Cuban Visa for EU citizen flying out of Chicago?

Apologies if this has been asked - but all info I find here, on wikitravel or airline websites is still quite general...

I want to head to Cuba in a couple weeks. I am a dual citizen - have US and EU passport. For Cuba, plan to travel on my EU passport. And I am located currently in Chicago.

Several airlines have either direct flights to Havana or connecting in other US-airports. Seems I can book easy, like any other flight, online. But how do I get the visa and would those 12 legal reasons things be an issue (if so - how to go about it?)?? I just called American Airlines - they're clueless and have no idea themselves.

Please advice - how can I get the visa for this?
Thanks!

The American Airline website is quite clear on all this. Each airline has different procedures.
The Cuban Visa (Tourist Card) has nothing to do with the 12 OFAC excuses.
There is no advantage on travelling on your EU passport compared with your US one.
Also see the FAQ's here e.g. #19 and #34

Thanks - but the AA web site merely lists the 12 reason without much info on who may ask and what doc they may require for these 12. Will anyone ask anyways? And for visa - their web site merely lists an agent to contact...
Will check the other threads in a sec...

Also see the FAQ's here e.g. #19 and #34

Wait, where? Was there meant to be a link?

This post has been removed by its author.

See FAQ's near top of this site.
AA website provides link to CTS which explains in detail how you obtain the TC before you arrive or you can buy at airport.
This is not rocket science.

I am a dual citizen - have US and EU passport. For Cuba, plan to travel on my EU passport.

There is no advantage to using your EU Passport. When flying from the US everyone falls under the OFAC regulations so you have to check a box beside one of the 12 accepted reasons for travel no matter your nationality.

But how do I get the visa and would those 12 legal reasons things be an issue (if so - how to go about it?)?? I just called American Airlines - they're clueless and have no idea themselves.

The Cuban Tourist Card/Visa has to be purchased directly from the airline. Some airlines are on the ball and make this easy, the TC/Visa is available for $50 right at check-in. Other airlines, like American for example are idiots and they use a 3rd party vendor to procure the TC/Visa so it's a bit more hassle and more expensive.

the AA web site merely lists the 12 reason without much info on who may ask and what doc they may require for these 12.

There are no documents required. You simply check a box beside whatever (fake) reason for travel you choose, hand the paper back and that's it.

Have fun.

Cheers,
Terry

Thank you much!

My advice to you is if you have a choice to fly out of Chicago on American Airlines,Delta or Spirit(which you should avoid like the plague) fly Delta if the flight takes the same time as American Airlines.Delta has this Cuba travel thing down very well and will answer all of your questions and sell you the Cuban tourist card for $50 either on the phone or at the check in counter on the day of your flight.I only advise against American because if an airline can't give you definitive answers about the operations of their own flights you should probably avoid flying with them.

And, if you want to be a clever little outlier traveler you can purchase a tourist card for about $25 from cubismo.com, in the UK. Try using itat the airlines; it might just work. Mine did at Jet Blue in December. It does have a green color, not a favorite color of the Cuban embassy in DC. They love pink.
Trap

And, if you want to be a clever little outlier traveler you can purchase a tourist card for about $25 from cubismo.com, in the UK. Try using itat the airlines; it might just work. Mine did at Jet Blue in December. It does have a green color, not a favorite color of the Cuban embassy in DC. They love pink.
Trap

Can't tell if you're making a joke or if there's something i'm not seeing? That's a web site of some band...? ;)

Mine was green also, I haven't seen pink and I flew Delta out of JFK.I'm just wondering if the airlines will give you a hard time for not buying it from them.

My advice to you is if you have a choice to fly out of Chicago on American Airlines,Delta or Spirit(which you should avoid like the plague) fly Delta if the flight takes the same time as American Airlines.Delta has this Cuba travel thing down very well and will answer all of your questions and sell you the Cuban tourist card for $50 either on the phone or at the check in counter on the day of your flight.I only advise against American because if an airline can't give you definitive answers about the operations of their own flights you should probably avoid flying with them.

Thanks - I find all of American airlines pretty awful tbh. Spent the last 3hrs comparing dates, airlines, bullshit fees and all that... Delta is indeed at least upfront about what's going on. The AA rep on the phone didn't seem to understand what a 'visa' even was, not mentioning having any info on it. I also tried getting info from the Cuban Consulate to see if it's any cheaper but after half hour of failed attempts to reach someone there I gave up... endless phone tag - typical.

Trap is not joking - but others have reported being forced to buy a "pink" tourist card if they tried using a green one. He means http://www.cubavisas.com which is part of Cubaism.

Apparently this is was the pink ones look like - https://cubavisaservices.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Tourist-Card-full_sample.jpg

AA have outsourced the visas to Cuba Travel Services so they don't need to get involved with understanding about them. That seems a logical business decision to me.

Over on Tripadvisor there was a report from someone who did try buying a tourist card direct from the Cuban consulate in Washington - (post 56 here - https://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowTopic-g147270-i91-k9247304-Communication_with_the_Cuba_Embassy_in_DC-Cuba.html ) - they said they could not issue one same day, and directed her to a nearby agency. She said it cost $70. (I don't know if she could have got it for the basic $50 if she had been willing to go back to the consulate another day to collect it. Also, I have heard that there are extra fees at the consulate if you also want to buy a tourist card for someone else.)

AA have outsourced the visas to Cuba Travel Services so they don't need to get involved with understanding about them. That seems a logical business decision to me.

Given that their website plus the link to CTS is perfectly clear on all the details not sure what the problem here is for the OP.

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