Travelling to Cuba with an American

[sluryjoe]

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for all the great info with the Cuba threads.
A good friend of mine is very interested in joining me on a trip to Cuba.

The only trouble is, he is an American.

I hear he can still go down to Cuba....unofficially.
Is it true as long as they don't stamp his passport, he should be okay?
Can anyone shed some light on this?
What are his risks?

Thanks.

 

[Don Draper]

That's right, make sure they stamp his Tourist Card and not the passport.

 

[KBear]

Don’t know much about this, but though we share passenger info with US customs when planes from Canada fly over the US . US customs agents are at the Toronto airport.

Your friend might want to check the down side if he is caught by US customs.

 

[boomboom]

I have been to cuba 12-15 times in the past 6 years & never had my passport stamped.
there have been a few americans on the odd trip with no issues.

boom

 

[Tangwhich]

A little off topic, but has anyone ever challenged this law? I'm certainly no expert, but it would appear to me that this law would violate the US constitution, Life liberty, pursuit of happiness and all that?
I mean, there's no restriction on Americans going to North Korea, a country which which they are at war, yet for some odd reason they can't enter Cuba. Seems bizarre and unfair to me.

 

[peteeey]

There are more voters of Cuban heritage in the U.S. than there are North Koreans.

A little off topic, but has anyone ever challenged this law? I'm certainly no expert, but it would appear to me that this law would violate the US constitution, Life liberty, pursuit of happiness and all that?
I mean, there's no restriction on Americans going to North Korea, a country which which they are at war, yet for some odd reason they can't enter Cuba. Seems bizarre and unfair to me.

 

[Tangwhich]

There are more voters of Cuban heritage in the U.S. than there are North Koreans.

Good point, but that shouldn't (in theory) have any impact on the constitution.

 

[eldoguy]

This info may help!

http://wikitravel.org/en/Americans_in_Cuba

 

[sluryjoe]

many thanks for all the reply.

 

[TeasePlease]

Don’t know much about this, but though we share passenger info with US customs when planes from Canada fly over the US . US customs agents are at the Toronto airport.

Your friend might want to check the down side if he is caught by US customs.

The flight should be direct to Cuba; no reason why you would pass through US Customs at Pearson.

I've never had my passport stamped entering or leaving Cuba; they only stamp the tourist visa.

A little off topic, but has anyone ever challenged this law? I'm certainly no expert, but it would appear to me that this law would violate the US constitution, Life liberty, pursuit of happiness and all that?
I mean, there's no restriction on Americans going to North Korea, a country which which they are at war, yet for some odd reason they can't enter Cuba. Seems bizarre and unfair to me.

Google the history of the Cuban embargo. It may well be a restriction on civil liberties, but keep in mind that many Cuban Americans are anti Castro. They don't have a problem putting political/economic pressure on the regime.

 

[mikejones911]

Went with my cousin past Dec who has American passport Was talked too by cuban customs as to why he is here other then that no trouble at all. The fly over thing is correct but thats only if the country shares it with them. Cuba doesn't like usa therefore they don't share the passenger list. They dont stamp passports just the visa card.

 

[wetnose]

Note: if he goes with you, he can only bring CASH. None of his credit or debit cards will work. Also...if you have any american issued cards - e.g. AMEX, or Capital One, then they won't work either.

When he goes to change cash, make sure to recount the pesos received, in front of the teller - shortchanging is the biggest scam out there.