Lost the plot: United States requires entry visa for foreigners who have previously traveled to Cuba

[El Presidente]

 

 and the screws tighten. 

 

 

United States requires entry visa for foreigners who have previously traveled to Cuba

The measure is due to the fact that the island is on the controversial list of countries that, in the opinion of the U.S. authorities, sponsor terrorism.

The Biden administration has decided to reactivate a discreet section related to the fact that Cuba is included in the list of countries that, in the opinion of the U.S. authorities, sponsor terrorist activities.

The issue is that foreign citizens who want to travel to the United States will have to request an entry visa if they have previously traveled to Cuba.

“If a traveler is found to have visited a country designated as a state sponsor of terrorism, the traveler is no longer eligible to participate in the Visa Waiver Program and must apply for a visa to enter the United States,” the immigration services website warns.

Cuba was included in the controversial list on January 12, 2021 during the Donald Trump administration and has been kept there after the arrival to the White House of Democrat Joe Biden. This decision has been repeatedly criticized by Havana, which considers it baseless and politically motivated.

The new measure affects all countries that are included in the admission program known as ESTA, nations that normally do not represent an illegal immigration problem for the United States.

This situation was so little known that on September 9, the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs saw the need to include the necessary information in an update of its travel to Cuba recommendations. The Spanish are one of the largest groups of European travelers to the island.

 

[NSXCIGAR]

I guess they're telling Biden he can't afford to lose any Miami Cuban votes...

If the Cubans think the democrat party is on their side, think again.

November 7, 2020

HAVANA (Reuters) - Drivers honked their horns and applause erupted in Havana on Saturday after Joe Biden was declared the winner of the U.S. presidential election, reflecting hopes on the Communist-run island that he would seek to improve U.S.-Cuban ties.

By the way, the US does not consider Cuba a state sponsor of terror. They are considered to be "not cooperating fully" with US anti-terrorism efforts, whatever that means. 

[...]

Just checked and it seems Canada is not on the list of ESTA affected countries 😅

Travelled to the US by air in May, then by road in July and was not asked any question...

[Bijan]

12 minutes ago, Jeanff said:

Would this new requirement apply to Canadian citizens?

It would appear not. Canada is not on this visa waiver program.

[El Presidente]

[Chas.Alpha]

22 minutes ago, NSXCIGAR said:

I guess they're telling Biden he can't afford to lose any Miami Cuban votes...

If the Cubans think the democrat party is on their side, think again.

November 7, 2020

HAVANA (Reuters) - Drivers honked their horns and applause erupted in Havana on Saturday after Joe Biden was declared the winner of the U.S. presidential election, reflecting hopes on the Communist-run island that he would seek to improve U.S.-Cuban ties.

I'm about one click away from serving a two week suspension! 😁

[Chibearsv]

Ok, thankfully another major problem has been solved. I feel so much safer now. 

[Fuzz]

Thankfully I have no plans to visit the USA in the next few years. I'll wait until your Govt comes to their senses.... gonna be a long wait.

[Chibearsv]

10 minutes ago, Fuzz said:

Thankfully I have no plans to visit the USA in the next few years. I'll wait until your Govt comes to their senses.... gonna be a long wait.

No doubt about it.  Never is a very long time. 

[El Presidente]

39 minutes ago, Fuzz said:

Thankfully I have no plans to visit the USA in the next few years. I'll wait until your Govt comes to their senses.... gonna be a long wait.

This is why Smithy is our USA Director for ShooAway 

[Ken Gargett]

4 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

I guess they're telling Biden he can't afford to lose any Miami Cuban votes...

If the Cubans think the democrat party is on their side, think again.

November 7, 2020

HAVANA (Reuters) - Drivers honked their horns and applause erupted in Havana on Saturday after Joe Biden was declared the winner of the U.S. presidential election, reflecting hopes on the Communist-run island that he would seek to improve U.S.-Cuban ties.

i suspect that the cubans have long understood that no one is for them and it is just a matter of degrees. i suspect they see biden as a better option than his predecessor but i doubt they really think he'll make things much better - just hope that they don't make things worse. the only incumbent who made any effort was obama and that has not really proved terribly effective. i suspect that this will be along the lines of mythical disputes such as hatfield/mccoys where eventually no one has a clue how or why it started but it is in existence and there must be a good reason so we are not changing. and the longer it goes, the more entrenched it becomes. 

i doubt very much that any real progress will be made during the lifetime of anyone on this forum. 

[JohnS]

Just woke up to this news whilst on holidays in Greece. So wait, I've never taken the opportunity to go to Cuba but I've gone to the USA three times. Do I need a visa now for another visit?

[Bijan]

16 minutes ago, JohnS said:

Just woke up to this news whilst on holidays in Greece. So wait, I've never taken the opportunity to go to Cuba but I've gone to the USA three times. Do I need a visa now for another visit?

