How many times can one travel to Cuba?

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dwbb1611
dwbb1611

Hello,

I'm thinking to go to Cuba for the third time this year. I just love the country and its people. I'm a US citizen traveling from FLL with JetBlue. I'm just curious if there is an amount limit to travel to Cuba using one of the 12 general licenses issued under Obama Administration. Do you guys know when Trump regulations will come into effect? I would love to travel to the Island at least once a month to see it all before Trump regulations applies. All my travel is as an independent traveler for educational purposes, and I actually do educational purposes, lol, I love their culture and their landscape. I'm a photographer as well, and Cuba is like a mecca for photography.

Please advise. Thank you.

P.S:
1st time in Cuba- July - 7 days
2nd time- September -5 days
3rd time- September or October- 5 days?

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smilecu
smilecu

My old friend Barrymore was a US citizen and lived on his boat at the Hemingway Marina. He would leave Cuba every sixty days and stay in Mexico for a week then return to Cuba. He did this for many years with no problems.

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bobmichaels
bobmichaels

I have been around 50 times in the last 7 years and never had a comment from US authorities.

It does seem to be a bit of a trigger to Cuban immigration who frequently want to send you for interview. Make sure you never tell them you are coming to photograph or they will insist you need the very difficult to obtain journalist visa and not the common tourist visa you simply purchase at the airport.

Independently verify anything important that a stranger tells you on the internet, even this advice.
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smilecu
smilecu

Going every month could create problems for the Cuban Immigration. They may think you are running a business in Cuba. That would require a business visa, not a tourist card. If you find out let us know. Trump regulations will not change much in Cuba.

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beardouk
beardouk

No-one knows when the Trump changes will come in to effect - if they ever will.

Once they are - why not use a different category ? "Support for the Cuban people" ? Or "family visits" ?

Fidel Castro :
"Christ chose the fishermen, because he was a communist,"
"When we fulfill our promise of good government I will cut my beard."
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Mtn__Ash
Mtn__Ash

dwbb1611, apologies to redirect, but wondering how your travel went earlier this year? specifically what you did (tours, visitation, volunteerism, etc) during your stay to sufficiently satisfy* the box you checked on the 12 categories OFAC form thanks!

*recognizing we're not politicians or lawyers - but what gave you the sense of security you had accomplished enough to be able to defend your trip.

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bobmichaels
bobmichaels

Mtn_Ash: that OFAC affidavit form you fill out indicating which of the 12 categories apply to you simply gets filed away by the airline without anyone ever looking at it. It is stored away for five years in case OFAC asks to see it. There is no indication that OFAC has ever asked to see anyone's affidavit.

Or, in simple direct terms: there are no questions, no follow up, no review of anyone's documentation. No one even knows which of the 12 category boxes you checked.

Independently verify anything important that a stranger tells you on the internet, even this advice.
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Mtn__Ash
Mtn__Ash
In response to #6

cheers!

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dwbb1611
dwbb1611

@bobmichaels you never had any issue from CBP, OFAC or US authorities when returning from Cuba? I'm really thinking to keep going back and see all the island while Obama rules applies. I mostly spend time photographing their landscape, learning their culture and visiting their museums. I traveled under Support for the Cuban people. I wish I can go for more time, but I have to work. Lol.
What about Cuban immigrations? When they see your US passport coming back and forth so often, do they ask you the reason why you keep going to the island? I

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dwbb1611
dwbb1611
In response to #4

No-one knows when the Trump changes will come in to effect - if they ever will.

Once they are - why not use a different category ? "Support for the Cuban people" ? Or "family visits" ?

I'm currently using Support for the Cuban people. I met my girlfriend during my last trip, she's Cuban. Can I use family visits to visit her?

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