YES! AMERICANS CAN STILL TRAVEL TO CUBA!!!
THIS ARTICLE OUTLINES THE FACTS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S CUBA POLICY CHANGES ON JUNE 16, 2017.
PLEASE CONTACT US WITH ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL (OFAC) CUBA FAQS
On June 16, 2017 President Trump announced changes to the United States Cuba sanctions program. The key points as it pertains to Americans' ability to travel to Cuba are outlined below:
1. How will OFAC implement the changes to the Cuba sanctions program announced by the President on June 16, 2017? Are the changes effective immediately?
OFAC will implement the Treasury-specific changes via amendments to its Cuban Assets Control Regulations. The Department of Commerce will implement any necessary changes via amendments to its Export Administration Regulations. OFAC expects to
issue its regulatory amendments in the coming months. The announced changes do not take effect until the new regulations are issued.
2. What is individual people-to-people travel, and how does the President’s announcement impact this travel authorization?
Individual people-to-people travel is educational travel that: (i) does not involve academic study pursuant to a degree program; and (ii) does not take place under the auspices of an organization that is subject to U.S. jurisdiction that sponsors such exchanges to promote people-to-people contact. The President instructed Treasury to issue regulations that will end individual people-to-people travel. The announced changes do not take effect until the new regulations are issued.
3. Will group people-to-people travel still be authorized?
Yes. Group people-to-people travel is educational travel not involving academic study pursuant to a degree program that takes place under the auspices of an organization that is subject to U.S. jurisdiction that sponsors such exchanges to promote people-to-people contact. Travelers utilizing this travel authorization must maintain a full-time schedule of educational exchange activities that are intended to enhance contact with the Cuban people, support civil society in Cuba, or promote the Cuban people’s independence from Cuban authorities, and that will result in meaningful interaction between the traveler and individuals in Cuba. An employee, consultant, or agent of the group must accompany each group to ensure that each traveler maintains a full-time schedule of educational exchange activities.
4. What do the pending changes mean for the Your Cuba Travel team?
Most importantly, Your Cuba Travel will still be authorized to take Americans to Cuba! As an OFAC licensed company, Your Cuba Travel will abide by the new regulations for "Group people-to-people travel". Our company has historically used privately owned homes, automobiles and restaurants in order to maximize our travels benefit to the Cuban people. Thus, the majority of our business practice in Cuba already meets the new regulation's intent. OFAC will publish a list of banned establishments and venues that are owned by or financially benefits the Cuban government. Americans will not be authorized to spend money at the banned establishments; once the list is released Your Cuba Travel will adjust our itineraries as required to be compliant. An employee, consultant, or agent of Your Cuba Travel already accompanies every tour so that is no change for us. We also expect that OFAC will audit or require a submission of our itineraries in order to verify our compliance with the new regulations, which will not be a problem for us either.
As we have in the past, Your Cuba Travel is excited to continue facilitating meaningful people-to-people contact and educational exchange trips to Cuba.