Cuba Now Stamping Passports???

Hi-

I just got off the phone with a Canadian travel agent. She told me that Cuba is now stamping passports. She had a US client who had her passport stamped and she was denied entry into the US when she returned for 6 months! I questioned her and she said yes, this is definitely what happened, she was even called in by the lawyers the client was using to get her back into the US. Said the client asked for her passport not to be stamped at Cuban customs and the guy just looked at her and stamped it .

Travel agent she'd be happy to sell me a ticket, but to be beware.

Has anyone been there lately and experienced anything like this? Anyone heard anything like this?

-Brian

Please understand whatever information you are getting from this "travel agent" - the information or your understanding or how you express it is not correct:

1) a US passport holder would not be denied re-entry into the US due to a Cuba passport stamp.

2) on a foreign passport, where the foreign passport holder has temporary residency in the US, yes they "could" be denied re-entry for any reason, including "possibly" for a Cuba passport stamp.

3) "No" Cuba exit immigration does NOT stamp US passports, unless specifically requested by the passport holder - that's one of the reasons for the entry/exit tourist visa coupon, that little pice of paper takes the place of entry and exit stamps.

On the "story", I wouldn't worry if you are a US citizen.

Keep the beat !.

When did this happen? I just returned 2 weeks ago and I was not stamped. I don't really care if they stamp or not being a Canadian.

I am a Canadian and always ask them for my passport to be STAMP . They smile, say ok, but sometimes don't stamp ..go figure ;-)

Notice that the OP is a first time poster, who has no clue about the "rumor he/she heard", and has no idea what she is talking about.

To say that a US citizen was denied entry back into the US because she had a Cuba entry stamp in her passport is preposterous. That would "never" happen.

There was a variation on this story posted on tripadviser a week or so ago. I didn't reallly read it but had something to do with a trip to Cuba invalidating a visa used for frequent travel b/n USA and Canada. This required some sort of legal assistance. But like this one I think it too was second or so hand!

My passport wasn't stamped last month. On previous trips I have asked that it be stamped as I wanted to be able to prove my absence from Canada. The stamps I got were so faint that they could barely be read. I very much doubt that a US immigration officer would ever notice a Cuban stamp. Even if s/he did, it's hard to imagine an American being denied entry to his/her own country.

Good grief, I NEVER listen to what Travel Agents say as most of them are generally clueless.

My passport has never been stamped by Cuba UNLESS I specifically ask them to stamp it. I've got quite a collection of Cuba stamps because unless I forget, I generally ask and get the stamp.

Am plenty of US CBP agents have seen those stamps and other than ask me if I have any Cigars (entering the USA) they just laugh and tell me they wish they could go.

I wish the OP would clarify the original posting to tell us what really happened to who, and what nationality they were, and on what passport were they travelling.

A previous poster did tell that he had his entry back into the US delayed on one occasion (by a day or so, I think) - but that was many years ago. Neither OFAC nor US immigration seem to have much interest in Cuba travel.

This sounds more like a tale spread by someone who has there own agenda for trying to discourage Cuba travel.

The first and only post from someone who just joined the forum yesterday and tells us a story that could never have happened and people are responding to them as though they might be genuine? And some here who have called me naive !

There is no "fren" that told him this story nor is there a travel agent somewhere who would tell such a blatant lie in order to avoid earning a commission on a ticket sale. The poster is a ringer who might well have a "Q" in their name, but whose obvious purpose is to disseminate misinformation.

Let's ask the OP to provide the name of the "Canadian travel agent" who said something as ridiculous as he would have us believe. Please also tell us who it was, what governmental agency, that allegedly turned this imaginary traveler back at the US border. There is no agency within the US government empowered to do that for the reasons stated.

Let's change the username to baloney5959, shall we ?

#9 you are paranoid. I am sure it is just an innocent post. Who do you think it is? The CIA or some other insidious plot.

Paranoia is a fear, acanuck. I would have to have something to be afraid of, wouldn't I? What is it you seem to think I am afraid of?

All I pointed out is that this OP joined the day he posted this, his first post. He tells a story unfathomable to anyone with any experience of travel to Cuba. It isn't paranoid to question his legitimacy. It is, however, hopelessly naive to describe his post as "innocent". While I don't pretend to know what his motivation for presenting such a cock-and-bull story is, one has reason to suspect his motivations are politically driven, is it not? Is it your belief that there are no entities, public or private, whose sole purpose in life is to disseminate misinformation about Cuba?

Do you really think a Cuban immigration agent dug up an unused-for-decades old stamp and stamped someone's passport?

Do you really think a Travel agent told him such a story at the risk of losing their commission?

Do you really think a US citizen was denied entry into the US because some Customs agent spotted such a stamp? If so, please tell me what agency is even empowered to do so.

Do you honestly believed that this citizen had need to retain lawyers to plead her case in order to be permitted to re-enter? Who would they plead their case to?

I'm most assuredly not "paranoid" but I'm not subject to buying into your "innocent" explanation either.

Something smells rotten in Denmark.

I just got back and they do not stamp your passport. They stamp your tourist card/visa instead. Even if they did stamp it, when you go through US customs they never look at your stamps anyways. No worries.

Another "bs" story.

Brian, with a little common sense it's a complete no-brainer for an American to visit Cuba as a tourist with zero hassle whatsoever. Forget this one ridiculous story.

Go and and have fun with your Dad.

Cheers,
Terry

I don't know where Gala are located but they have a toll free number in Puerto Rico, implying that their business has a strong focus there.

And although Gala's website doesn't say where they are located, the seem linked to Plaza Tours - www.plazatours.com - who state that they are based in Puerto Rico.

Much ado about nothing, methinks

Brian,

I went to Cuba last July (16 months ago) for 7 days. We drove to Toronto and flew from there. I did a ton of research before going about how to successfully do it without getting in trouble. It was a very seamless trip. I am so glad that he talked me into going. I'd be happy to share tips with you. I don't want to post them all here.