Updated details and advice on appointments at the Panamanian Embassy in Cuba

Directorio Cubano Share the experience of one of our readers on the day of her appointment at the Embassy of PanamaA comprehensive guide that probably includes all the questions and doubts you're asking yourself right now.

My experience on the day of my appointment at the Panamanian embassy

Before I finally obtained my Panamanian visa, I had many doubts and fears about the process, and I wasted no time asking on social media, friends, and acquaintances for every detail that might make me feel more secure. However, I couldn't find anyone who offered me the complete and thorough explanation I desired. Now that I've fortunately obtained my visa, I want others to have confidence and feel safe on their appointment day, so they don't make mistakes or suffer mishaps at the hands of scammers.

For all those currently waiting to make an appointment at the Panamanian Consulate in Cuba, I'm writing about my experiences as simply as possible, and I hope to help you. I'll do so by answering each of the questions I asked myself before arriving at the embassy.

How to get an appointment?

Although it may seem obvious to many, when I decided to travel to Panama, I had no idea how to obtain a visa. Then I learned that you had to have a scheduled or reserved appointment at the Panamanian embassy, ​​and boom! First stumbling block! I realized it wasn't that easy to get an appointment.

At the Panamanian Embassy in Cuba, it's not possible to schedule an appointment for a visa application interview whenever you want; you have to wait for the right moment. Due to the high demand from Cubans who want to travel to that Central American country to do their shopping, the embassy opens its appointment button without prior notice, for just a few minutes. The page then crashes and capacity is exhausted because there are so many people waiting.

Faced with this difficulty, there was no shortage of people who immediately told me about those people who were selling appointments for 200 or 300 CUC. But even though I didn't have enough money to give it away, I wanted to keep investigating and try to do it all on my own. I'm against paying third parties and resellers, but if you're one of those who bought your date, well, that's fine, congratulations. Now, if you didn't buy it and want to get it yourself, I'll give you my secret:

Searching on the internet I found the page Directorio Cubano where there are excellent guidance articles, but I found the best of the best: they have an impeccable warning system.

That is, when the Embassy of Panama decides to enable its “fill out form” or “request visa” button, from Directorio Cubano They notify you automatically. That's how I got my appointment, I registered in the Directory, and as soon as I received the notification, I connected to the Wi-Fi, accessed the embassy's website, and wow! I got what seemed impossible: my appointment was completely free.

And I wasn't the only one, because the day I showed up at the Panamanian embassy I met at least four people who managed to schedule their appointments in the same way, thanks to Directorio Cubano

What should I bring to the appointment?

The receipt, the PDF you get once you schedule your appointment (or pay someone to do it for you), clearly states each of the requirements you must present.

You don't need to bring any more or less papers than those indicated there, as you can see in the photo. But, anyway, I also found this article de Directorio Cubano where they explain in detail each document that you must present and in what order.

What time should I arrive?

This is a very important question. You don't have to be extreme, but you do need to be cautious. The Panamanian embassy serves an average of 150 people daily, between 8 and 11 a.m., and of course, if you have a scheduled appointment, you'll definitely be served. But let's look at why it's so important to arrive early.

Law enforcement officials (almost always a dark-skinned, robust police officer) will escort groups of 50 people to the embassy. Once the first 50 people finish, another 50 will be admitted, followed by the remaining 50. The advantage of joining the first group is that once you finish your interview, you can quickly head to the bank to pay for consular services without having to wait in long lines or jeopardizing your payment.

It is recommended that people coming from inland provinces (like me, from Sancti Spíritus) arrive as early as possible, because if they manage to get in with the first group, they will finish very quickly and will be able to embark immediately to their provinces without any difficulty.

I arrived at 4 in the morning. I stayed very close to the embassy, ​​at the house of a university friend who lives two blocks away. However, you can also choose to rent a hostel near the embassy, ​​or if you find it too expensive (prices can range from 10 to 50 euros), CUC ) can also spend the night there, as many do. (Oh, please, no one dies from a bad night, and besides, it's worth it, don't you think?)

I wouldn't recommend traveling that same day from the provinces, because any inconvenience could arise: a broken car, for example, and what happens??? Well, you lose your appointment, and I don't think I'm going to risk losing it when there are so many people paying 200 or 300. CUC. Absolutely not. I prefer to be safe. I'm an early bird, and that's why, as the saying goes: God helps me.

Should I buy a shift?

When I arrived at 4:23 a.m., I walked around the perimeter of the park in front of the embassy and was immediately approached by two or three people offering me lower spots in the queue. Imagine my shock, though, since I was alone (I recommend going with someone if you go early, because although there are officers all over the area, since it's an embassy area, you don't want to expose yourself too much).

I politely told those queuing in line: No, I don't need shifts! (Remember that I like to do things myself, and besides, if I got up early it wasn't to pay 5 or 10 CUC to those scammers, because that's what they are, scammers, and I'll tell you why.)

Take a few more steps forward, and you will surely find people who have been spending the night there since the night before, or parked cars that arrived at 2:00 or 3:00 a.m. Ask who is the last one and pay close attention to who that person is in front of.

I arrived at 4:23 a.m. and was 17th in line. That means I comfortably fit into the first group and didn't have any problems. However, some of the people who paid the line-cutters did face difficulties, as some were scammed. They were told, "You're after that girl," and it turned out the girl was the girlfriend of the line-cutter himself. Once they paid the guy, he and his girlfriend disappeared with a few fresh dollars in their pockets, while those people were left without a spot in the line and had to dial the number again.

