General Info

**Petrolero** · 09-06-04 08:44

There's where you're incorrect. You cannot propagate false statements on a public board without the risk of being called out on them.

No American is getting fined $7,500 for illegal travel to Cuba. With your suggestion that there are, discourages the right type of free-thinking Americans from venturing to Cuba and spreading Americana.

I ran into a guy who settled for a Lee Iacocca one year salary, settlement fine with the OFAC fine of $1. They sent him a letter proposing a pretrial settlement offer figure of several hundred dollars. He wrote back, cashing this check for $1 will settle the current monetary balance owed, and any future financial obligations related to my personal, noncommercial travel to Cuba. Check was cashed.

**Doc Bill** · 09-06-04 08:04

I don't think I need to show you anything. Like anything else on this board, you can take it or leave it. I only try to contribute what I know based on my own personal experience in return for all the great info I've gotten here which has helped me immensely on my travels.

**Petrolero** · 09-05-04 23:44

Since you're asserting the positive, the rules of logic dictate for you to show me where unlicenced Americans have been fined $7,500.

Who are they?

Are you American? Or just using scare tactics to keep Americans from going to Cuba?

You sound similar to to this guy who runs this weBLOG. http://www.babalublog.com/

He wants Americans to go to Jamaica instead of Cuba. Or to any other Caribbean island. What's really funny about this is, all the white or off-white boys I know in Cuba have distain for Jamaicans, with the the right index finger rub motion to the left forearm.

**Doc Bill** · 09-05-04 18:54

I hardly consider $7500 to be just a "traffic ticket," and now a lot of very nice people are getting those bills. Not worth the risk.

**Gringo Loco** · 09-05-04 18:43

Guys,

As far as the whole US Customs problem goes, I just follow former President Clinton's advice -- "deny, deny, deny." How long were you in Mexico? 10 days. Nice hotel, but the weather was a little on the humid side. Did you visit any other countries besides Mexico. NO (emphatically). Remember, only you can incriminate yourself. Make sure you have no evidencia (ticket stubs, dinero cubano, car / moto rental contracts), keep your cool, and deny & divert the question.

**Kuranyi** · 09-01-04 12:23

Cuba was on my to do list for long time. Now there are last minute flights from germany to Cuba for only about 300 Euro.

Is Cuba worth a trip if you want to have girls,sun,beach and good food? From the postings I have read that it is not easy to find nice girls and it is more expensive than in south america and asia which are my mongering destinations. How much are the chicas? Are there cheap private acommodations? I heard that the have an own gringo pricing system?

**Petrolero** · 08-31-04 19:42

I just booked a trip. When it's said, and if it's done, the fine amounts to no more than a traffic ticket. Provided you know how to negotiate. If you're really nice to the adroit Customs agent, he will send you on your way to traffic school.

I really think it comes down to how you conduct yourself. Cool people get the breaks, and assholes get fucked with. It's a yes sir, no sir situation with the Customs or Aduana, as it is with the ticket agent at the airline counter when you're overloaded with weight. Amazing how you get freebies when you're pleasant to deal with, and say hello with a smile.

I'm convinced the people getting caught are assholes and deserved a cavity search by Customs. Some of these people have bad experiences everytime they hand over the passport for inspection on return.

I have less of a risk getting caught than in my daily jaunts of 95mph on the freeway.

**cuerno** · 08-31-04 17:11

Doc Bill,

I went through Cancun last month with no problems. It's always been a big crapshoot but I really haven't noticed anything new. Security at US airports are very tight but that has nothing to do with us. I'm fairly sure Cubana airlines does not furnish their manifests to OFAC if you're really paranoid. I have no plans to go back til next year as cuba is a mess at the moment.

**Doc Bill** · 08-31-04 08:12

So, to return to an old and still valid topic, how are my fellow Americans going to Cuba these days? Or are you just not going in the present climate? Or do you throw caution to the wind and hope you're one of those that don't get caught? Or are you finding ways to go legally (not easy!).

I have friends who recenly went through Jamaica. They were questioned a litttle about the extra (Jamaican) stamp on their passport but got lucky and pleaded ignorance, the line was long, so they let them go. My sources tell me that now all airlines in Mexico, Cayman, Jamaica, Bahahmas and maybe more are passing on passenger lists to the authorities, which means that you may (or may not) get a notice of fine for $7500. Hearings are now officially in place to hear the arguments about the notce.

Bottom line, you won't know you got caught until you've been home for some time

**Doc Bill** · 08-26-04 17:58

As a foreigner you are allowed to own up to 49% of any property in Cuba. In practice that may as well be 2% or nothing at all, since you have no controlling interest in it. That with the fact that the government can take or do whatever thay want with "your" property at any time makes it a bad idea.

**Truth Seeker** · 08-25-04 01:53

Property in Cuba cannot be purchased or owned by foreign nationals. Some individuals have "purchased" houses for their girlfriends, but title rests with the girl friend. If she decides to end the realtionship, you are out of luck. There is no legal recourse for the foreign national. What is one going to do, tell the Cuban authorities you broke the law? IMHO, stay away from property transactions.

**Justgolfing** · 08-21-04 17:44

Hi All,

Does anyone have any knowledge of a non-cubano national purchasing a casa on the island?

I am non-technical and I cannot figure out how to search these archives for past discussions.

I know that title must be held in the name of a local, but I am very concerned about the process and if it is possible.

Please feel free to PM me if you have info. I would like to have the discussion off this board.

**Rabo Verde** · 08-12-04 00:19

What's the Cuban National Anthem?
"Row, Row, Row Your Boat"

**Lugano** · 08-06-04 11:42

Hi everybody,

I'm from Italy and since a few days I discovered this forum.

I think to know enough Cuba and Cuban people. If someone needs info, particularly of the west and central part of the island, email me.

Greetings for the forum, it's fantstic

Lugano

**El Cubanito** · 07-31-04 16:56

I recently called Marazul here in the states to check about the new travel requirements for Cuban-American to travel to Cuba. The Marazul Rep said that as long s you have a Cuban Passport, you do NOT have to file for the Cuban-American Visa, But he said that you still had to file some red tape. The person on the phone did not explain it to me very well. Does anybody know of where I can get info on the new travel requirements for Cuba on Cuban-American travelling into Cuba with just their Cuban passport? The website for the Cuban Interest Section that was station in Washington DC has been pulled down or move. Does anybody know the new website address is, phone numbers or where it has been moved to? Any help would be most welcome, thank you.

El Cubanito

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