What do I need to travel to Cuba?

Question

My parents are Cuban-born American citizens. I'm an American-born citizen. I'm 17, my parents won't be going, but I have consent. I have no direct family in Cuba, but am not planning on visiting as a tourist (I'm going with the family of a friend). Oh, and I live in Miami, Fl.
Sooo... I've heard I can't go because my parents are Cuban and I have no direct family, I heard I can't fly directly from the US.... Clarify please :) any special visas ??

Answer 1

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Actually, your parents can have the problem of going. But they are able to get to Cuba legally by obtaining a State Department authorization for Cuban-born American citizens to visit family. So if THEY have immediate family in Cuba, they actually CAN go...but you were already born in the USA and don't have a Cuban passport and are not a Cuban citizen. So you can go without encountering problems in Cuba.

It's a little difficult for you to get a travel licence that is under the 'visiting family' sector since you don't have immediate family to visit. You'd have to be going for other purposes that would permit a US citizen to go to Cuba.....so don't worry about this option.

However, you can go via 3rd country. This information will be helpful for you:

The most common gateways to Cuba for unlicensed US travellers are Toronto, Montreal, Nassau (Bahamas), Cancun and Mexico City, and less frequently used Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) and Montego Bay. In my opinion Mexico and in particular Cancun are the gateways that offer the least risk of detection because:

** Unlike Canada and the Bahamas, a traveller leaving from Mexico does not pre-clear US Customs and Immigration. You will not clear Customs/Immigration until you arrive back in the US. In Canada and the Bahamas you will go through US Customs and Immigration at the airport in Toronto, Montreal or Nassau.

** Cancun is the most popular destination for US tourists in the Caribbean. There is absolutely no reason why US Customs/Immigration would suspect you have been anywhere else but Cancun.

** You can enter Mexico and re-enter the US using only a certified copy of your birth certificate and a government issued photo ID, such as a driver's license (BC/DL) In other words you do not have to show US Immigration your passport upon re-entry to the US. Probably half or more of US tourists who travel to Cancun use this alternate form of identification as their travel documents.

You should take the following steps in travelling back/forth:

Enter Mexico from the US using your BC/DL
Mexico does not stamp passports on exit, although you will need a passport to enter Cuba.
Cuban Immigration does not stamp the passport at the present time, so do not worry about a Cuban stamp.
When you arrive back in Mexico from Cuba you will probably have to present your passport. The entry stamp that is placed there should be the only stamp you receive on your trip. Some people recommend presenting the passport with a $10 bill inside to avoid the Mexican entry stamp. If you use the BC/DL to re-enter the US this step is unnecessary.

After you arrive in Mexico make sure you strip all HAV luggage tags from you checked baggage.
Throw away your Cuban tickets, boarding passes and any other paper evidence of your Cuban trip.
Do not list Cuba as a Country visited on the Customs Declaration form.
Do not bring back any high profile Cuban souveniers like cigars, rum, t-shirts.
Use your BC/DL when you clear Immigration in your arrival city.

The fine by the way if you are unfortunate or careless enough to get caught can be negotiated down to $1000 or less.

Source(s):

http://www.cuba-junky.com/cuba/vamos_USt…

http://www.cubatravelusa.com/Travel_Tips…
http://www.cubatravelusa.com/FAQ.htm

Answer 2

You should contact the American embassy in Cuba. I believe any citizen wishing to travel there must have special permission from the US government.

Answer 3

Contact the cuban consulate and they will inform you

Source(s):

Cuban

Answer 4

Read the state deparments information on travel to Cuba:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw…
in part it reads:
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS /TRAVEL TRANSACTION LIMITATIONS: The Cuban Assets Control Regulations are enforced by the U.S. Treasury Department and affect all U.S. citizens and permanent residents wherever they are located, all people and organizations physically located in the United States, and all branches and subsidiaries of U.S. organizations throughout the world. The regulations require that persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction be licensed in order to engage in any travel-related transactions pursuant to travel to, from, and within Cuba. Transactions related to tourist travel are not licensable. This restriction includes tourist travel to Cuba from or through a third country such as Mexico or Canada. U.S. law enforcement authorities have increased enforcement of these regulations at U.S. airports and pre-clearance facilities in third countries. Travelers who fail to comply with Department of Treasury regulations could face civil penalties and criminal prosecution upon return to the United States.

Answer 5

You cant fly from US to Cuba, U will have to go to another country to get a flight to Cuba. You will need a passport, on the plane they give you a visa, dont loose that or you wont be able to come back!