US AT Cuba - how to get a visa and tickets

PhillyQuakesFan · Jun 19, 2008

I'd love to make a trip if a legal one is organized, although I have a feeling that spots on the trip will be so limited (I'd be surprised if it's more than about 50-100 for fans) as to make it prohibitively expensive.

Galaxian · Jun 19, 2008

I might bring my dad along for this one, cause how many times do you get to go to Cuba?

Hopefully USSF can do something for us, cause that would be a trip of a lifetime.

Chase

JeremyEritrea · Jun 19, 2008

law5guy said: ↑

Guys... take a deep breath and relax. There will be a LEGAL and LICENCED trip. Assuming that Cuba takes care of things on Sunday, you should expect to see information here shortly thereafter.
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It must be true because I read it on the interwebs.

BACKSTICK · Jun 20, 2008

uclacarlos said: ↑

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.
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I've known dozens who've visited Cuba illegally and not one has been fined.

Go through Cancun

PhillyQuakesFan · Jun 20, 2008

BACKSTICK said: ↑

I've known dozens who've visited Cuba illegally and not one has been fined.

Go through Cancun
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I'm assuming they didn't go there to attend an event that will (presumably) be on national TV in the US.

nyrmetros · Jun 20, 2008

Charter a 777 full of US soccer fans. That would make some headlines.

amavel · Jun 20, 2008

PhillyQuakesFan said: ↑

I'm assuming they didn't go there to attend an event that will (presumably) be on national TV in the US.
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Hats, sunglasses, and face bandannas.

HardHatMike · Jun 20, 2008

nyrmetros said: ↑

Charter a 777 full of US soccer fans. That would make some headlines.
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Watch out for the Mexico fan in a boat with a missile.

shinpath · Jun 20, 2008

law5guy said: ↑

Guys... take a deep breath and relax. There will be a LEGAL and LICENCED trip. Assuming that Cuba takes care of things on Sunday, you should expect to see information here shortly thereafter.
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See? I knew it was possible. Perhaps FIFA has intervened for once. The EU just dropped diplomatic sanctions against Cuba, btw

JeremyEritrea · Jun 20, 2008

shinpath said: ↑

See? I knew it was possible. Perhaps FIFA has intervened for once. The EU just dropped diplomatic sanctions against Cuba, btw
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Why would FIFA intervene an behalf of US fans who want to travel to Cuba to watch soccer?

And EU dropping their limited sanctions against Cuba has absolutely zero effect with the US.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1097.html

ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS/TRAVEL TRANSACTION LIMITATIONS: The Cuban Assets Control Regulations are enforced by the U.S. Treasury Department and affect all U.S. citizens and permanent residents wherever they are located, all people and organizations physically in the United States, and all branches and subsidiaries of U.S. organizations throughout the world. The Regulations require that persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction be licensed to engage in any travel-related transactions pursuant to travel to, from, and within Cuba. Transactions related to tourist travel are not licensable. This restriction includes tourist travel to Cuba from or through a third country such as Mexico or Canada. U.S. law enforcement authorities have increased enforcement of these regulations at U.S. airports and pre-clearance facilities in third countries. Travelers who fail to comply with Department of Treasury regulations could face civil penalties and criminal prosecution upon return to the United States.

General licenses are granted to the following categories of travelers, and they are permitted to spend money for Cuban travel and to engage in other transactions directly incident to the purpose of their travel, without the need to obtain a specific license from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC):

Journalists and supporting broadcasting or technical personnel (regularly employed in that capacity by a news reporting organization and traveling for journalistic activities).
Official government travelers on official business.
Members of international organizations of which the United States is also a member (traveling on official business).
Full-time professionals whose travel transactions are directly related to research in their professional areas, provided that their research: 1) is of a noncommercial, academic nature; 2) comprises a full work schedule in Cuba; and 3) has a substantial likelihood of public dissemination.
Full-time professionals whose travel transactions are directly related to attendance at professional meetings or conferences in Cuba organized by an international professional organization, institution, or association that regularly sponsors such meetings or conferences in other countries. An organization, institution, or association headquartered in the United States may not sponsor such a meeting or conference unless it has been specifically licensed to sponsor it.
The purpose of the meeting or conference cannot be the promotion of tourism in Cuba or other commercial activities involving Cuba, or to foster production of any bio-technological products.
Travelers who do not qualify for a general license may be eligible for a specific OFAC license if their travel falls under one of the following categories:

Specific Licenses to Visit Immediate Family Members in Cuba

OFAC will issue specific licenses authorizing travel-related transactions incident to one visit lasting no more than 14 days to immediate family members who are nationals of Cuba per three-year period. For those who emigrated to the United States from Cuba, and have not since that time visited a family member in Cuba, the three-year period will be counted from the date they left Cuba. For all others, the three-year period will be counted from the date they last left Cuba pursuant to the pre-existing family visit general license, or from the date their family visit specific license was issued. Travelers wishing to visit an immediate family member in Cuba who is authorized to be in Cuba, but is not a national of Cuba, may be granted a specific license in exigent circumstances provided that the U.S. Interests Section in Havana concurs in the issuance of such a license.

Specific Licenses for Educational Institutions

Specific licenses may be issued by OFAC to authorize travel transactions related to certain educational activities by students or employees at U.S. undergraduate or graduate institutions. Such licenses must be renewed after a period of one year. Once an academic institution has applied for and received such a specific license, the following categories of travelers affiliated with that academic institution are authorized to engage in travel-related transactions incident to the following activities without seeking further authorization from OFAC:

Undergraduate or graduate students participating in a structured educational program lasting at least 10 weeks as part of a course offered at a U.S. undergraduate or graduate institution. Students planning to engage in such transactions must carry a letter from the licensed institution stating: 1) the institution’s license number; 2) that the student is enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program at the institution; and 3) that the travel is part of an educational program of that institution.
Persons doing noncommercial Cuba-related academic research in Cuba for the purpose of qualifying academically as a professional (e.g., research toward a graduate degree). Students planning to engage in such transactions must carry a letter from the licensed institution stating: 1) the institution’s license number; 2) that the student is enrolled in a graduate degree program at the institution; and 3) that the Cuba research will be accepted for credit toward that graduate degree.
Undergraduate or graduate students participating in a formal course of study lasting at least 10 weeks at a Cuban academic institution, provided that the Cuban study will be accepted for credit toward a degree at the licensed U.S. institution. A student planning to engage in such transactions must carry a letter from the licensed U.S. institution stating: 1) the institution's license number; 2) that the individual is a student currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program, or a full-time permanent employee at the institution; and 3) that the Cuba-related travel is part of a structured educational program of that institution that will last at least 10 weeks.
Persons regularly employed in a teaching capacity at a licensed U.S. undergraduate or graduate institution who plan to teach part or all of an academic program at a Cuban academic institution for at least 10 weeks. An individual planning to engage in such transactions must carry a letter from the licensed institution stating: 1) the institution’s license number; and 2) that the individual is regularly employed by the licensed institution in a teaching capacity.
Cuban scholars teaching or engaging in other scholarly activities at a licensed college or university in the United States. Licensed institutions may sponsor such Cuban scholars, including payment of a stipend or salary. The Cuban scholar may remit all such stipends or salary payments back to Cuba.
Full-time employees of a licensed institution organizing or preparing for the educational activities described above. An individual engaging in such transactions must carry a letter from the licensed institution stating: 1) the institution’s license number; and 2) that the individual is regularly employed by the institution.
Specific Licenses for Religious Organizations

Specific licenses may be issued by OFAC to religious organizations to authorize individuals affiliated with the organization to engage in travel transactions under the auspices of the religious organization. Applications by religious organizations for such licenses should include examples of the religious activities to be undertaken in Cuba. All individuals traveling pursuant to a religious organization’s license must carry with them a letter from the licensed organization citing the number of the license and confirming that they are affiliated with the organization and that they are traveling to Cuba to engage in religious activities under the auspices of the organization.

