American bound for Cuba?? - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**Canadian Dude** · 07-23-2003, 04:26 AM

I knw Cuba is not South America, but this was the closest forum to it...

People residing in the US, regardless of citizenship, are for the most part prohibited from spending money in any currency relating to Cuba, unless ythey are licenced by the Foreign Assets Control. No Licences will be issed for tourist travel to Cuba. For more information on the Cuban sanctions you can call Dept of Treasury in Miami @ 305-810-5140
or in Washington DC @ 202-622-2520

These are the exceptions:

- U.S. and foreign government officials traveling on official business, including representatives of international organizations of which the U.S. is a member;

- Journalists and supporting broadcasting or technical personnel regularly employed by a news reporting organization;

- Persons making a once-a-year visit to close family relatives in circumstances of humanitarian need;

- Full-time professionals whose travel transactions are directly related to professional research in their professional areas, provided that their research: (1) is of a noncommercial academic nature; (2) comprises a full work schedule in Cuba, and (3) has a substantial likelihood of public dissemination;

- Full-time professionals whose travel transactions are directly related to attendance at professional meetings or conferences in Cuba organized by an international professional organization, institution, or association that regularly sponsors such meetings or conferences in other countries;

- Amateur or semi-professional athletes or teams traveling to Cuba to participate in an athletic competition held under the auspices of the relevant international sports federation.

So although a bit of a hassle, it can be done with in the law, or as far as I know, you could just travel to Canada and fly to Cuba from here. The Cubans don't minding you going there, its America....

And its funny, its prob the only place in the world someone will say, " Oh your Canadian" before they ask if your American...LOLOL

**travelpunk** · 11-03-2003, 03:39 AM

Thanks for the info, bro!

For us in the US, since we cannot fly directly into Cuba, we'd have to fly out of Canada (my cousin flew from Vancouver), or out of Mexico City( a friend took this route).

NOTE: If you are an American going to Cuba, you can get fined $7,500! Read this article.
TIP: If you go, don't let them stamp your passport, Both my cousin and friend, had a piece of paper stamped, then just kept that piece of paper in their passport, removing it and hiding the piece of paper in their pockets, before going through customs.

**Sijuki** · 11-06-2003, 08:16 AM

Actually there is one more part to that warning on Cuba that could allow us US citizens to find a way around the fine.
Just find someone to 'pay' for our expenses there that isn't a US citizen. Then just pay them beforehand or reimburse them afterwards. I might work.

"Unless otherwise exempted or authorized, any person subject to U.S. jurisdiction who engages in any travel-related transaction in Cuba violates the regulations. Persons not licensed to engage in travel-related transactions may travel to Cuba without violating the regulations only if all Cuba-related expenses are covered by a person not subject to U.S. jurisdiction and provided that the traveler does not provide any service to Cuba or a Cuban national. Such travel is called "fully-hosted" travel. Such travel may not by made on a Cuban carrier or aboard a direct flight between the United States and Cuba."

**Mocassin** · 11-07-2003, 08:17 PM

Hahahah! I'm so happy to be canadian right now!

**Sijuki** · 11-07-2003, 08:25 PM

So moc, you want to help me pay for my trip to Cuba... I promise I will reimburse you :D

**Mocassin** · 11-08-2003, 06:20 AM

In your dreams Kiddo!

**Sijuki** · 11-08-2003, 08:51 AM

See... try and get some help from the northerly neighbors and they just shut you down. :D

**travelpunk** · 11-09-2003, 03:30 AM

Interesting, sijuki!

Thanks for the info

!

TUI · 12-01-2003, 12:28 PM

sounds to damn risky... any ETA for all of this to end?

**Sijuki** · 12-01-2003, 01:07 PM

Sometime after Fidel Castro dies and the American Government is allowed to "free" Cuba. Then it will be deemed safe to spend american dollars there.

**Canadian Dude** · 12-01-2003, 04:47 PM

Tourists are not allowed to use Cuban Peso, they must use American $$$ for EVERYTHING!!!! They do not take VISA there because VISA is an American company...Everything you do there will be paid for in American $$$, it has been that way since about 1990 or so I think, before that it was illegal for Cubans to hold American currency.

**llemus7** · 04-08-2004, 03:53 PM

Cd, is it possible to use any other type of credit card, like one from mexico or any other foreing country that is not an american company affiliated?

**Canadian Dude** · 04-08-2004, 04:35 PM

No credit bro..just $$$ US

You might be able to pull somehting off if you can get onto a good resort..but i doubt it.

I have heard of US folks getting there via other Mexico...don't know what happens when you get back though?