My husband and I are considering taking a short trip to Cuba from Mexico. I have an Australian Passport and he has a US pssport.

From reading the other posts, it would seem that if he gets hassled by US customs on our return we can tell them that I paid for the trip, and as I am not a US citizen, there is nothing they can do.

Is this correct, or am I being too simplisitc?

We are also taking my Mum who is 70 years old. She is nervous about travelling, but really wants to see more of the world. Would Cuba be a good place to take her, without freaking her out too much http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif

Any advice would be great

I think you will be fine as long as your are going from a relatively large gateway city (e.g., Cancun). As of now there are no US customs officials in foreign airports (but they are looking at going). For a good reference with lots of good travel advice (from Aussies as well), check out cubamania.com. I'm not affiliated with the site, but found it to be the best Cuba site with quick answers out there. (I'm going in October legally and have done extensive online research).

Have a great trip & enjoy the culture.

- Matt
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Feebster:
My husband and I are considering taking a short trip to Cuba from Mexico. I have an Australian Passport and he has a US pssport.

From reading the other posts, it would seem that if he gets hassled by US customs on our return we can tell them that I paid for the trip, and as I am not a US citizen, there is nothing they can do.

Is this correct, or am I being too simplisitc?

We are also taking my Mum who is 70 years old. She is nervous about travelling, but really wants to see more of the world. Would Cuba be a good place to take her, without freaking her out too much http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/smile.gif

Any advice would be great </font>

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Feebster:
From reading the other posts, it would seem that if he gets hassled by US customs on our return we can tell them that I paid for the trip, and as I am not a US citizen, there is nothing they can do.

Is this correct, or am I being too simplisitc?
</font>

The answer depends on your status. Assuming that you have NO ties to the US (no green card, no visa, no citizenship), then you may be in the clear.

I think that to travel there legally, your husband would have to be "fully hosted". You could have to prove that your assets are not co-mingled, if they decide to push it. Chances are they wouldn't, but you never know. With GWB looking to please the Cuban American voters, you may see things get much stricter in the near future.

Being a Canadian citizen I am legally entitled to visit Cuba. I now live in NYC but still maintain Canadian citizenship and passport - not an American citizen therefore making it possible to visit Cuba. I would assume that if YOU hold an Australian passport it would be ok for you to travel but if your husband holds an American passport it could be a problem.

Just make the flight up to YYZ (Toronto) which offers direct flights to Cuba. You will find it easier then flying US - Mexico - Cuba. Just my $ 0.02.

JP

It has been metioned before that one can ask the Cuban immigration people not to stamp one's passports - therefore no proof anywhere that you were in Cuba.

Also, there are direct CUN-HAV flights, as well as MEX-HAV flights.

Feebster's hubby here!
.
I think I fall through the cracks legally, and thus would be entitled to visit Cuba "legally." But I'm not a lawyer. And if I can get away with it, it would definitely be an oversight because my situation is quite unusual. Any legal opinions here would certainly be most welcome!

First of all, although I'm a U.S. citizen, my wife would be most willing to pay for my expenses in Cuba (at least stating so for U.S. Customs).

My wife is an Australian citizen and resident. We still haven't permanently gotten together since our marriage. My application for Australian residency is pending. Her earnings are strictly in Aussie dollars, and she has no status as a U.S. resident.

I understand that I'm OK if I don't spend U.S. dollars or equiv. earned here. Her Aussie dollars earned there have never been comingled with mine.

So LEGALLY, can I travel to Cuba??? Am I within the letter of the law???

We are also taking my Mum who is 70 years old. She is nervous about travelling, but really wants to see more of the world. Would Cuba be a good place to take her, without freaking her out too much

I visited Cuba 8 times between 1995 and 2001. Most of these were short weekend trips. It was interesting in the early days and to see the changes that occurred over that period, less so towards the end. The big drawback was the food. Getting to know some decent private retaurants helped but it's not a "comfort" destination IMO.

My mother is an active 60 year old. I would bring her to Costa Rica, Chile, Argentina, Brazil but not Cuba.

It has been metioned before that one can ask the Cuban immigration people not to stamp one's passports - therefore no proof anywhere that you were in Cuba.
one can always ask... but they'll stamp the passport nonetheless (always on the same page in fact!).
but the odds must be infinitesimally low of being stopped on re-entry. as my husband likes to say, sometimes ya just takes yo chances.

one can always ask... but they'll stamp the passport nonetheless (always on the same page in fact!).

When I was there in 2002, they did not stamp my passport. They gave me the tourist card (which I recall they stamped) and then took the card back when I left. There is no indication in my passport that I was in Cuba.

one can always ask... but they'll stamp the passport nonetheless (always on the same page in fact!).

I take it you're not an American. The previous poster was referring only to U.S. passports. My experience is they do not stamp them and you don't even have to ask. They know our laws.

Greg and Tosser: take a careful look at your american passports for a small (~2sq.cm) box with what looks likes a little outline of a building inside. it's most likely on p16. that's the Cuba stamp. other than a few small numbers and it's unique design, there's no other indication that it's Cuba.

it's possible you're among the exceptions, but just humor me for a second and check that.

I'm Canadian, so I have a Canadian passport. I'll check (it's not in my current passport), but I don't recall any stamps in my passport. Actually, I was a little disappointed, because it was only the second "international" (non Canada or US) trip that I had taken, and really wanted the stamp.

Greg

I looked through my old passport this weekend and confirmed there was no stamp in my passport from my trip to Cuba. Every stamp was identified by country, and there were no unidentified stamps in the passport.

