US AT Cuba - how to get a visa and tickets

Discussion in 'USA Men: Fans & Travel' started by bshredder, Nov 25, 2007.

  1. bshredder

    bshredder BigSoccer Supporter

    Feb 23, 1999
    Club:
    Millwall FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Obviously both teams need to get by their first round home/away opponents for the US and Cuba to meet. But if they do, I would love to go to this game.

    If we wait for the games to become official in July next year it may be too late to go through the process to get a special visa and all the other red tape cleared.

    My guess is that we should try to contact US Soccer in the comming weeks to try to get visas for the fans who want to travel and maybe get a US supporters section set aside at the Cuban stadium. The process may take awhile.

    Anyone have any ways of trying to go about this??
     
  2. JayDelight729

    JayDelight729 Member

    Jun 7, 2002
    Section 101
    This would be amazing and very worthwhile. I just don't know if there is any possibility of getting a visa.
     
  3. uclacarlos

    uclacarlos Member+

    Aug 10, 2003
    east coast
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    Dream on.

    I doubt you'll get permission to go. And if you go, be prepared to know your rights when you get back. Oh, and if you do get permission (jajajajajaja), you'll probably get jerked around w/ "Yes! You can go. Oooops. No. You can't go. Ooops. Yes you can. No you can't." Ad infinitum.

    Even with permission from the US Treasury, unless you go w/ the direct flights out of Miami and maybe LA or NYC, you can get some idiot at Customs who is too stupid to know that the US Treasury trumps his moronic boss, who thinks "absolutely nobody goes to Cuba".

    Academic and cultural exchanges are currently allowed, but w/ severe restrictions. If you can qualify on your own for either of these 2 OR if you have a grandparent, parent, sibling, child or grandchild living there, THEN you might consider going.

    Cuba is also not for the inexperienced traveler. It's absolutely safe, one of the side benefits from a military dictatorship. You'll see young, single women, even tourists, walking alone at night during a blackout. Which happen daily, btw.

    But it's so intense, so freaking hard to process what you see and what you feel, that it's simply not for everybody.

    DO NOT GO ILLEGALLY THROUGH JAMAICA OR THE CAYMAN ISLANDS OR PANAMA. This will be a huge event, and if your picture gets seen... trust me... Don't f**k w/ this. The fine is ridiculously expensive, and you don't want to mess w/ the government on this.

    It's not worth it. It's barely worth it for those who go legally.
     
  4. El Chuma

    El Chuma BigSoccer Supporter

    Sep 17, 2005
    San Diego
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States

    I agree, if you go wear a bandana and/or a mask and do not wave a US flag, do not sport a jersey, ect... So sad yet so true.
     
  5. uclacarlos

    uclacarlos Member+

    Aug 10, 2003
    east coast
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    Also, although it's rare b/c the Cuban gov't just wants tourist $$$$ and are quite ready to accept Americans flaunting US law, bear in mind that according to the Cuban gov't, you are there illegally and *could* be hassled.

    What recourse do you have? There are no embassies in Cuba. You're screwed.






    I really fear that a few inexperienced travelers will take the risk and find themselves in deep doo-doo, w/o the cultural know-how and experience to get themselves out of trouble.

    Both gov'ts have operatives working in the other country, don't kid yourself. Like I mentioned in the other thread, Cuba puts first-run Hollywood productions on tv ASAP, oftentimes right after they open in LA or NY and before opening in Chicago, SF, Houston, etc. Not to mention keeping tabs on ex-pats and the US gov't.

    My father lived in Cuba for a few months after the Revolution, got kicked out and got followed a few times over 20 years after leaving. I've been told that the US does the same thing in Cuba, keeping a close eye on things.

    If your photo is taken, and it will, as you'll stick out like a sore thumb, you just run a tremendous risk, and your photo has an excellent chance at landing at the desk of Customs agents.
     
  6. thegreatcrab

    thegreatcrab Member

    Apr 22, 2006
    Brighton, MA
    Club:
    Carolina Railhawks
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I'd be interested in going, and if I do it'll be with my French passport.

    I do not believe that they have the travel embargos that the USA has.

    of course it all depends on my money. how many euros I have and how many dollars I need to transfer to Euros prior to going down there.

    theres a chance, albeit a slim one though.
     
  7. uclacarlos

    uclacarlos Member+

    Aug 10, 2003
    east coast
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    Check into direct flights from Miami or NY. I'm not sure if foreign nationals are allowed on those flights. If they are... cool! But you might face questions that try to get you to admit being an American citizen.

