Cubans who are considering moving to the U.S. from Cuba often settle in Miami, as the largest big city that’s close to home. But, there are several reasons to look further afield, particularly to Houston which has been voted the most diverse city in the U.S. ahead of New York, Los Angeles, and, of course, Miami [1].
3 Reasons Cubans Move to Houston
There are an estimated 50,000 Cubans living in Houston as of 2022 [2]. Cubans often find their way to Houston via Mexico and cross the border from Mexico into Texas on foot. U.S. Customs and Border Patrol figures show that 182,357 Cubans crossed the border into Texas in 2022. Irrespective of their reasons for wanting to leave Cuba, those who make their home in Houston find compelling reasons to stay related to its cultural diversity.
Music scene
Houston has a thriving music scene including several Cuban and Latin American themed bars perfect for enjoying Cuban music and taking part in Salsa classes and other dancing such as Mambo and Merengue. Check out Latin American dance club, Parceros which hosts events and concerts and has a busy dance scene on Fridays and Saturdays. Alternatively, try Club Tropicana where you can dance the night away on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Food
The Cuban cuisine has found its way into many restaurants in Houston, including the highly popular Café Pique where you can order many Cuban favorites such as the Cubano, a traditional sandwich of Swiss cheese, ham, pork, mustard, and pickles, or ropa vieja, shredded beef slow-cooked in wine and tomatoes. There are also many Cuban bakeries, such as Azucar serving pastries, cakes, churros and coffee.
Festivals
The annual Puerto Rican & Cuban Festival, which celebrates Cuban art, music, dance and Spanish Caribbean culture takes place in October each year. It attracts around 30,000 people keen to experience the sights, sounds and tastes of Cuba, and Central and Latin America [3]. The event also includes an international car show and fashion show as well as singing, dancing and tasty cuisine. In 2022, the event moved to a larger venue, the Crown Festival Park in Sugarland, to accommodate more festival-goers. This festival attracts the most recognizable international and local acts in Salsa, Reggeaton, Cubatón, and Bachata, providing a haven for music fans.
You can search online and find a few other Caribbean and Central and Latin and American festivals in the Houston area as well.
Cuban Nationals Visa Requirements for the U.S.
To travel to the U.S., Cubans must first get an approved Embassy or Consular visa. As the time of writing (March 2023), it is not possible to get a non-immigrant visa for temporary stays in the U.S. – see the Consular Services page of the U.S. embassy in Cuba’s website for latest information on which visas are currently being issued. Although it is possible for Cubans to get an immigrant visa granted for the U.S., this process is lengthy, so you will need to plan carefully.
Arranging a money transfer to Cuba
If you have settled in the U.S. or you are staying on a temporary work or student visa, you may want to send U.S. dollars back to Cuba for family living there. To send money to Cuba, you can use the Western Union money transfer app, visit one of over 1,500 Agent locations in and around Houston or use the Western Union website [4]. Be aware that there are still some restrictions for sending money from the U.S. to Cuba, the following criteria must be met to enable a transfer to take place:
- Customers can send $2,000 USD per transaction (additional limits may apply). – The transactions are expected to be delivered the Next Business Day. Same-day delivery might be available if the transaction is submitted before the cutoff time (11:30 am EST) and it is dependent on the bank’s service availability.
- Deposits can only be made to MLC (Moneda Libre Convertible) accounts and MLC debit cards.
- Only non-commercial, family remittances are allowed while send-to-self is not available.
- Customer transactions must be in full compliance with US regulatory requirements and may be subject to additional restrictions based on available remittance types. Available at selected locations.
You can also check out our blog for more information. For help on setting up your account, understanding app features or information on exchange rates or fees, visit the online Help Center.