I was there in 2002. Perhaps the rules have changed since then, and now they stamp?

Greg and Tosser: take a careful look at your american passports for a small (~2sq.cm) box with what looks likes a little outline of a building inside. it's most likely on p16. that's the Cuba stamp. other than a few small numbers and it's unique design, there's no other indication that it's Cuba.

it's possible you're among the exceptions, but just humor me for a second and check that.
Bloodclaat! I snuck a visit to Cuba in 2000 and could've sworn they only stamped my special Tourist card. But there on page 16 is a diagram like what you're describing!
And to think I've been traveling all this time on this passport!

Just make the flight up to YYZ (Toronto) which offers direct flights to Cuba. You will find it easier then flying US - Mexico - Cuba. Just my $ 0.02. JP

Actually, you should expect to get the biggest hassle travelling through Canada of just about anywhere. Other bad gateways are anywhere in Mexico, the Bahamas, and Jamaica. You'd be safest flying through Venezuela, as Cuba and Venezuela have very good diplomatic relations, and Venezuela won't sell it's airline passenger manifests to the US. All of the others do.

Be aware that it's fairly easy to find "missing" periods of travel in your passport if customs wants to go searching for them. The fine right now for violation of the travel ban is $10,000 a pop. Since 2004, the Office of Foreign Asset Control has gone after 10x more people for illegal travel than prior to 2004. (5000+ fines levied per year vs. 500 per year prior).

You should think things through carefully...

Be aware that it's fairly easy to find "missing" periods of travel in your passport if customs wants to go searching for them. The fine right now for violation of the travel ban is $10,000 a pop. Since 2004, the Office of Foreign Asset Control has gone after 10x more people for illegal travel than prior to 2004. (5000+ fines levied per year vs. 500 per year prior).



Fixing the "missing" periods of travel is easy to perform. Check into a nice cheap hotel for the entire time you're in Cuba. "Encourage" the room service staff or front desk staff to charge something to the room everyday but always make sure the charge is different, short phone call, room service, something. When you return from your trip to Cuba, stop by the hotel, and check out.

When asked about receipts during your trip, you have proof.

I have lots of American friends that travel to cuba via Canada. In cuba they dont stamp your passport and are very happy to have you there.

Being a Canadian citizen I am legally entitled to visit Cuba. I now live in NYC but still maintain Canadian citizenship and passport - not an American citizen therefore making it possible to visit Cuba. I would assume that if YOU hold an Australian passport it would be ok for you to travel but if your husband holds an American passport it could be a problem.

Just make the flight up to YYZ (Toronto) which offers direct flights to Cuba. You will find it easier then flying US - Mexico - Cuba. Just my $ 0.02.

JP

One comment on this, even though it is old. It doesn't matter where you passport is from if you are a US Permanent Resident.

Really, Mvoight? I've heard that dual citizens of the USA & another country could safely use their non-US passport to go to Cuba & the US authorities were powerless because it was said travelers' right as citizens of the other country.

Really, Mvoight? I've heard that dual citizens of the USA & another country could safely use their non-US passport to go to Cuba & the US authorities were powerless because it was said travelers' right as citizens of the other country.

I'm not sure what the deal is for permanent residents (people with "green cards"), but for dual nationals, it can definitely be a problem. The US has the principle that in front of their legal system, if you're an American citizen, you will be considered an American citizen, no matter how many other citizenships you may have. American dual nationals also will not have access to consular assistance from their other country of citizenship if they are accused of a crime.

I have a US passport and am thinking of going to Cuba for a conference where I am presenting. That I understand, travel restrictions are tighter now than ever before.

Are there any things that I need to be worried about when I am booking this trip?


Any input/advice would be appreciated.

Actually, you should expect to get the biggest hassle travelling through Canada of just about anywhere. Other bad gateways are anywhere in Mexico, the Bahamas, and Jamaica. You'd be safest flying through Venezuela, as Cuba and Venezuela have very good diplomatic relations, and Venezuela won't sell it's airline passenger manifests to the US. All of the others do.

Be aware that it's fairly easy to find "missing" periods of travel in your passport if customs wants to go searching for them. The fine right now for violation of the travel ban is $10,000 a pop. Since 2004, the Office of Foreign Asset Control has gone after 10x more people for illegal travel than prior to 2004. (5000+ fines levied per year vs. 500 per year prior).

You should think things through carefully...

The very last thing I would ever want to get is American Citizienship. The tax burden is the second reason.

The very last thing I would ever want to get is American Citizienship. The tax burden is the second reason.

what is the first reason?

I have a US passport and am thinking of going to Cuba for a conference where I am presenting.

Assuming your conference is non-commercial in nature, you can probably receive a license to travel legally. I think that the US State Department (http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1097.html) should have the final say,

"Licenses are granted to the following categories of travelers and they are permitted to spend money for Cuban travel and to engage in other transactions directly incident to the purpose of their travel under a general license, without the need to obtain special permission from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC):

* Journalists and supporting broadcasting or technical personnel (regularly employed in that capacity by a news reporting organization and traveling for journalistic activities)
* Official government travelers on official business.
* Members of international organizations of which the United States is also a member (traveling on official business).
* Full-time professionals whose travel transactions are directly related to 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. An organization, institution, or association headquartered in the United States may not sponsor such a meeting or conference unless it has been specifically licensed to sponsor it. The purpose of the meeting or conference cannot be the promotion of tourism in Cuba or other commercial activities involving Cuba, or to foster production of any bio-technological products.
* Travelers who have received specific licenses from OFAC prior to going.
* Specific Licenses to Visit Immediate Family Members in Cuba"