    I'd go through Mexico, Canada, Jamaica or the Cayman Islands, using your French passport when needed.
     
  8. CanadaFTW

    CanadaFTW Member

    Jun 21, 2007
    I'm pretty sure you would be fine once you get to Cuba. It is a popular tourist destination for Canadians, and I have never heard anyone have any problems. You guys getting to Cuba is more of an issue, but if you can do it, you should be fine. I have also heard that they often do not stamp passports in order to not document the trip. If someone has a French passport, just use that and fly from Canada, you should have no difficulties.
     
  9. El Chuma

    El Chuma BigSoccer Supporter

    Sep 17, 2005
    San Diego
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I agree with you, I am just worried that if the game is on TV, people could get in trouble if they pan the stands.
     
  10. uclacarlos

    uclacarlos Member+

    Aug 10, 2003
    east coast
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    The problems w/ Americans are extremely rare as well. The thing is... Americans do need to think about these things b/c you never know.

    The main thing is getting back to the US.

    Even w/ the proper paperwork, you can face problems. My group, all of us legal, had to call the US Treasury, who had to send an agent to the airport at 2am on a Monday morning.

    And they were lucky that they were able to get in touch w/ somebody.

    In Cuba, they don't.

    HOWEVER, I have heard of cases in which an agent has done it on purpose. I was also told by a Cuban Customs agent that yes they do prosecute Americans for coming illegally, but mainly as a pay-back for other illegal activities (drugs, for instance).

    When I flew into Jamaica from Havana, I had separated from the group and the a-hole in Jamaican Customs stamped my book! When I asked him why he did that, that we're Americans and this could raise suspicion, he was livid that I was asking him to break the law.

    Fortunately, I went in the 8th or 9th year of my passport and there were so many entries that I flew under the radar at US Customs.
     
  11. Davids26

    Davids26 Member

    May 31, 2000
    That would be enough to scare the bejesus out of me. As cool as it would be to go, I definitely don't have enough stamps in my passport to fly under the radar, and I don't have an alternate. Hope its on TV!
     
  12. dirk diggler

    dirk diggler Member

    May 14, 2000
    Fire Daddy!
    Club:
    --other--
    It's my understanding that Cuba doesn't even have a Fifa approved stadium. Most all of their international matches are played at a third country. So this this discussion might be moot.
     
  13. Davids26

    Davids26 Member

    May 31, 2000
    They played both there 2006 qualifiers in Havana at one of these stadiums:

    Estadio Panamericano
    http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/middle_america/cuba/la_habana_panamericano.shtml

    Estadio Pedro Marrero
    http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_pictures/middle_america/cuba/la_habana_panamericano.shtml
     
  14. dirk diggler

    dirk diggler Member

    May 14, 2000
    Fire Daddy!
    Club:
    --other--
    Ahhh, I stand corrected. If the federation is willing to sell tickets to this away match, I would give serious thought to going. The US embargo doesn't scare me:) There are a zillion ways to get into Cuba without getting into trouble, and lots of Americans do it every year.
     
  15. uclacarlos

    uclacarlos Member+

    Aug 10, 2003
    east coast
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    My girlfriend panicked, b/c she had just renewed her passport! We had a 22 hour layover in Montego Bay, and fortunately for her, a hurricane slammed the island and her flight was canceled. She couldn't get on a flight for 3 days, so when she got to Customs in the US, the agent fortunately only saw the most recent stamp and thought nothing of a 4 day trip to Jamaica.

    Had the agent seen the first stamp.... 7 weeks in Jamaica? A 2nd stamp that showed she had left Jamaica? And then the questions would've come, despite having permission from the US Treasury.

    The vast majority of Americans that go to Cuba legally but not through Miami/NY/LA lie about their trip to avoid hassle at Customs.
     
  16. uclacarlos

    uclacarlos Member+

    Aug 10, 2003
    east coast
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    But less and less are going since 2005, when the gov't announced that they would be tracking ppl going from Canada and Mexico.

    If it weren't such a high profile event, I'd say go for it!

    But the ppl that get into trouble regarding Cuba have been dinged for flaunting the embargo. Going for such a significant event is like you're flaunting.

    If you go, make a vacation out of it. Do NOT come back the day after the game or the following day.
     
