Travel to Cuba post Trump Announcement
Jun 26, 2017, 1:05 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: United, Southwest
Posts: 101
Travel to Cuba post Trump Announcement
I was hoping to travel to Cuba in February. Now that Trump announced restrictions on travel and most-likely removal of the Educational - P2P visa category, I fear that won't happen. Is it still possible for me to book the round trip flight and buy the visa right now (P2P is still available)?
https://cubavisaservices.com/product/sw-visa-card/
https://cubavisaservices.com/product/sw-visa-card/
Jun 26, 2017, 2:45 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Programs: FB Silver going for Gold
Posts: 21,805
You are getting two distinct and separate issues confused.
The visa card is issued by the Cuban government, and it is only collected/processed when you enter and leave Cuba. Look at it as a combined entry/exit/visa fee + information card.
The other piece is declaring your purpose of travel to the US government. That's nothing to do with the Cuban visa card.
If you buy a ticket now, who knows if the airline will stop service by February due to a fall off in bookings. In such a case, you could flout the embargo by travelling via a third country.
The visa card is issued by the Cuban government, and it is only collected/processed when you enter and leave Cuba. Look at it as a combined entry/exit/visa fee + information card.
The other piece is declaring your purpose of travel to the US government. That's nothing to do with the Cuban visa card.
If you buy a ticket now, who knows if the airline will stop service by February due to a fall off in bookings. In such a case, you could flout the embargo by travelling via a third country.
Jun 26, 2017, 2:54 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: San Jose, Costa Rica
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum
Posts: 1,894
Right now, your airline website requires you to state the purpose of your trip in the form of choosing one of the 12 approved categories of travel. For the educational category, it's mostly on the honors system.
If the new rules revert to the old system of applying for a license from the OFAC division of the Department of the Treasury, then that's what you'll have to do. That will be a much more involved process. The alternative is to go on a people-to-people group tour with an approved operator. The tour operator's license will cover you.
If the new rules revert to the old system of applying for a license from the OFAC division of the Department of the Treasury, then that's what you'll have to do. That will be a much more involved process. The alternative is to go on a people-to-people group tour with an approved operator. The tour operator's license will cover you.
Jun 26, 2017, 3:04 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: United, Southwest
Posts: 101
I was on Southwest and didn't see any where to choose a category for reason of travel. I am reaching out to them but if the rules have not changed yet, couldn't I still choose people to people as a reason for future travel?
Jun 26, 2017, 3:09 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 1999
Programs: FB Silver going for Gold
Posts: 21,805
This might be informative.
http://pointsmilesandmartinis.boardi...rlines-havana/
It looks like you declare at check in (at least at FLL earlier this year).
http://pointsmilesandmartinis.boardi...rlines-havana/
It looks like you declare at check in (at least at FLL earlier this year).
Jul 19, 2017, 5:01 pm
#9
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 2
Planning a trip with the fam for Christmas. All my family, including myself, have a European passport - all clear for us- but my husband is American. Wondering if he will have any trouble if we go the old route of US> Mexico > Havana and return the same way? Any experience, insights much appreciated.
Jul 19, 2017, 7:47 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: YYZ
Programs: A3&O6 Gold,IC AMB & HH Diamond
Posts: 14,132
Planning a trip with the fam for Christmas. All my family, including myself, have a European passport - all clear for us- but my husband is American. Wondering if he will have any trouble if we go the old route of US> Mexico > Havana and return the same way? Any experience, insights much appreciated.
Jul 20, 2017, 6:04 am
#11
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,667
Planning a trip with the fam for Christmas. All my family, including myself, have a European passport - all clear for us- but my husband is American. Wondering if he will have any trouble if we go the old route of US> Mexico > Havana and return the same way? Any experience, insights much appreciated.
I have read on other travel forums that the Mexican airlines are also requiring those with US passports to fill out an affidavit, just as if they traveled direct from a US airport.
Jul 20, 2017, 8:14 am
#14
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: San Jose, Costa Rica
Programs: AAdvantage Platinum
Posts: 1,894
Agreed that Cuban Migracion stamps all passports. The days of winking and waving U.S. citizens on through are no more.
Two years ago, on my first trip, I flew SJO-PTY-HAV-PTY-SJO on Copa. On the way to Cuba during my connection at PTY, the airline had a form for me to fill out stating my purpose for travel as a U.S. citizen. I went as a journalist.
Two years ago, on my first trip, I flew SJO-PTY-HAV-PTY-SJO on Copa. On the way to Cuba during my connection at PTY, the airline had a form for me to fill out stating my purpose for travel as a U.S. citizen. I went as a journalist.
Jul 20, 2017, 5:12 pm
#15
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,667
Agreed that Cuban Migracion stamps all passports. The days of winking and waving U.S. citizens on through are no more.
Two years ago, on my first trip, I flew SJO-PTY-HAV-PTY-SJO on Copa. On the way to Cuba during my connection at PTY, the airline had a form for me to fill out stating my purpose for travel as a U.S. citizen. I went as a journalist.
Two years ago, on my first trip, I flew SJO-PTY-HAV-PTY-SJO on Copa. On the way to Cuba during my connection at PTY, the airline had a form for me to fill out stating my purpose for travel as a U.S. citizen. I went as a journalist.
It actually may open you up to having to apply to the Cuban government for a visa as a journalist, (rather than a simple tourist card for ....tourists) which brings additional scrutiny during the visa process and also when in Cuba.