We have had several clients asking about travel to the USA after being to Cuba, and others who are confused about what has changed, so let’s address the elephant in the room with the facts!
Firstly, Cuba as a holiday destination is selling well, it is a bucket-list destination, high on a lot of travellers list of places to visit and it’s not hard to see why!
For culture vultures, iconic sights await, such as classic American cars rumbling through the streets of Havana, and stunning scenery like the Vinales Valley famous for its tobacco plantations, where rural life and farming practices, unchanged for centuries can still be seen.
These are just two places that feature in the nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites found on the island, add to that some of the best beaches in the world and, maybe most importantly the welcoming nature of the people, Cuba really does have it all.
Facts
On the 12thJanuary 2021 Cuba was placed on the list of State Sponsors, by the then incumbent President Trump just before he left the White House. This departing action unravelled the move towards normal relations made by the previous President, Barack Obama. This was intended to try and further harm the growing Cuban tourism sector and the overall economy, so what does it mean?
Simply, if you have travelled to Cuba after this date, US law states that any person travelling to the U.S cannot apply for the usual ESTA waiver programme and must apply for a visa via the US Embassy.
It does not mean that you cannot travel to the U.S for a holiday, just that you have an extra hoop to jump through to get Stateside.
As the US Department for Homeland Security states:
Ineligibility for an ESTA is not a bar to travel to the United States. Individuals who are not eligible to travel under the VWP may apply for a visa at any U.S. embassy or consulate”
Since October 2022 Cuban authorities do not stamp passports upon arrival so you will have no evidence that you have entered Cuba, but it is always best to follow the rules and apply for a US Visitor Visa, which is valid for 10 years and costs around $180. Its straightforward and the process can take just a couple of weeks.
Hopefully this rule will be changed soon, but with the US political scene gearing up for elections and a new president elected come November, who can tell who will be sitting in the Oval Office come 2025.
