Is it illegal for Americans to travel to Cuba?

Question

Does the United States government ban Americans from traveling to Cuba? If so why?

Answer 1

No. The USA has an economic embargo on Cuba. US Citizens can travel there, they just aren't allowed to spend money there.

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Wow, there are loads of uninformed answers here. There are still a few other "commie" states like China and Vietnam - and there is also nothing wrong with them. Also "travel" in itself to Cuba is not banned. Reporters, aid groups, NGO's, etc can travel to Cuba if they have a sponsor who provides them with food and a place to stay (thus eliminating the need to spend money).

Answer 2

Yes, we have an embargo against Cuba. It is illegal to enter Cuba unless you have specific permission from the government. Many people still visit Cuba, however, by traveling through Canada or the Bahamas. I don't recommend it. If you would get in legal trouble while there, I'm not sure the government would be quick to help out. Don't think I would risk a lengthy stay in a Cuban jail!

Answer 3

There has been an embargo against Cuba since 1962. US citizens are prohibited from traveling to Cuba, except under certain circumstances. The US Treasury Office of Foreign Assets and Control will send you a bill for $10,000 if you chose to ignore the rules. It is also illegal for any US business to do business with Cuba. Any ship that has been to a Cuban port can not enter a US port.

http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/

Answer 4

If you have a special business visa, you can travel to Cuba. But if you're a regular American, it will be tough to go there. And it's because of the relations between the US and communist Cuba.

Answer 5

It is illigal for Americans to travel to Cuba, but there are exceptions. People in the medical profession, news media, politicians, musicians and a few others are exempt if there is specific reasons for them to go. Others are allowed to go in a tour group if it is for humanitarian purposes. I was there 2 years ago on a special tour group, (available to anyone) and it was a
'people to people' group which is not acceptable anymore, but you can go on the humanitarian one which is almost like a regular tour. You need to know who to contact. The tour operator I went with was still having them. A friend of a friend of mine got a license to sell tours to Cuba, but has been too busy to put one together and doesn't want to spend the time getting it legalized and wont do tours until Cuba opens up.

Answer 6

back in the "cuban missile crises " in 1962,us citizens travelling to cuba was banned.u cannot get a flight from us to cuba,unless u are in the government and go there for diplomatic reasons,or u are a reporter.u can travel from mexico to cuba with no problem-untill u try to return to the us.if a customs officer sees ur passport stamp-and it will be seen whenever u try to travel outside the us-when they see u have been to cuba,u will be in trouble.u can be arrested.

Answer 7

I have a friend who visited Cuba with her mother this last Christmas.

So if the US DOES have a ban, it isn't a complete ban.

Answer 8

I agree THERE ARE MANY UNINFORMED ANSWERS HERE.....
there is a ban on American citizens from spending money related to travel in Cuba, hence negating the ability to travel there. If you are visiting a family member or one of the other reasons given specific licenses for in the US, there is also a limit on how much money you can spend daily, etc. The reason for this is the Embargo that is against Cuba by the US.

The following travelers are authorized, under OFAC general license, to engage in travel transactions while in Cuba:
• Journalists and supporting broadcasting or technical personnel
(regularly employed in that capacity by a news reporting
organization and traveling for journalistic activities).
• Official government travelers (traveling on official business).
• Members of international organizations of which the United States
is also a member (traveling on official business).
• Full-time professionals whose travel transactions are directly
related to professional research in their professional areas,
provided that their research 1) is of a noncommercial,
academic nature; 2) comprises a full work schedule in Cuba;
and 3) has a substantial likelihood of public dissemination.
• Full-time professionals whose travel transactions are directly
related to attendance at professional meetings or conferences
in Cuba organized by an international professional organization,
institution, or association hat regularly sponsors such meetings
or conferences in other countries. The organization, institution,
or association sponsoring the meeting or conference may not
be headquartered in the United States unless it has been
specifically licensed to sponsor the meeting. The purpose of
the meeting or conference cannot be the promotion of tourism
in Cuba or other commercial activities involving Cuba, or to
foster production of any bio-technological products.
• Travelers who have received specific licenses from OFAC prior to going.
Specific licenses to visit immediate family members in Cuba:

The Bush administration has been tightening restrictions on U.S. travel to Cuba, allowing Cuban-Americans to visit only once every three years and clamping down on trips by U.S. academics. Officials say the restrictions aim to limit the flow of dollars to the communist government and hasten democracy in the Caribbean’s most-populous nation.

The United States embargo against Cuba (described in Cuba as el bloqueo, Spanish for "the blockade") is an economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed on Cuba on February 7, 1962. It was codified into law in 1992 and 1996, and was implemented to put economic pressure on the Cuban government led by Fidel Castro. In 1999, U.S. President Bill Clinton expanded the trade embargo even further by ending the practice of foreign subsidiaries of U.S. companies trading with Cuba in dollar amounts totaling more than 700 million a year. As of 2007, the embargo is still in effect, making it one of the most enduring trade embargoes in modern history. The United Nations General Assembly has passed a non-binding resolution condemning the embargo every year since 1991.

It is estimated that each year some 80,000 Americans visit Cuba, including over 3,000 business visits. As much as $1 billion per year is remitted to Cuba by Cuban expatriates in the U.S. Much of this activity contravenes the spirit, if not the letter, of the embargo. Cuba produces a number of luxury items, especially cigars, that are in high demand among some Americans. In popular culture, such as in novels, television shows, and motion pictures, rich and powerful men are often shown to have their own personal stock of Cuban rum and cigars (illicitly obtained when in the United States).

Homeland Security officers assigned to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will increase inspection of all persons traveling directly to Cuba and arriving back directly from Cuba. Current U.S. law strictly limits permitted travel to Cuba to journalists, official Congressional visits, persons engaged in educational purposes, and family visits by Cuban-Americans. In all cases, there are specific limits regarding the transport of money and goods, and in certain cases, the frequency of visits. There are also limits on items that may be brought back into the U.S. by people permitted to travel to Cuba. CBP officers will increase their inspection efforts to uncover those persons who violate the restrictions in place.

Answer 9

Yes, but you can do it - carefully. Same way you can travel to Iran.

You could fly from Mexico or Canada, and make sure your passport is not stamped. And, don't get into any legal trouble. They're usually willing to let you get in and out, passport unstamped.

Answer 10

Yes. Because of the cuban missile crisis.