Previous travel to Cuba

[juliebissett72]

We went as a family to Cuba in 2013 for a holiday so put yes & the dates and travelling for tourism on our estas. Had them approved within a couple of hours at the weekend.

[ss520691]

Originally Posted by Picklepuppy

We went to Cuba in 2016. I know the date for travel to Cuba is after 2021, but my friend went in. 2017 and they refused her Esta and she had to get a visa. Has anyone had this?

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That ESTA almost certainly got rejected for some other reason - unless they made a mistake entering their date of travel to Cuba.

Originally Posted by Bradz

It depends on the reason of travel to Cuba as to whether you will be accepted without a visa.

Tourism - Not accepted
Visiting family/ educational etc.. would be accepted.

I’m not saying this is 100% but that is generally the advice given. It’s about what was accepted under US law at that time.

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This isn't correct. Travel to Cuba for tourism is fine as long it was prior to 2021. Countless people on the DIBB and elsewhere have reported zero problems getting an ESTA with a Cuba tourist trip prior to 2021.

[BirdsluvDisney]

We was in Cuba 2019 and was granted ESTAs

[disneyholic07]

Originally Posted by Nimbus

Just for the avoidance of doubt, did you all get visas or did you all get ESTAs?

(ESTAs mean that you can travel without a visa)

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we all got visas as we visited cuba in 2022

[Nimbus]

Originally Posted by ss520691

This isn't correct. Travel to Cuba for tourism is fine as long it was prior to 2021. Countless people on the DIBB and elsewhere have reported zero problems getting an ESTA with a Cuba tourist trip prior to 2021.

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Bradz comment is even worse than that. They said "visa" not "ESTA". As disneyholic07 says above, even if someone has visited to Cuba after 2021 they can still travel to the USA just as long as they have a visa. That applies for a variety of reasons for visiting Cuba.

Those who have visited Cuba before 2021 can travel to the USA with an ESTA.

[Bradz]

Originally Posted by ss520691

That ESTA almost certainly got rejected for some other reason - unless they made a mistake entering their date of travel to Cuba.



This isn't correct. Travel to Cuba for tourism is fine as long it was prior to 2021. Countless people on the DIBB and elsewhere have reported zero problems getting an ESTA with a Cuba tourist trip prior to 2021.

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You’re wrong.

It’s all on the dates of your travel and what USA law said at the time.

If US law had Cuba on the sanctioned list and you travelled for tourism you will not be accepted for an ESTA and you would need to apply for VISA.

If US law at the time allowed travel you will be accepted for an ESTA.

For the avoidance of doubt. Research copy and paste…
If you have visited Cuba, you may face additional restrictions when traveling to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

In 2021, the U.S. designated Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST). As a result, travelers who have visited Cuba after January 12, 2021, are no longer eligible for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) and must apply for a B1/B2 visa instead of using the Visa Waiver Program.

If you visited Cuba before January 12, 2021, this restriction does not apply, and you may still be eligible for ESTA.

[Bradz]

Originally Posted by Bradz

You’re wrong.

It’s all on the dates of your travel and what USA law said at the time.

If US law had Cuba on the sanctioned list and you travelled for tourism you will not be accepted for an ESTA and you would need to apply for VISA.

If US law at the time allowed travel you will be accepted for an ESTA.

For the avoidance of doubt. Research copy and paste…
If you have visited Cuba, you may face additional restrictions when traveling to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

In 2021, the U.S. designated Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST). As a result, travelers who have visited Cuba after January 12, 2021, are no longer eligible for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) and must apply for a B1/B2 visa instead of using the Visa Waiver Program.

If you visited Cuba before January 12, 2021, this restriction does not apply, and you may still be eligible for ESTA.

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Last paragraph “May still be eligible”

Depends on date of travel

[Dom and Sarah]

We had our ESTA's approved last week, and we travelled to Cuba in 2018.

I was super concerned as i was talking to our TA, and they were reading through the T&C's (as they do). The chap I was talking to suddenly said they have removed the part of the text that said "anyone who has travelled to Cuba after 2021" from his dialogue. It now reads "anyone who has travelled to Cuba..."

I went straight on the ESTA site, and that still mentions 2021 at the moment. I wonder if US is going to revert this back again now someone else is in power. Anyway, we've got my ESTAs for now (though I am aware it is still up to CBP officer whatever the case)...

[Nimbus]

Originally Posted by Bradz

You’re wrong.

It’s all on the dates of your travel and what USA law said at the time.

If US law had Cuba on the sanctioned list and you travelled for tourism you will not be accepted for an ESTA and you would need to apply for VISA.

If US law at the time allowed travel you will be accepted for an ESTA.

For the avoidance of doubt. Research copy and paste…
If you have visited Cuba, you may face additional restrictions when traveling to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

In 2021, the U.S. designated Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST). As a result, travelers who have visited Cuba after January 12, 2021, are no longer eligible for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) and must apply for a B1/B2 visa instead of using the Visa Waiver Program.

If you visited Cuba before January 12, 2021, this restriction does not apply, and you may still be eligible for ESTA.

See more...

You say "You're wrong" at the beginning but then you seem to agree with ss520691's comment.

Anyone who visited Cuba before January 2021 can apply to travel to the USA under the Visa Waiver programme. Depending on the reason for visiting Cuba their ESTA application may be accepted or rejected. Those who have travelled to Cuba prior to 2021 for tourism will generally be accepted. Which is what ss520691 said.

You said that those travelling to Cuba before 2021 for tourism will have their visa rejected. This is incorrect. It's also incorrect for those applying for an ESTA, instead of a visa. There is plenty of evidence showing that those who have travelling to Cuba for tourism prior to 2021 have had their ESTA or visa application accepted and have visited the USA.