Visited Cuba, so cannot ESTA, USA visa appointment queue 5 months!!

NoodleDoodleMan

"If it's the former, then you're lying and if they have any hint of that you'll be refused entry."

How would a US Immigration Officer know you are lying if there is no Cuban stamp in your passport ?

Voyager2002

NoodleDoodleMan said:

"If it's the former, then you're lying and if they have any hint of that you'll be refused entry."

How would a US Immigration Officer know you are lying if there is no Cuban stamp in your passport ?

Most people are nervous when they lie, and immigration officers are trained to notice this and select you for further questioning. Once in this situation, few of us can remain sufficiently cool and consistent to convince the officer that we are innocent. And remember that they do not need to prove anything: we have no right to enter their country so if they feel that we are lying about somethng they can simply send us back where we came from.

digitaltwin

Thank you all for your responses!

Am keeping an eye on the reschedule visa appointment page, but nothing sooner has come up all week. 

Shame if we miss Xmas with relos, but lucky we bought flexible fares so can go some other time. 

Hope these posts save others from making the same mistake.

Cheers

Digitaltwin 

bagand96

The Independent seem to have picked up on the story.... 

Travellers who have visited Cuba in last 11 years will need visa to enter US
https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/cuba-tourism-visa-us-trump-b2173792.html

Convenient timing, Simon are you reading?  

onashoestring

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa/entry-requirements

FCDO page doesn’t mention this issue - it says “You should be aware that if you have travelled to or have been in Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen on or after 1 March 2011, you are normally not eligible for an ESTA visa waiver and will need to apply for a US visa.”

It also says 

 “Travelling to the USA from Cuba

It’s possible to travel to the USA after you’ve been to Cuba. However, you may wish to take supporting documents about the purpose of your trip to Cuba in case you’re questioned by US immigration officials at the port of entry on arrival in the USA. If you have any further questions or concerns, contact the nearest US Embassy or Consulate.”

However it also says you should consult the US State Department website to determine which you will need - visa or ESTA.

onashoestring

The US Embassy for France has this information for French nationals 

“if you have traveled or resided in Cuba on or after January 12, 2021, please be advised that you will need a visa in order to travel to the U.S.”

https://fr.usembassy.gov/visas/nonimmigrant-visas/restrictions-use-esta-affecting-french-nationals/

DullGreyGuy

onashoestring said:

The French embassy has this information for French nationals 

So that would be the US Embassy in France, rather than a French Embassy in an unspecified country

onashoestring

DullGreyGuy said:

onashoestring said:

The French embassy has this information for French nationals 

So that would be the US Embassy in France, rather than a French Embassy in an unspecified country

Yes that’s correct - I have edited my post to make it clearer. 

CKhalvashi

MATTR5 said:

I need to get a USA Visa - have you checked appointments at Belfast? they can be quicker

But yes - agree re above - New passport may be way to go 

I bet a LOT of people are not aware of this rule 

Including the officer who allowed Itchy Boots into the country (as someone who follows her adventure).

She'd been in Iran with her bike (Basanti in S1), so had to apply for a visa to enter the US instead of the ESTA.

NoodleDoodleMan said:

Just strikes me as a little strange that the US includes Cuba as a country that sponsors state terrorism - yet allows their embassy in Washinghton, and maintains their own American one in Havana.

Cutting full diplomatic ties is generally not a good idea unless being senselessly attacked by that country (Georgia and Ukraine have no diplomatic relations with Russia for example, and Ukraine doesn't actually acknowledge the existence of the City of Moscow following the declaration by the City of Kyiv (legal successor to the Kyivan Rus) in February of their error in its founding.

bagand96 said:

I would wager that plenty of Europeans have fallen foul of this rule completely unintentionally, and entered the USA without any issue. 

Which doesn't make it right. No person can expect security of their own borders while refusing to acknowledge the security procedures on border of another country.

Belfast likely is going to be the fastest option for a visa for the OP and will be the only legal way.

bagand96

CKhalvashi said:

bagand96 said:

I would wager that plenty of Europeans have fallen foul of this rule completely unintentionally, and entered the USA without any issue. 

Which doesn't make it right. No person can expect security of their own borders while refusing to acknowledge the security procedures on border of another country.

Belfast likely is going to be the fastest option for a visa for the OP and will be the only legal way.

I agree it doesn't make it right and certainly not legal. 

Just making the point that I think plenty will have made a genuine error (not that ignorance is an excuse, and it certainly wouldn't be at the US border!) This change seems to have gone relatively unnoticed until now. Seeing the social media discussions since The Independent published their story plenty have said they were unaware and indeed "got away with it". 

I've got a nice Cuba stamp in my passport, fantastic country and people. Can't see me heading back to the US any time soon now, had some great trips there too but there's no way I'd go to the hassle of a visa unless I had an incredibly compelling reason.

The state of GBP makes that decision easier, although I have to hope that will have changed before the US have a change of heart or my passport gets renewed.