US Entry and Cubian stamp on passport

lisasimpson

my passport is only a few years old. heading to cuba next yr just wondering would i have hassle going to the states on the same passport at a later date

LiamMc

US Immigration do question visitors based on Travel History.

I am sure you may be able to receive authorisation from the Cuban authorities separate to your passport or you yourself can make the decision to present a different passport to the US Immigration Service. In the case of the Irish Passport Office, they will issue you with a full passport on receipt of the old passport and the simple explanation you have evidence of visiting one place and now wish to visit another place. The Irish Passport Office will charge the full price for the passport.

If you are concerned about an Immigration interview, where you have little control of the decision/ appeal. I would recommend you visit Cuba and when you intend to visit USA, replace your passport. This way you still make your own decisions about your own travel.

It is unfortunate that sometimes tourists/travellers don't visit some destinations because of a stamp they receive on arrival for a two week holiday, in a passport that the tourist may leave in a drawer for 6 months and never sees.

lc180

Interesting question, Cuba is high on my 'to do' list. Is it really a big deal having a Cuban stamp in your passport prior to entering the US?
I know it's a communist state with a bad US relationship for decades. What kind of hassle can you expect?

Seaneh

The US don't give a crap where you've been to be honest.
You'd have to be flying between China, North Korea and Cuba a few times a year before they'd even blink at it.

The only issues I've ever had or heard of when travelling with passport stamps is if you are flying into or through UAE/KSA/etc and you have an Israeli stamp they can give you a fair bit of **** about it..

drunkmonkey

The don't stamp your passport in cuba, you get a ticket at the airport and keep that until your leaving.
Have a big fat Cohiba and about 10 Mojito's in Bodeguita for me, Glad I went before I gave up smoking;)

BuffyBot

A visit to Cuba will not cause you any issues.

Todd Gack

lisasimpson wrote: »

my passport is only a few years old. heading to cuba next yr just wondering would i have hassle going to the states on the same passport at a later date

No, as drunkmonkey said your passport won't get stamped. You buy a tourist card (visa) from the consulate beforehand (€22 in person, €47 by post, some airlines/travel agents may give them out as part of your package but it's best to check) which is a separate slip of paper with your details, it's not stuck in your passport. It gets stamped on entry, you keep it until you exit where they take and keep so there's no evidence in your passport of your visit.

Stinicker

The Americans are not worried about Cuba and it won't cause you any trouble, just use the same passport as normal.

The only case of this I know is certain Arab countries refuse entry to people who have Israeli stamps in their passports, but such extremities most certainly do not exist between Cuba and the USA.

coylemj

The only reason there is still an 'issue' between the US and Cuba is because there are thousands of wealthy Cuban exiles living in Florida who through political donations have sufficient influence in Washington to ensure that the trade and travel embargo is maintained. The US immigration staff you meet at points of entry couldn't care less if there is a Cuban stamp in your passport.

LiamMc

As someone on the receiving end of interest of my Travel History from Immigration Officers both abroad and in Ireland, the vague mention of some countries only being interested in an Israeli stamp in a passport isn't the whole picture. Israeli security and border posts are the most derogatory I have had to face.

Immigration Policy everywhere includes applicants Travel History. The very action of an Immigration Officer leafing quickly through a passport shows their interest in the applicants Travel History.

For the tourist to keep some control of their travel decisions, of going to the places they wish to travel to at the time they wish to travel. Relying on the capricious decisions of an unknown Immigration Officer doesn't seem to suit.

Ditching the belief that a passport is for ten years and cannot be replaced before that time without losing something valuable is a good start.

Trying to reduce evidence of travel to considered unfashionably (maybe unpopular) areas is always good and if a visit doesn't show evidence on the passport that's good.


Regarding US - Cuba I have heard of Irish Passport holders receiving poor treatment at Miami airport after returning from Cuba via Mexico.

couple of articles from Moon Travel books (USA based travel guide), but based mainly for US residents or US passport holders
November 6 2012
http://www.moon.com/blogs/cuba-costa-rica/travel-channel-airs-you-can-fly-cuba

July 31 2009
http://www.moon.com/blogs/cuba-costa-rica/its-not-easy-being-arrested-illegal-travel-cuba

Dodge

A person with multiple passports in a small timeframe is as likely, if not more likely, to arrouse suspicion than someone with a 10 year passport with a full travel history

And you can take that as someone who worked in immigration.

LiamMc

Dodge wrote: »

A person with multiple passports in a small timeframe is as likely, if not more likely, to arrouse suspicion than someone with a 10 year passport with a full travel history

And you can take that as someone who worked in immigration.

The Immigration industry is very broad.

It's good that Travel History is starting to be recognised as relevant to an application.

I don't know what a 'full travel history' is. I think this may part of the make-it-up-as-you-go-along capricious nature of some Immigration decision-making.

Those defenders of the Minister of Foreign Affairs' property the Irish Passport Office do grant new, fresh passports to applicants that wish to have a new passport based on the Travel History of their current passport.

As I say, the tourist/traveller should continue to empower themselves by reducing the reasons for refusal.

Dodge

LiamMc wrote: »

I don't know what a 'full travel history' is. I think this may part of the make-it-up-as-you-go-along capricious nature of some Immigration decision-making.

no, its a term I've used in the thread for simplicity's sake

Those defenders of the Minister of Foreign Affairs' property the Irish Passport Office do grant new, fresh passports to applicants that wish to have a new passport based on the Travel History of their current passport.

They'll issue a new passport for many reasons. They are not involved in immigration policy so its not reallya consideration for them

Civilian_Target

Like drunkmonkey says, the Cubans don't stamp your passport - they just staple in a piece of paper, so you can take it out afterwards.

fuddy1

Cuba will only stamp your passport if you ask them to.
Thats the reason you will find americans there even tho they are not allowed to travel to Cuba. They just fly in and out of somewhere else first, or get a boat. I know americans who just slip the mexican border guys $50 not to give them an exit stamp when they head to Cuba to avoid questions when they get home.....just get the exit stamp when they back in mexico heading back to US.