Cuba for an American and Non American
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Ettalong Beach (Central Coast) NSW
Programs: Ex UA PremEx
Posts: 849
Cuba for an American and Non American
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
Any advice would be great
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
Any advice would be great
#2
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Austin, TX, USA
Posts: 283
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
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
Any advice would be great </font>
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
Any advice would be great </font>
#3
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 553
<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>
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>
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.
#4
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada / Moving to NYC
Programs: AC SE; AA Executive Platinum; NW Platinum; SPG Platinum; InterConti Royal Ambassador
Posts: 121
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
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
#5
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: DCA
Posts: 1,413
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.
Also, there are direct CUN-HAV flights, as well as MEX-HAV flights.
#6
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Central Coast, NSW, Australia & Scottsdale, AZ
Programs: UA Rif Raf (Defrocked 1K), CO Lead (Former Plat), QF Bronze
Posts: 1,304
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???
.
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???
#7
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Ireland
Programs: AA PLT 2MM, IHG Plat
Posts: 3,566
Originally Posted by Feebster
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
My mother is an active 60 year old. I would bring her to Costa Rica, Chile, Argentina, Brazil but not Cuba.
#8
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Paris
Programs: HH Diamond, FB Plat
Posts: 309
Originally Posted by chtiet
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.
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.
#9
Join Date: May 2005
Location: London, England, United Kingdom
Programs: Marriott (Lifetime Titantium), whatever other programs as benefits make sense.
Posts: 1,920
Originally Posted by PaulasPain
one can always ask... but they'll stamp the passport nonetheless (always on the same page in fact!).
#10
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Jersey City, NJ USA
Posts: 975
Originally Posted by PaulasPain
one can always ask... but they'll stamp the passport nonetheless (always on the same page in fact!).
#11
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Paris
Programs: HH Diamond, FB Plat
Posts: 309
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.
it's possible you're among the exceptions, but just humor me for a second and check that.
#12
Join Date: May 2005
Location: London, England, United Kingdom
Programs: Marriott (Lifetime Titantium), whatever other programs as benefits make sense.
Posts: 1,920
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
Greg
#13
Join Date: May 2005
Location: London, England, United Kingdom
Programs: Marriott (Lifetime Titantium), whatever other programs as benefits make sense.
Posts: 1,920
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?
I was there in 2002. Perhaps the rules have changed since then, and now they stamp?
#14
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Tucson
Posts: 29
Originally Posted by PaulasPain
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.
it's possible you're among the exceptions, but just humor me for a second and check that.
And to think I've been traveling all this time on this passport!
#15
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Seattle
Programs: Alaska MVP
Posts: 1,171
Originally Posted by jptasker
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
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...