No, you're fine John. This would only affect you if you had gone to Cuba. (Or if you visit Cuba in the future)

Edit: as can be guessed, the number of people from the mostly European list of countries affected, who have been to Cuba is quite low. Add in the fact that Cuba is not sharing visitor information with the US, and not very many people are affected at all. Until recently Cuba would not stamp passports and would give you a piece of paper you could, take out once home. (Israel also had or has a similar system to deal with people who don't want stamps in their passport).

Edit 2: failing this you can ask your passport office for a new passport due to a troublesome stamp.

[NSXCIGAR]

1 hour ago, Bijan said:

Until recently Cuba would not stamp passports

Unless it's changed since June they still weren't stamping if requested. And I didn't get any paper. 

[ha_banos]

2 hours ago, JohnS said:

Just woke up to this news whilst on holidays in Greece. So wait, I've never taken the opportunity to go to Cuba but I've gone to the USA three times. Do I need a visa now for another visit?

You said CUBA! Ha!

 

...Doh!

 

[rcarlson]

12 hours ago, Jeanff said:

Just checked and it seems Canada is not on the list of ESTA affected countries 😅

Travelled to the US by air in May, then by road in July and was not asked any question...

You sent us Justin Bieber.  Must be an oversight.   

[SCgarman]

9 hours ago, Ken Gargett said:

i suspect that the cubans have long understood that no one is for them and it is just a matter of degrees. i suspect they see biden as a better option than his predecessor but i doubt they really think he'll make things much better - just hope that they don't make things worse. the only incumbent who made any effort was obama and that has not really proved terribly effective. i suspect that this will be along the lines of mythical disputes such as hatfield/mccoys where eventually no one has a clue how or why it started but it is in existence and there must be a good reason so we are not changing. and the longer it goes, the more entrenched it becomes. 

i doubt very much that any real progress will be made during the lifetime of anyone on this forum. 

The last sentence here is the most profound. We will all be dust before anything ever happens. The more things change the more they stay the same

[BrightonCorgi]

Does Cuba stamp one's passport or do they stamp a separate piece of paper like some other countries do?

[helix]

200-300k of motivated capable individuals just fled the country in the last couple of years. Hard to muster country wide protests when huge numbers were jailed since the last attempt and the rest are scared, starving and broke.

 

They always seem to stamp Canadian passports. FWIW.

[Bijan]

29 minutes ago, BrightonCorgi said:

Does Cuba stamp one's passport or do they stamp a separate piece of paper like some other countries do?

You can ask not to get a stamp and according to @NSXCIGAR they don't even bother with the paper anymore.

[BrightonCorgi]

Be interesting to see if this program will be enforced.  It's going to cause a major stir if CBP actually prohibits entry due to this.

[BrooksW]

3 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

Does Cuba stamp one's passport or do they stamp a separate piece of paper like some other countries do?

When I was entering and leaving Cuba earlier this month, I asked for them to stamp my passport, and they looked at me like I was crazy. When asked, both of them indicated they do not stamp the official passport for Americans (I did not ask about other countries), but can do it on a separate sheet of paper if requested.

[JohnnyO]

19 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

I guess they're telling Biden he can't afford to lose any Miami Cuban votes...

If the Cubans think the democrat party is on their side, think again.

November 7, 2020

HAVANA (Reuters) - Drivers honked their horns and applause erupted in Havana on Saturday after Joe Biden was declared the winner of the U.S. presidential election, reflecting hopes on the Communist-run island that he would seek to improve U.S.-Cuban ties.

By the way, the US does not consider Cuba a state sponsor of terror. They are considered to be "not cooperating fully" with US anti-terrorism efforts, whatever that means. 

Along with North Korea, Iran, Syria, Cuba is on the Terrorist list according to the State Department since 1/12/22. This tactic had been used before under Bush II. I think they are more concerned about foreign nationals of certain countries coming and going as they please into the US. Since the beginning of this year, US passport holders are having a retinal eye scan picture taken upon entry into the US. This was previously done only to US residents and foreign visitors. These are just steps to control the bad guys. John

[...]

7 hours ago, rcarlson said:

You sent us Justin Bieber.  Must be an oversight.   

Appreciate your being grateful, Bieber is one of US' most significant talent 

[Arabian]

53 minutes ago, JohnnyO said:

Along with North Korea, Iran, Syria, Cuba is on the Terrorist list according to the State Department since 1/12/22. This tactic had been used before under Bush II. I think they are more concerned about foreign nationals of certain countries coming and going as they please into the US. Since the beginning of this year, US passport holders are having a retinal eye scan picture taken upon entry into the US. This was previously done only to US residents and foreign visitors. These are just steps to control the bad guys. John

Xavi (a Spanish national) who coached a Qatari football club was denied entry to the U.S a while ago because he travelled with his team to Iran for a football tournament. I think this might be problematic for some people.