US Citizens Visiting Cuba – What’s the Catch for Americans

Happy — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:42:35 +0000

I used to think it was illegal for Americans to visit Cuba but someone corrected me and said it was not illegal for US citizens to travel to Cuba, it is illegal for them to spend money in Cuba. I have not had this information officially verified, but it does make some sense.

Will Cubans Allow Americans In?

Hell yeah. Despite wrongful belief by many Americans, Cubans love Americans. Cubans love everyone. They love talking about how it is in your home country and love seeing pictures. They’re not prejudous and will welcome you with open arms if you visit their country.

When it comes to Cuban customs officials – it is important to recognize that tourism is main drive of Cuban economy. Each tourists means more foreign currency – which is what they need. Cubans will not turn you away. Many US citizens, especially the young ones realize that which is why I was able to meet so many Americans in Cuba, despite whole embargo going on. They all love Cuba and visit it regularly.

How Can an American Get to Cuba

Obviously, there are no directly flights from US mainland flying to Canada and US guard patrol the waters south of Florida so sailing to Cuba from the USA is also pretty much the impossibility. So how do Americans travel to Cuba? Simple – via Mexico, Bahamas or Canada.

Best Gateways for Americans to Cuba

If starting from the US, your best bet is to fly to Cancun, Mexico or Toronto, Canada and then purchase a plane ticket to Cuba there. There are also convenient flights from other places – Nassau or Mexico City worked for some Americans I have met.

Can Americans Get in Trouble for Visiting Cuba

It quite possibly could happen, but unless you tell, US officials may never find out. Cubans don’t stamp passports and Tourist Card is their visa. There will be no indication revealing US officials that you had previously visited Cuba. They may never know…

Will Travel to Cuba and Cuban Visa Cause Problems in the USA?

Happy — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 05:27:01 +0000

Cuban Tourist Card issued by Cuban Consulate in London, UK. The cost for UK travellers is £15, the embassy is on 167 High Holborn, which is just round the corner from Tottenham Court Road. Photo: Matthew Armstrong, Flickr

This is the question I get asked often:

If I travel to Cuba and get Cuban visa with Cuban stamp in my passport, will it cause problems or prevent me from travelling to the USA?

To give a one word answer – NO!

Travelling to Cuba will in no way affect your travels to the USA nor will it cause any problems, unless you make them problems. Why? Because Cuba does not issue visa that goes in your passport, nor do they stamp passports upon entry to Cuba. Every traveller is obliged to purchase the Tourist Card. That’s your visa for Cuba. You can easily discard the tourist card after you’ve left Cuba and US immigration officials will have no indication and no reason to suspect you had previously visited Cuba.

Cuban Tourist Card aka Cuban Visa

The tourist card is a form of Cuban visa. It’s a little card that you have to fill up telling Cuban officials where in Cuba you will be staying and so on. Travellers from Canada will get the tourist card from their flight operator on board the aricraft and it is included in price of the plane ticket (Canada is Cuba’s largest source of tourism revenue). Travellers from other parts of the world may need to purchase the tourist card. Tour operators who offer travel to Cuba usually have those, or you can get them from the Cuban Embassy in your country.

USA/Cuba Relations

We all know the USA and Cuba are not on good terms together and US embargo prevents all US citizens from travelling to Cuba and/or doing business with Cuba. And Cuba responded back by removing US dollars from circulation and making it illegal to use as currency. Money exchange offices in Cuba will still accept US dollars, but will impose 10$ tax on top of an exchange rate.

US Citizen Travelling to Cuba

Despite Cuba’s sanctions against the USA and US dollars, the economy of Cuba is still powered primarily by tourism and as such, any tourist, regardless of where they are from is welcome. That includes US tourists. You will not be turned away if you are a US citizen bearing US passport and wish to enter Cuba. Cubans welcome any tourist, because tourists bring foreign funds to Cuba. And they desperately need those or else Cuban economy sinks.

Travelling to the USA after Visiting Cuba

Whether you’re a citizen of the USA or a citizen of any other country, Cuban tourist card will be your visa to Cuba, which is a separate document from your passport. US immigration need never know you have been to Cuba before hence it need not cause any problems entering the USA.

Cuba Tourism » USA and Cuba