Other Specific Licenses

Specific licenses may be issued by OFAC, on a case-by-case basis, authorizing travel transactions by the following categories of persons in connection with the following activities:

Humanitarian Projects and Support for the Cuban People – 1) Persons traveling in connection with activities that are intended to provide support for the Cuban people, such as activities of recognized human rights organizations; and 2) Persons whose travel transactions are directly related to certain humanitarian projects in or related to Cuba that are designed to directly benefit the Cuban people. Licenses authorizing transactions for multiple trips over an extended period of time are available.
Free-Lance Journalism – Persons with a suitable record of publication who are traveling to Cuba to do research for a free-lance article. Licenses authorizing transactions for multiple trips over an extended period of time are available for applicants demonstrating a significant record of free-lance journalism.
Professional Research and Professional Meetings – Persons traveling to Cuba to do professional research or to attend a professional meeting that does not meet the requirements of the relevant general license (described above). Licenses authorizing transactions for multiple trips over an extended period of time are available.
Religious Activities – Persons traveling to Cuba to engage in religious activities that are not authorized pursuant to a religious organization’s specific license. Licenses authorizing transactions for multiple trips over an extended period of time are available.
Public Performances, Athletic or Other Competitions, and Exhibitions – Persons traveling to participate in a public performance, athletic or other competition (that does not meet the requirements of the general license described above), or exhibition. The event must be open for attendance, and in relevant situations participation, by the Cuban public, and all profits from the event after costs must be donated to an independent nongovernmental organization in Cuba or a U.S.-based charity with the objective, to the extent possible, of benefiting the Cuban people.
Amateur or semi-professional athletes or teams traveling to participate in Cuba in an athletic competition held under the auspices of the relevant international sports federation. The athletes must have been selected for the competition by the relevant U.S. sports federation, and the competition must be one that is open for attendance, and in relevant situations participation, by the Cuban people.
Activities of Private Foundations or Research or Educational Institutions – Persons traveling to Cuba on behalf of private foundations or research or educational institutes that have an established interest in international relations to collect information related to Cuba for noncommercial purposes. Licenses authorizing transactions for multiple trips over an extended period of time are available.
Exportation, Importation, or Transmission of Information or Informational Materials – Persons traveling to engage in activities directly related to the exportation, importation, or transmission of information or informational materials.
Licensed Exportation – Persons traveling to Cuba to engage in activities directly related to marketing, sales negotiation, accompanied delivery, or servicing of exports of health care products or other exports that may be considered for authorization under existing Department of Commerce regulations and guidelines with respect to Cuba or engaged in by U.S.-owned or controlled foreign firms.

Applying for a Specific License

Persons wishing to travel to Cuba under a specific license should send a letter specifying the details of the proposed travel, including any accompanying documentation, to the Licensing Division, Office of Foreign Assets Control, U.S. Department of the Treasury, 1500 Pennsylvania Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20220. Academic institutions wishing to obtain one of the two-year specific licenses described above should send a letter to the same address requesting such a license and establishing that the institution is accredited by an appropriate national or regional accrediting association. Religious organizations wishing to obtain one of the specific licenses described above should send a letter to the same address requesting such a license and setting forth examples of religious activities to be undertaken in Cuba.

The United States maintains a broad embargo against trading with Cuba, and most commercial imports from Cuba are prohibited by law. The sale of certain items, including medicine and medical supplies, and agricultural commodities have been approved for export by specific legislation. The Department of the Treasury may issue licenses on a case-by-case basis authorizing Cuba travel-related transactions directly incident to marketing, sales negotiation, accompanied delivery, and servicing of exports and re-exports that appear consistent with the licensing policy of the Department of Commerce. The sectors in which U.S. citizens may sell and service products to Cuba include agricultural commodities, medicine, and medical devices. The Treasury Department will also consider requests for specific licenses for humanitarian travel not covered by the general license, educational exchanges (of at least 10 weeks in duration), and religious activities by individuals or groups affiliated with a religious organization.