  17. dirk diggler

    dirk diggler Member

    May 14, 2000
    Fire Daddy!
    Club:
    --other--
    You have to get creative and think outside the box;) There are lots of direct flights from Europe into Havana. It will cost more and take more time, but if it means I have to spend a couple of days in Paris or Madrid, it's a "sacrifice" I'm willing to make:)
     
  18. law5guy

    law5guy Member

    Jun 26, 2001
    a quick google search and found this.

    http://www.usa-cuba.org/

    Anyone want to sign up for the 'Sam's Army Amature Soccer Club'?

    I am sure that there are other orgainizations that would give a license.

    Back in 1999 the Baltimore Orioles went to Cuba to play. Wonder if any folks from Baltimore went to the game?
     
  19. JamesENicholson

    Feb 18, 2005
  20. uclacarlos

    uclacarlos Member+

    Aug 10, 2003
    east coast
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    Dear BigSoccer Sirs:

    Your request to attend the FIFA-sanctioned Cuba-USMNT game has been denied pursuant to Title 31 Part 515. Spectators do not fall under the provisions of said policy.

    The Federal Government is confident that these measures will prove tremendously successful in crippling the Castro regime and bringing them to their knees, thereby liberating the Cuban people.

    Sincerely,
    John F. Kennedy
    Lyndon B. Johnson
    Richard Nixon
    Gerald Ford
    Jimmy Carter
    Ronald Reagan
    George H. W. Bush
    Bill Clinton
    George W. Bush
     
  21. Master O

    Master O Member+

    Jul 7, 2006
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Sad, but true.

    I wonder if there is a precedent for American sports fans (not the teams, since they are exempt under the embargo) going to sporting events in Cuba.
     
  22. Davids26

    Davids26 Member

    May 31, 2000
    This isn't a politics forum, but I've never agreed with the embargo on Cuba. Maybe I grew up in the wrong time, but when we have the relationship we have with Saudi Arabia, the embargo against Cuba seems horribly unjust.
     
  23. Davids26

    Davids26 Member

    May 31, 2000
    Despite my feelings in regard to the US-Cuba relationship, I can see why you're cautioning everyone about going. I'd love to go, but it seems too much of a hassle.
     
  24. MarvelousNTx

    MarvelousNTx Member

    Jan 11, 2007
    Arlington --AggTown
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    To answer your question; Either fly out of Canada or go to the carribbean and fly or boat over. Simple enough. And a visa is no problem. You can get it in the airport. TRUST ME. :D Not as hard as one thinks. Actually rather easy. And safety is no problem. contrary to what we're led to believe over here, Cubans don't hate americans. Well, they don't hate African Americans anyway.
     
  25. uclacarlos

    uclacarlos Member+

    Aug 10, 2003
    east coast
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Nat'l Team:
    Spain
    No.

    It's not.

    1. Since 2005, the US Treasury has been checking passenger lists from Mexico and Canada in order to stop Americans from going to Cuba. It has largely succeeded, as Americans traveling illegally to Cuba is now a fraction of what it was. You now have to go through other routes in order to get around the US Treasury.

    2. If you're talking about getting a visa from the Cuban gov't to be in Cuba, yeah, that's not a problem.

    The problem is getting back.

    And it's such a pain in the ass that most travelers going legally prefer to risk lying to a Customs agent and getting caught in a lie than to say, "Yeah, I was in Cuba w/ permission from the Treasury, license #5551212."

    You just never know when you can get a Neanderthal at US Customs. In fact, you're almost guaranteed to get hassled no matter what.

    Are you willing to get a lawyer to fight your lost cause when you get fined $23,000? That's what happened to my group when the main group got back. Over 50 students and faculty were going to be fined $23K each... and they were there legally.

    Again: you're referring to the Cuba-issued permission to be in the country.

    Americans need to jump through major hurdles to get permission to go.

    Totally agree.

    Getting bombarded by ppl trying to earn a buck off a tourist is oppressive, though. It's just an intense experience, and your mind needs a break afterwards.

    And then you feel guilty 'cuz you know that you can leave. But all the cool ppl you met... can't. :( THAT drove me nuts. I've never felt so guilty b4 as a tourist.

    They're thee most amazing ppl this way. They totally divorce a populace from the gov't. They know that Bush Jr., Clinton, Bush Sr., Reagan, Carter, Ford, Nixon, Johnson and Kennedy are/were politicians, and their policies have nothing to do w/ the ppl they serve(d).

    Quite refreshing...

    That's one of the accomplishments of the Revolution. It wasn't like that before.

    But a white person does have it easier in Cuba. It's not perfect.
     

Share This Page