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

MATTR5

TUI have made an announcement that Customers affected can amend for free (This may be on TUI flights only will need to check re 3rd party flying)

TUI - US ESTA APPLICATION - NOT ELIGIBLE FOR VISA WAIVER (ESTA)

Dear Trade Partner,
 
For USA bookings Important Information has been amended and FAQ has been updated as follows:-
 
You’ll need to purchase an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) at least 72 hours before you depart to enter the United States. In some cases, you may not be eligible to participate in the Visa Wavier Program (ESTA) if you’ve visited certain countries, for example Cuba, and will need to apply for a visa. For more information go to: Official ESTA Application Website, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (dhs.gov) and also the FCDO for the latest advice and costs: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/usa/entry-requirements
 
Reactive Q&A
 
THE USA GOVERNMENT HAVE CHANGED THE ESTA VISA WAIVER PROGRAMME – I AM NO LONGER ELIGIBLE FOR A ESTA AS I HAVE VISTED CUBA – I AM DUE TO TRAVEL AND DO NOT HAVE TIME TO GO THROUGH THE VISA APPLICATION PROCESS – CAN I CHANGE MY HOLIDAY?
If you have visited one of the countries that the USA classes as a “state sponsor of terrorism”, e.g. Cuba, then you will need to apply for a US non-immigrant visa. If you do not have enough time to apply for the visa and your booking date is before 29th September, you can change your holiday to another fee free.

dickydonkin

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 ?

Declaring false information on an ESTA application or lying to an immigration officer is not a wise strategy to attempt to circumvent a country's entry requirements.

A lot of data sharing exists and any person entering Cuba from Europe, their data is reported to the TSA from the carrier.

Being denied entry, risking a 10 ban from the US - or worse - is just not worth it.

bagand96

dickydonkin said:

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 ?

A lot of data sharing exists and any person entering Cuba from Europe, their data is reported to the TSA from the carrier.

So if I board a TUI flight Manchester-Varadero, or an Air France flight Paris-Havana then my details are passed to the United States TSA?

EDIT: to answer my own question, if a flight is to, from, or through the USA then certain data would be passed to US Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection.
https://www.cbp.gov/travel/clearing-cbp/passenger-name-record

Looking at today's Air France CDG-HAV, a Condor FRA-HAV and a couple of recent TUI Varadero flights, I don't think they fly through US airspace. 

CKhalvashi

bagand96 said:

dickydonkin said:

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 ?

A lot of data sharing exists and any person entering Cuba from Europe, their data is reported to the TSA from the carrier.

So if I board a TUI flight Manchester-Varadero, or an Air France flight Paris-Havana then my details are passed to the United States TSA?

EDIT: to answer my own question, if a flight is to, from, or through the USA then certain data would be passed to US Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection.
https://www.cbp.gov/travel/clearing-cbp/passenger-name-record

Looking at today's Air France CDG-HAV, a Condor FRA-HAV and a couple of recent TUI Varadero flights, I don't think they fly through US airspace. 

Looking at Condor's Varadero-Frankfurt service, it went over Europe, Santa Maria and then NY Oceanic before entering US airspace.

In the opposite direction similar took place. Anything else will result in a 2-ish hour detour.

US airspace is a lot larger than the US to the extent 

bagand96

CKhalvashi said:

bagand96 said:

dickydonkin said:

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 ?

A lot of data sharing exists and any person entering Cuba from Europe, their data is reported to the TSA from the carrier.

So if I board a TUI flight Manchester-Varadero, or an Air France flight Paris-Havana then my details are passed to the United States TSA?

EDIT: to answer my own question, if a flight is to, from, or through the USA then certain data would be passed to US Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection.
https://www.cbp.gov/travel/clearing-cbp/passenger-name-record

Looking at today's Air France CDG-HAV, a Condor FRA-HAV and a couple of recent TUI Varadero flights, I don't think they fly through US airspace. 

Looking at Condor's Varadero-Frankfurt service, it went over Europe, Santa Maria and then NY Oceanic before entering US airspace.

In the opposite direction similar took place. Anything else will result in a 2-ish hour detour.

US airspace is a lot larger than the US to the extent 

Doh! Didn’t consider the return!