Expert on Grandchildren's Law Procedures: "Half of Our Inquiries Come from the U.S."

Mario Dueñas, an administrative consultant and expert in immigration procedures in Spain, shared with CiberCuba this Wednesday that "half of the inquiries his office in Galicia (Equipo Dueñas) receives are from the United States." According to him, many Cubans facing significant immigration pressure with I-220A and I-220B documents are considering relocating to Spain due to the current uncertainties.

Dueñas noted, "There's been a substantial increase. Today, half of those contacting us are from the United States, and many are looking to acquire Spanish nationality. Additionally, many individuals are either returning to Spain or planning to move there for the first time."

The demand for Spanish nationality in U.S. consulates, particularly with Dueñas' office, is significant. "We are contacted daily, often by young people in the U.S. while their older parents reside in Spain," he explained. "Parents often reach out, saying, 'My child is in the U.S., things have become challenging, and I want them to obtain Spanish nationality as soon as possible, ideally before October.'" he added.

In an interview with our platform, the Camagüey-born consultant clarified that the deadline for the Democratic Memory Law, commonly referred to by Cubans as the Grandchildren's Law, ends in October. However, if an individual secures the necessary credentials from the relevant Spanish consulate, based on their address in the U.S., as indicated on their driver's license, they remain eligible in the process to gain their grandparent's nationality.

The issue arises as the deadline approaches, with the Spanish Consulate in Havana no longer sending receipt acknowledgments to applicants for Spanish nationality. This creates uncertainty as applicants are unsure if the consulate received their email. "The concern today at the Havana Consulate is the lack of acknowledgment receipts. Previously, one would receive confirmation that the documents had been received and that credentials would follow. However, this hasn't been happening for days. We don't know why, but they are not arriving," stated Dueñas, who operates from his office in Ourense, Galicia.

One of the recurring questions in this week's program was about great-grandchildren aspiring to Spanish nationality. Mario Dueñas responded affirmatively, provided that all preceding family generations are deceased. "In the Havana Consulate, they accept applicants for nationality as great-grandchildren, as long as all other lineage members are deceased. If you are the only survivor and a great-granddaughter, they will accept you," he explained.

Dueñas shared an example of a consultation with a client whose grandmother was still alive, although not in the best health. The client wanted to bypass the grandmother but was advised that the grandmother must first apply as a granddaughter. Only then can the client apply as the child of a granddaughter. This means that the child of a Spanish grandchild who acquires Spanish nationality can also be naturalized as the child of an original Spaniard.

Dueñas further clarified that the new Immigration Regulation recently enacted in Spain allows the children of newly-nationalized Spaniards (original Spaniards) to obtain a visa for entry into Spain with residency permits. Regarding the costs of processing documents in Cuba, he mentioned that it costs approximately 2,250 Cuban pesos and takes about four months. It's crucial to note that only three months remain to apply under the Grandchildren's Law.