The liners caused such a mess that the police officer (the same robust dark-skinned man I already told you about) said that if they didn't get organized, he'd call the number on the ticket list, which would have created real chaos because there were matching numbers. Furthermore, it wasn't at all fair that someone who arrived at 8 a.m. would get to the embassy before the one who slept outside all night.

Anyway, I'll say it clearly, my advice is: arrive early and don't rely on the tailgaters. Do everything as cleanly as possible, and then you'll get clean results.

Should I check my documents before entering?

The same goes for those who offer to review documents. People claiming to be experts in the field and who review papers for a living will appear in line. These people will want to find any errors in your paperwork at all costs, then tell you to reprint them, or that your letter is poorly written, etc. Don't be naive; they're just trying to get your money.

I honestly don't know why we Cubans distrust ourselves so much. If you've already done your paperwork, seen what you needed to bring on the day of your appointment, printed it out, filled it out carefully, etc., why are you upset or thinking that a third party should review your paperwork? No! The forms are easy to fill out, the documents you need to bring are few, and the instructions are clear on your appointment receipt. If you have any questions, however, check this link de Directorio Cubano.

If you want to check your papers because you see others doing it, fine, do it if it will reassure you. Give money to those people who make a living by deceiving the distrustful. Now, keep in mind that many of those who changed their papers before entering also had difficulties, either because the letters they were sold were poorly written, or because they made mistakes filling out the forms, etc. Trust yourself, please.

What time do you enter the embassy?

The first group of 8 applicants will be admitted around 50 a.m. (We hope you were among them, but don't worry if you weren't.)cupit).

Once inside, a very kind employee will explain (once again) every detail to you, making it very clear how to organize each document and what to write. Pay close attention, though you'll see that you've done everything correctly.

What questions do they ask you in the interview?

In each case, they may ask you different questions, depending on the conversation that arises. Interviewers are not robots; they'll engage you in a conversation, and you probably won't even realize what they're asking you. Don't get tense or nervous, just be honest. Remember, they want you to travel; it's in the interest of Panamanians that we Cubans go and leave them millions of dollars each year.

Now, keep in mind that what they're most interested in is proof that you don't plan to stay as an emigrant, and that you truly have enough money to support yourself during your travels.

Some of the questions may be:

And what does your business in Cuba consist of?

How much do you earn approximately each month?

How do you and your family support yourself financially? (This includes everything that helps you support yourself, from remittances, side jobs, rental property, everything!)

Have you traveled before?

Do you own property in Cuba?

Who do you live with?

Do you know anyone in Panama? Be careful with this question. It's not a good idea to say you have many friends, family, or acquaintances, as they might think you're planning to stay and work in that country.

And above all, pay attention to the question that follows below↓

What is your interest in visiting Panama?

I'll be brief on this point: Don't take the embassy workers for fools. They're Panamanian but live in Cuba, so they're as familiar with what's happening daily in our country as you and I.

I'm telling you this because I've read some letters that were supposedly well-written and said things like: "I want to visit Panama because I'm interested in experiencing its lush nature, contemplating the wonderful architecture of its cities, enjoying its music, its folklore, and its ancestral customs." And, look, that's not necessarily a bad thing, but there's no need to lie so much when you're actually going shopping in the Colón Free Zone or Albrook Mall in Panama City, for example.

The Panamanian government issued tourist cards so Cubans could go shopping in that country. The embassy doesn't mind saying you're going shopping; they won't question you about it. On the contrary, you're more likely to get a visa if you declare it honestly than if you go around in circles that lead to nothing.

If you'd like to include any of these ideas related to cultural or nature tourism, we suggest you do so at the end.

It would be nice to say:

"I'm self-employed and would like to travel frequently to your country to import some of the products I need for my business. I want to visit the Colón Free Trade Zone and the stores in the capital. I'd also like to enjoy Panamanian culture and the economic prosperity this country is experiencing today."

Guys, I guarantee you that with a brief explanation like this, you have a better chance of getting a visa than if you start spinning twisted ideas that no one will believe.

Which bank should I go to, and when should I pay?

Once the interview is over, they'll keep your passport and give you four bank vouchers so you can pay for the interview at one of the five Havana banks listed at the end of the vouchers. Note: If possible, choose one of the more distant banks, as everyone chooses to go to the closest ones, and then the congestion can be overwhelming. I went to the one in the Sierra Maestra Building, very close to the La Puntilla market in Miramar, but a friend of mine went to the Carlos Tercero Market and told me there was no one in line.

Of course, you must make the payment on the same day as the interview to avoid bureaucratic conflicts. Some people have experienced difficulties because the payment for this service doesn't appear when they performed it on a different day than the appointment.

Keep in mind that we're in a "juncture" (hopefully, by the time you read this, it'll be a thing of the past) and banks are closing earlier, so don't get too confident. See why I told you to arrive early? The early bird catches the worm. He helped me, which is why I was already on my way to Sancti Spíritus at 11:04 a.m.

When should I get my passport?

Visas are taking between 35 and 40 days. But don't be overconfident; you should keep an eye on the day they are issued. You can also call the following numbers for information:

7-2049011, 7-2144858 and 7-2040858 extension 108

Or access the embassy website:  www.embajadadepanama.info

On the day you are told to pick up your passport, you must be there by 12 noon.

We recommend you stay informed on the channel Directorio Cubano On Telegram, many interested people like you keep each other informed. They are people of goodwill, like you, who know that by doing good, they are much more likely to receive good from others.

I wanted to do good, and that's why I've described my experiences, so that they can reach you and you can share them with your friends and anyone who wants to know the details of what those "dreaded Panamanian dates" are like.

I just want to wish you luck. I have to fly soon, so I'll tell you about that experience in a new post. See you soon!