Will I have problems entering the US if I visit CUBA?

lpdiver says on Aug 25, 2008, 07:04:

Interesting question? I know that as a US citizen it really pissed them off returning to the US. I don't know as a non US citizen. They may question you and you should be prepared to give some decent answers.

ts

"cook some rice!"

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tomtom33 says on Aug 25, 2008, 07:15:

Pissed them off? It is illegal under nearly all circumstances for any US citizen to go to Cuba. You will be heavily fined.

I really don't think it matters where a non-US citizen goes.

I am a US citizen and went legally to Cuba as part of a cultural exchange program in Jan. of 2004 just before the US stopped those programs. I even specifically asked to have my passport stamped. For US citizens, they normally just stamp a piece of paper and slip it into your passport. When I re-entered the US, I just told them why I was in Cuba. No problem. And no one has ever asked about the Cuba stamp.

I am glad I went, but you couldn't pay me to go again.

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lpdiver says on Aug 25, 2008, 07:23:

Well it does get more complicated if you have multiple passports. As a US citizen that enters on another passport...well they still don't like it one tiny bit.

ts

"cook some rice!"

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guacharaca says on Aug 25, 2008, 08:24:

US citizen or US permanent resident = big problem, big fine
Colombian citizen not permanently residing in USA = no problem

Colombianos: Las armas os han dado independencia, las leyes os daran libertad. (Santander)

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La_Huella says on Aug 25, 2008, 08:52:

If you want to get a US tourist visa later you could have problems. ¡Pilas!

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gimmedub says on Aug 25, 2008, 09:23:

I'm canadian and have been to CUBA a couple times... no problems traveling through the US with the cuban stamps in my passport and do note I have a US work visa....

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jeff8875 says on Aug 25, 2008, 09:40:

dont think too much into it, lots of my friends are customs and immigration guys, they just dont want americans going because its illegal, not because anyone actually cares. If its not illegal for you, ie not american citizen, no biggie.

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NataliaV says on Aug 25, 2008, 10:06:

A family member of mine went in 2000 and asked them not to stamp her passport. No problems. She went via Mexico while studying abroad.

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joelg says on Aug 25, 2008, 12:29:

You won't have any problem because Cuba doesn't stamp your passport. When you enter the USA they will not know you have been to Cuba.

btw, i have been to Cuba 12 times since 2005 (on a Cuban tourist visa) and lived there for about a year and a half. it involved a small risk for me because I had to travel to cuba by way of a third country (i always went thru Cancun,Mex). when leaving/entering mexico i tried to get mexican immigration not to stamp my passport because when returning to the US they could ask me, "i see here you left mexico while you were there. where did you go?" but they never asked because i always returned on a busy flight from cancun and they didn't have time.

#
Cuba es el país más abierto del mundo en términos migratorios. Todos los ciudadanos del mundo, de cualquier país, absolutamente todos pueden viajar a Cuba sin ninguna restricción migratoria, incluyendo los norteamericanos.
Se excluyen personas perseguidas por la justicia internacional vinculadas a actividades de narcotráfico, terrorismo y otros delitos.

#
Para viajar a Cuba solo necesita:

a) Boleto aéreo (ida y regreso)
b) Pasaporte en regla, actualizado o vigente en cuanto a fechas.

********c) Tarjeta de turismo o visa. *****

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Dónde comprar la visa y Precio:

La tarjeta de turismo o visa cuesta entre $15.00 y $ 25.00 USD, dependiendo del país donde usted la compre.

La puede adquirir en las Líneas aéreas o agencias de viajes donde usted compre su boleto para viajar a Cuba. También la puede adquirir en consulados y embajadas cubanas en su país de origen.
Igualmente, si no la puede conseguir en ninguno de estos lugares, la puede solicitar a Cubamagica.com. Tiene un precio de $25.00 USD y se la enviaremos por correo aéreo. Este precio no incluye los costos del correo aéreo.

La tarjeta de turismo o visa no es consultada, solo se pide, se paga y se la entregan inmediatamente. (Revise que la tarjeta tenga el sello de la línea aérea, empresa o consulado que se la vendió en la parte de atrás).

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Vigencia de la visa y prórroga de tiempo

La tarjeta de turismo o visa tiene una vigencia inicial de 30 días. Si usted lo desea puede pedir una prórroga de 30 días más. Esta gestión la debe hacer usted personalmente en las oficinas de Migración en La Habana o ciudad que usted se encuentre. Por esta prórroga debe pagar $25.00 USD.

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Importante, no olvide comprar la visa

No olvide comprar esta tarjeta de turismo o visa. Ninguna línea aérea le permitirá abordar el vuelo si no cuenta con ella a la hora de su viaje.
Usted no puede llegar a ningún aeropuerto o puesto fronterizo de Cuba sin haber adquirido previamente la tarjeta de turismo o visa, lo regresarán a su país de origen.

do what you like, take risks, build something

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bufalo says on Aug 25, 2008, 20:30:

My wife (colombiana) and I (US) got married in Cuba, albeit not legally - just a priest, his buddy as a witness, and the two of us on a beach. We had no problems at all getting her us residency later. GO before Castro dies and Gloria Estefan buys up half the place.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

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Gringo Spy says on Aug 25, 2008, 22:03:

I am a US citizen with a US passport and have traveled to Cuba several times. First of all the Cubans know you, a US citizen, are not allowed to enter Cuba. To overcome this they, the Cuban immigration, do not stamp your passport. They take a piece of paper and stamp it and put it in the pages of your US passport.

If you are a Colombian citizen with a Colombian passport I assume they will stamp your passport. This should not present a problem when, and if, you choose to visit the US as long as you have a visa to enter the US.

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Joel y Luza says on Aug 25, 2008, 22:30:

depends if it is via a go fast boat destined for Miami..

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bufalo says on Aug 26, 2008, 09:18:

my wife also got a "cuban visa" (shes colombian), and they stamped that instead of her passport like me.

"If you don't like it - lump it, take it down the road and dump it." - Archie Bunker played by Carroll O'Connor

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Ken says on Aug 26, 2008, 21:56:

No. Unless they have something against Colombians.I am canadian, and have been in and out of Cuba 7 times, with it stamped on my passport, with trips between US in between. Only an issue if you are a US citizen.

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viajero123 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 27, 2008, 05:35:

jeff8875 says on Aug 27, 2008, 14:38:

no they just dont care.... I have been all over the middle east, if you are suspicious you get more screening, just have a good reason for being in lybia haha

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viajero123 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 27, 2008, 15:49:

lpdiver says on Aug 28, 2008, 10:24:

I carry three passports. I never had my US passport stamped. US officials STILL knew. I explained that. They didn't like my explaination. They didn't fine me. I was pulled out of line on my next eight trips missing connecting flights.

They have been treating me okay lately.


ts

"cook some rice!"

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