Panama resumes in-person visa processing for Cubans

Panama City, July 16 (RHC) Panamanian authorities informed that applications for visas stamped as tourist visas for Cuban citizens will be made in person at their offices in this capital.

According to a statement issued by the National Immigration Service (SNM), this alternative measure will be in force until end of the process of revision of the web page of the security entity, in which the process of the corresponding appointments could be made online.

According to the SNM, for this procedure, the interested parties must show at the correspondence window -only by means of a legal proxy- the document issued by the applicant to a suitable attorney, duly certified.

It also indicates that in the power of attorney or in the authorization, the reasons for requesting the stamped visa must be mentioned.

Other documents that are requested are a simple copy of the general passport and the identity card and suitability, besides indicating an email to where the answer will be sent in each case.

Last July 3, due to vulnerabilities in the system, the SNM temporarily suspended online procedures for the granting of stamped visas to foreigners of Cuban nationality.

The official communiqué at the time stated that the measure would be extended this month of July, thus temporarily disabling the process to request appointments and obtain the stamped visa for foreigners of Cuban nationality.

The new director of the SNM, Roger Mojica, assured at that time that the institution is committed to transparency in these procedures and stressed the importance of complying with the country's immigration laws, always respecting human rights.

The entity emphasized at the time that, once the technical situation is resolved, the applicants may resume the process to acquire the Cuban stamped visa at the SNM headquarters in the Panamanian capital.

This measure seeks to guarantee a safe migratory process and in accordance with the regulations in force, ensuring that all applications are handled properly once the system is restored, the document pointed out. (Source: Prensa Latina).