those affected wait. Marisa and José Antonio's story isn't unique. Other mixed-race couples, like Osleydis Gutiérrez and Martín Cabrera, are experiencing the same anguish. "We feel like we're in a legal limbo," they said.

Beyond the paperwork, these are real people with life projects stopped by bureaucratic obstacles between two countries.