Apply as Immigrants, Cubans Told

The Clinton Administration is advising Cubans who want to come to the United States to apply as immigrants, pointing to a huge unfilled quota as an incentive.

So far this year 2,059 Cubans have been accepted as immigrants. Another 2,300 have gained entry as political refugees--a channel that is now severely restricted.

Cuba, like most countries, is allocated up to 7% of the worldwide total for immigration to the United States, or 27,845. Nearly 25,800 slots are still open.

State Department officials said Monday that only five countries use up their quotas--China, the Dominican Republic, India, Mexico and the Philippines.