CUBA, CUBAN CIGARS & TRAVEL

    
   Country Description:
          Cuba is a developing country under the communist rule of Fidel
          Castro. The United States has no direct diplomatic relations
          with Cuba.
          
   Entry Requirements Travel/Transaction:
          The Cuban Assets Control Regulations of the U.S. Treasury
          Department require that persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction be
          licensed to engage in any transactions related to travel to,
          from and within Cuba. Transactions related to business travel
          are not granted a license. This restriction includes tourist or
          business travel from or through a third country such as Mexico
          or Canada.
     
   Visitors who attempt to enter Cuba without the proper documentation
   are subject to detention and arrest by the Cuban government.
   
   Transactions are authorized by general license for U.S. and foreign
   government officials, including representatives of international
   organizations of which the United States is a member, traveling on
   official business and journalists regularly employed by a news
   reporting organization. The Treasury Department will consider specific
   licenses on a case-by-case basis for humanitarian travel, including
   cases of extreme hardship relating to close relatives,
   telecommunications activities and travel in connection with
   professional research. Additional information may be obtained by
   contacting the Licensing Division, Office of Foreign Assets Control at
   the U.S. Department of the Treasury (202/622-2480). Failure to comply
   with these regulations could result in civil penalties and criminal
   prosecution upon return to the United States.
   
   Should a traveler receive a license, a passport and visa are required
   for entry to Cuba. For current information of Cuban entry and customs
   requirements, travelers may contact the Cuban Interests Section, an
   office of the Cuban government located at 2630 and 2639 16th Street
   N.W., Washington, D.C. 20009, tel: (202) 797-8518.
   
   Entry and exit into Cuba is strictly controlled by Cuban authorities.
   Attempts to enter or exit Cuba illegally, or to aid the illegal exit
   of Cuban nationals are punishable by jail terms of up to 5 years.
   
   Medical Facilities:
          Medical care does not meet U.S. standards. Many U.S.
          medications are unavailable. It is useful for travelers to Cuba
          to bring with them any prescribed medicine which is for their
          personal use. A copy of the prescription and a letter from the
          physician explaining the need for prescription drugs will
          facilitate entry into the country. U.S. medical insurance is
          not always valid outside the United States. Supplemental
          medical insurance providing specific overseas coverage has
          proved useful. Information on health matters can be obtained
          from the Centers for Disease Control's international travelers
          hotline at (404) 332-4559.
          
   Crime Information:
          The continued deterioration in the Cuban economy has led to an
          increase in crimes directed against foreigners. Foreigners are
          prime targets for purse snatchings, pickpocketing and thefts
          from hotel rooms, particularly at beaches, historic sites and
          other attractions. For up-to-date information, contact the
          American Citizens Services unit at the U.S. Interests Section
          of the Swiss Embassy, located in Havana at Calzada between L&M,
          Vedado; telephone 33-3550 through 33-3559.
   
   The loss or theft of a U.S. passport overseas should be reported to
   the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. U.S.
   citizens can refer to the Department of State's pamphlet "A Safe Trip
   Abroad" which provides useful information on guarding valuables and
   protecting personal security while traveling abroad. Both this
   pamphlet and "Tips for Travelers to the Caribbean" are available from
   the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office,
   Washington D.C. 20402.
   
   Currency Regs (Cuba):
          Since the Cuban government legalized the use of dollars in July
          1993, U.S. dollars are accepted for all transactions.
          
   Currency Regs (U.S.):
          Only official government travelers traveling on official
          business, including representatives of international
          organizations of which the United States is a member, and
          journalists may spend money on travel to Cuba without obtaining
          special permission from the Treasury Department; such
          expenditures may only be for travel-related expenses at a rate
          not exceeding $100 per day. U.S. Treasury Department
          regulations now prohibit remittances, including family
          remittances, without a specific license from the Office of
          Foreign Assets Control. The only exception is the transfer of
          up to $500 for travel expenses for a Cuban national who has
          been granted an immigrant visa by the State Department. For
          further information, travelers may contact the Office of
          Foreign Assets Control.
          
   Credit Card Restrictions:
          U.S. citizens and permanent resident aliens are prohibited from
          using credit cards in Cuba. U.S. credit card companies will not
          accept vouchers from Cuba, and Cuban shops, hotels and other
          places of business do not accept U.S. credit cards. Personal
          checks drawn on U.S. banks may not be accepted in Cuba.
          Travelers checks are sometimes acceptable, however.
          
   Dual Nationality:
          The government of Cuba considers all Cuban-born U.S. citizens
          to be solely Cuban citizens. The Cuban government does not
          recognize the right or obligation of the U.S. government to
          protect dual U.S./Cuban citizens and has consistently denied
          U.S.consular officers the right to visit incarcerated dual
          U.S./Cuban nationals to ascertain their welfare and proper
          treatment under Cuban law. Dual U.S./Cuban nationals are
          required by Cuban law to enter and depart Cuba using Cuban
          passports. Using a Cuban passport for this purpose does not
          jeopardize one's U.S. citizenship; however, such persons must
          use their U.S. passports to enter and depart the U.S. and to
          transit any countries en route. Dual U.S./Cuban nationals may
          be subject to a range of restrictions and obligations,
          including military service, in Cuba.
          
   Restriction on Photography:
          Photographing military or police installations or personnel, or
          harbor, rail and airport facilities is forbidden.
          
   Drug Penalties:
          U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in which
          they are traveling. Penalties for the possession, use, and
          dealing of illegal drugs are severe, and convicted offenders
          can expect lengthy jail sentences. Those accused of
          drug-related and other crimes can expect lengthy legal
          proceedings and delayed due process.
          
   U.S. Representation/Registration:
          The United States does not maintain an Embassy in Cuba. U.S.
          citizens who travel to Cuba may contact and register with the
          U.S. Interests Section of the Swiss Embassy, located in Havana
          at Calzada between L&M, Vedado; telephone 33-3550 through
          33-3559. There is no access to the U.S. Naval Base at
          Guantanamo from within Cuba. U.S. citizens who register at the
          U.S. Interests Section in Havana may obtain updated information
          on travel and security within the country. Transportation and
          communication within Cuba, including Havana, can be extremely
          difficult.
          
   Telephone service within Cuba and between Cuba and the United States
   is poor. It may therefore be difficult for the U.S. Interests Section
   in Havana to assist distressed U.S. citizens, should an emergency
   arise.
   
   No. 94-215
   
   This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated May 27, 1993 to add
   information concerning additional restrictions on travel to and
   financial transactions with Cuba, entry requirements, crime
   information, and currency regulations (Cuba).