Is it legal for americans to travel to Cuba now that Castro has stepped down?

Question

Is it legal for americans to travel to Cuba now that Castro has stepped down?

Answer 1

we can visit but only for three months out of the year

Answer 2

THERE IS NO CHANGE IF FIDEL CASTRO STEPPED DOWN.

Raul Castro is the President of the Republica de Cuba.

You, as citizen of the United Sates can not go to Cuba.

Sorry about that.

Answer 3

Americans visiting Cuba should be aware that any encounter with a Cuban could be subject to surreptitious scrutiny by the Castro regime's secret police, the General Directorate for State Security (DGSE).

      Also, any interactions with average Cubans, regardless how well intentioned the American is, can subject that Cuban to harassment and/or detention, and other forms of repressive actions, by state security elements. The regime is strongly anti-American yet desperate for U.S. dollars to prop itself up. The United States does not have full diplomatic relations with Cuba, but provides consular and other services through the U.S. Interests Section in Havana.

      The U.S. Interests Section operates under the legal protection of the Swiss government but is not co-located with the Swiss Embassy. Read the Department of State Background Notes on Cuba for additional information.

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 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 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 4

The same restrictions that applied before are still in place now. The United States has not lifted its embargo against Cuba, and it does not appear that it will do so anytime in the near future until the government makes significant changes.

Answer 5

It's not illegal for Americans to TRAVEL to Cuba...what's illegal is the spending of money in Cuba....because of the embargo.

The procedures are still the same at the moment when applying for a travel license into Cuba.

You can travel to Cuba if you have family (immediate), for journalism, religious, medical, teaching, educational, volunteering purposes, etc...

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw...

http://havana.usinterestsection.gov/acs....

So if you wish to go this route, you can always find a way...volunteering would be an awesome thing to do. You would be mixing right in with the Cuban people and their way of life and enjoy culture...and help at the same time.

Then as garrisonbight mentioned, many Americans travel 'illegally' via Canada or Mexico. But again, by doing this you would need to avoid all paper trails.

Many do this and have no problem.

But I really do hope one day you go to Cuba. It is beautiful and the people are wonderful and warm.

Answer 6

Thank you cool papa... now that we have the legal stuff out of the way... here is how you go to Cuba.

You fly to Mexico City then take a flight from there to Havana,  Take only cash with you.  When you get to Cuba they will stamp your Visa on a separate sheet of paper so you can throw it away when you come back to Mexico and before you re-enter the U.S.

Of course, you will need a passport and don't try to bring back anything from Cuba that is obviously of Cuban origin, such as cigars