Complicated Cuban visa "problem" (UK, USA, Brazil)
Replies: 13 - Last Post: Feb 14, 2013 11:41 AM Last Post By: trapisondista
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Complicated Cuban visa "problem" (UK, USA, Brazil)
I wonder if anyone can help:I am a UK citizen. I live in the USA and am on a temporary exchange visa.
In the summer, I am travelling to Brazil for a few weeks before heading to Cuba and then on to Europe. I will probably be heading back to the USA to continue working in the autumn.
I know I need to get a Cuban tourist visa card. The form I downloaded from the Cuban embassy in London asks me for my point of departure from the UK. I'm not departing from the UK, I'm departing from Brazil. I obviously can't visit a Cuban embassy in the US...do I apply to the British embassy anyway or do I need to visit the Cuban embassy somewhere in Brazil? And how long will this process take, if I do have to visit the embassy in Brazil?
Thanks in advance for your help.
3
It would be nice to know so specific advice as to how to pick-up the Tourist Card could be given, but it doesn't really matter. Anywhere from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean or Central/South America is the same - the TC is a non issue. (Unlike departing from the UK and Europe in some situations.)Cheers,
Terry
4
And where are you flying through ? There aren't direct flights from Brazil. If through Panama, you ought to be able to get the tourist when passing through.Nothing to do with the British embassy.
If you are in the UK, you can pop in to the Cuban embassy - it takes a matter of minutes. Or the is an internet agency that sells them.
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Ignore #5. The US doesn't concern itself with travel to Cuba by people who aren't US citizens.7
That is absolutely false, yaguri. EVERYONE who is under US jurisdiction - including employment with US companies overseas - falls under OFAC and State Department jurisdiction in regards to Cuba. Your nationality is completely immaterial.So yes, this places non US citizens under great danger than a US citizen because US CBP can treat you however they wish when you reenter the US. As a non US citizen you have NO rights.
Cheers,
Terry
8
Who says there's no Cuban Interest Section in the US? Of course there is, in DC.Worrying about the penalties for travel to Cuba from the US is a moot point, and has
been for several years, under the Bamster admin. I just returned directly from Havana
to Miami, and the Immigration guy couldn't have been less interested in why I went
to Cuba. After telling him that I had married one of Cuba's natural resources, ie one
of the chicks, he laughed and said "Have a good day".
Worry about something else, not about returning from Cuba.
Trap, KY, heading down under
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OK, got it. You are leaving from Brazil, ergo can't get to the Int Secion in DC. Misread your post.Trap
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trap - if you are married to a Cuban, you are probably covered by the OFAC general licence anywayBut we agree that OFAC does not pursue illegal travel by US citizens. The point is that the OP's status is less certain - and its renewal could probably be refused without explaining why. That means the risk is different.
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Not married at the moment, since we got the divorce in 2010, por eso I do not actuallyhave a license anymore. However, my point was that nowadays the risk of any prosecution
for traveling to Cuba without a license is next to zero. Word has it amongst Cuban travelers
that even if one were to receive a fine for spending money in Cuba, this fine can be ignored.
However, I can understand the concerns of a non US citizen wanting to protect his/her status
in the US.
I was not asked for any proof of a family connection in Cuba either at the Marianao travel
agency in Miami nor at US immigration on the return trip .
12
One more piece of info I bought the Cuban tourist card at terminal 2 in the Havana airport, for$60, (price has risen from the past $20) Marianao agency in Miami was the only agency that
allowed me to do this. Both Marazul and ABC claimed that the purchase of the card at the airport
was not possible. The poster should ascertain whether the purchase of the card at the airport
in Havana is posible, eliminating all the extraneous crap at various consulates.
13
One additional piece of info. I was able to purchase the tourist card at the airport inHavana, at terminal 2, for $60, the price having risen from the past $20. Neither Marazul
nor ABC in Miami offered this deal. Only Marinao was able to. This agency is located at
8534 SW 40 St in Miami, Bird Rd.