Unless otherwise exempted or authorized, any person subject to U.S. jurisdiction who engages in any travel-related transaction in Cuba violates the regulations. Failure to comply with Department of Treasury regulations may result in civil penalties and criminal prosecution upon return to the United States.
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Bottom line - there's no way in hell US fans are going to be able to travel to Cuba legally and the USSF is not going to be able to get Cuba travel licenses for fans.

If folks want to travel to see US away games, there are plenty of other locations to consider. Cuba is simply not going to happen.

BACKSTICK · Jun 20, 2008

PhillyQuakesFan said: ↑

I'm assuming they didn't go there to attend an event that will (presumably) be on national TV in the US.
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No,... and why should that matter Yuma?

If you're so concerned... than wear a GWBush mask.

When Americans begin to flaunt this BS embargo en mass that's when it will no longer be legitimate.

Vamanos EEUU!!!

PhillyQuakesFan · Jun 21, 2008

Good point, you go ahead, I'll be right behind you, honest.

Did have a thought though--any chance Raul refuses to let this game be played on Cuban soil?? Although I'm sure the refereeing will be heavily tilted in the commies' favor, there still exist the decent possibility of an absolute blowout by the US in front of a Cuban crowd, and that would not be a good propaganda scene for La Revolucion.

JeremyEritrea · Jun 21, 2008

PhillyQuakesFan said: ↑

Good point, you go ahead, I'll be right behind you, honest.

Did have a thought though--any chance Raul refuses to let this game be played on Cuban soil?? Although I'm sure the refereeing will be heavily tilted in the commies' favor, there still exist the decent possibility of an absolute blowout by the US in front of a Cuban crowd, and that would not be a good propaganda scene for La Revolucion.
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That makes no sense at all. Of course this game will take place in Cuba.

notinthe18 · Jun 22, 2008

JeremyEritrea said: ↑

That makes no sense at all. Of course this game will take place in Cuba.
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Is Pendegrast refereeing this game?

JeremyEritrea · Jun 22, 2008

ulyssesr said: ↑

Is Pendegrast refereeing this game?
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Who cares? If we can't beat Cuba anywhere on the planet with the worst referee in history calling the game in Cuba's favor, we really don't deserve to go to the World Cup.

JoeSoccerFan · Jun 22, 2008

Cuba didn't look too bad during the last WCQ. Then, again, they've lost a few players....

The Truth Commission · Jun 22, 2008

JeremyEritrea said: ↑

It must be true because I read it on the interwebs.
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And everything you've been saying must be true then as well.

nyrmetros · Jun 22, 2008

what a dumb set of rules. US soccer fans should not live in fear of their own government.

wolfp10 · Jun 22, 2008

nyrmetros said: ↑

what a dumb set of rules. American citizens should not live in fear of their own government.
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fixed your post

JeremyEritrea · Jun 22, 2008

The Truth Commission said: ↑

And everything you've been saying must be true then as well.
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http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1097.html

PhillyQuakesFan · Jun 22, 2008

JeremyEritrea said: ↑

That makes no sense at all. Of course this game will take place in Cuba.
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I was mostly kidding, although the Castros have done stranger things.

PhillyQuakesFan · Jun 22, 2008

nyrmetros said: ↑

what a dumb set of rules. US soccer fans should not live in fear of their own government.
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I'm not really sure where I stand on the embargo and I'm against the travel ban (if we can travel to China, no reason we shouldn't to Cuba), but neither one of these causes me to "live in fear of my own government".

I<3jorgecampos · Jun 22, 2008

nyrmetros said: ↑

what a dumb set of rules. US citizens should not live in fear of their own government.
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too bad that changed around 200 years ago

Blitzz Boy · Jun 22, 2008

law5guy said: ↑

Guys... take a deep breath and relax. There will be a LEGAL and LICENCED trip. Assuming that Cuba takes care of things on Sunday, you should expect to see information here shortly thereafter.
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Everybody has been Repping Law5guy for working on this, right?

rksehga · Jun 23, 2008

Team,

After speaking with many USSF officials, there is nothing they are going to be able to do to help supporters. The State Dept. is making it difficult for even the team to go.

That said, this probably does not impact whatever law5guy is arranging.