Americans Returning From Cuba
Apr 26, 2016, 11:22 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 385
Americans Returning From Cuba
I am off to Cuba soon. Flying in from Nassau and out through Cancun.
Would it be wise to just write at US customs the Bahamas and Mexico as destinations traveled to? I have 3 hour layover in the Bahamas, same with Mexico. I am nervous about writing Cuba however I won't be able to explain the gap between the Bahamas and Mexico if asked about that.
So basically better to be open about Cuba or why bring it up? (techinically my trip is legal as I am staying with Cubans and would be promoting democratic values to the Cuban people).
Would it be wise to just write at US customs the Bahamas and Mexico as destinations traveled to? I have 3 hour layover in the Bahamas, same with Mexico. I am nervous about writing Cuba however I won't be able to explain the gap between the Bahamas and Mexico if asked about that.
So basically better to be open about Cuba or why bring it up? (techinically my trip is legal as I am staying with Cubans and would be promoting democratic values to the Cuban people).
Apr 27, 2016, 8:11 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: San Jose, Costa Rica
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum
Posts: 1,894
Well …
My concern is that a trip to both Cancun and Nassau would raise questions about Cuba. One or the other is common, but who travels to both places in one trip?
The "promoting democratic values to the Cuban people" category means that you travel to Cuba on a structured trip with an international organization that does that type of work. I'm not sure you can claim you're doing that if the question comes up.
You are permitted to go on your own now. You no longer have to go with a group on a people-to-people tour. You are supposed to engage in the types of activities you'd do on a people-to-people tour, though. That means entirely cultural and educational activities. You're not supposed to hang out at the beach, although how would anyone know if you did that? You are required to keep a journal of your activities if you travel this way. In theory, someone from the U.S. government could ask to inspect your journal. I don't know anyone who's been asked, but you are required to keep what you write on hand for five years. I've gone as a journalist and have been upfront about that when I returned to the U.S. No one batted an eye. No one asked to see further evidence of my work.
My gut feeling is that no one will care if you go to Cuba these days. (I can't guarantee anything.) They will care if you're discovered to have omitted something on your customs declaration.
My concern is that a trip to both Cancun and Nassau would raise questions about Cuba. One or the other is common, but who travels to both places in one trip?
The "promoting democratic values to the Cuban people" category means that you travel to Cuba on a structured trip with an international organization that does that type of work. I'm not sure you can claim you're doing that if the question comes up.
You are permitted to go on your own now. You no longer have to go with a group on a people-to-people tour. You are supposed to engage in the types of activities you'd do on a people-to-people tour, though. That means entirely cultural and educational activities. You're not supposed to hang out at the beach, although how would anyone know if you did that? You are required to keep a journal of your activities if you travel this way. In theory, someone from the U.S. government could ask to inspect your journal. I don't know anyone who's been asked, but you are required to keep what you write on hand for five years. I've gone as a journalist and have been upfront about that when I returned to the U.S. No one batted an eye. No one asked to see further evidence of my work.
My gut feeling is that no one will care if you go to Cuba these days. (I can't guarantee anything.) They will care if you're discovered to have omitted something on your customs declaration.
Apr 28, 2016, 10:37 am
#3
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Sacramento, CA, US
Posts: 2,229
Due to the electronic kiosk at MIA, we didn't even have to fill out the standard written customs declaration upon our return, and didn't see any opportunity to report what countries we had visited or what we might have acquired. It was remarkable!
The passport wasn't inspected either, other than via the kiosk, which could not read the interior pages with the Cuban passport stamps.
The passport wasn't inspected either, other than via the kiosk, which could not read the interior pages with the Cuban passport stamps.
Apr 28, 2016, 11:07 am
#4
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: San Jose, Costa Rica
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum
Posts: 1,894
the interior pages with the Cuban passport stamps.
Jun 7, 2016, 2:37 pm
#6
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: RSW, MGA, DCA, CSX, HKG
Programs: Still working on being loyal
Posts: 154
I just traveled to Cuba via Key West by boat round trip, the customs officials met us about a mile offshore and escorted us to the Marina. They asked both at entry and exit if we wanted stamps - we took them, figured I'd live a little 
Update - I made it back to Key West (in about 10 ft seas) and cleared customs, they made no fuss about the stamps.
Update - I made it back to Key West (in about 10 ft seas) and cleared customs, they made no fuss about the stamps.
Jun 10, 2016, 7:12 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: 4éme
Posts: 12,038
Maybe the State Department should update their travel page for Cuba!
https://travel.state.gov/content/pas...ntry/cuba.html
https://travel.state.gov/content/pas...ntry/cuba.html
Jun 10, 2016, 8:03 pm
#9
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
To answer the underlying question, the dumbest thing you can do is to make a false statement to the US government. Take a look at 18 USC Section 1001. It's a felony.
Not to travel to Cuba, but to answer the Bahamas if you are asked the countries to which you traveled and you don't include Cuba if you traveled to Cuba.
Will you be prosecuted? Not likely. But, you will likely wind up in secondary for the next few years because you have demonstrated that you are dishonest in answering simple questions.
Not to travel to Cuba, but to answer the Bahamas if you are asked the countries to which you traveled and you don't include Cuba if you traveled to Cuba.
Will you be prosecuted? Not likely. But, you will likely wind up in secondary for the next few years because you have demonstrated that you are dishonest in answering simple questions.
Jun 11, 2016, 4:13 pm
#10
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
To answer the underlying question, the dumbest thing you can do is to make a false statement to the US government. Take a look at 18 USC Section 1001. It's a felony.
Not to travel to Cuba, but to answer the Bahamas if you are asked the countries to which you traveled and you don't include Cuba if you traveled to Cuba.
Will you be prosecuted? Not likely. But, you will likely wind up in secondary for the next few years because you have demonstrated that you are dishonest in answering simple questions.
Not to travel to Cuba, but to answer the Bahamas if you are asked the countries to which you traveled and you don't include Cuba if you traveled to Cuba.
Will you be prosecuted? Not likely. But, you will likely wind up in secondary for the next few years because you have demonstrated that you are dishonest in answering simple questions.
Fill out your form 6059B with "Cuba", you're most likely to get nothing more than a bemused look from an agent. Fail to fill out, or fail to stare if asked, you've "knowingly and willfully... falsified, concealed or covered up by any trick, scheme, or device a material fact" and possibly get in some 💩.