Office of Foreign Assets Control
OFAC Regulations and Attorneys
Sanctions Guidance
Remittance Forwarding Service Providers
Licenses and Travel Transactions
-
-
Request a Specific License for Travel under the Guidelines for License Applications
-
Prepaid Tourist Packages are Prohibited
-
Clarification of Travel Licenses for Religious Activities
-
Request a Specific License to Visit an Immediate Family Member
-
Cuban Remittance Affidavit Form
-
Request for Release of Blocked Wire Transfers
Travel Service Providers and the Travel Industry
Trade and Transport of Cuban Origin Goods
Transfer of claims Against Cuba
- OFAC has published a notice regarding the transfer of claims against Cuba certified by the Foreign Claims
Settlement Commission
General Licenses
- General License Related to Personal Communication Services
- General License for Publishing Activities
- General License on Agricultural Exports to Cuba (Cash in Advance)
Interpretative Guidance
- Computerized Reservation Systems (Cuba Travel)
- Publishing Activities Involving Manuscripts from Sanctioned Countries
- Publication Activities Performed by U.S. Newspapers
- Index of Interpretative Guidance
Guidance on OFAC Licensing Policy
- Guidance On Entities Owned By Persons Whose Property And Interests In Property Are Blocked
OFAC License Application for Travel to Cuba
The US government does not allow most American citizens to travel freely to Cuba. ALL Americans
require either a general license or a specific license in order to travel to Cuba.
We offer a legal referral service for individuals and businesses seeking to apply for a license to travel to Cuba. We can help you understand if you qualify to travel
under a general license or if you need to apply for a specific license to travel to Cuba. We can assist you with
a variety of OFAC travel licensing issues:
Types of Allowable Cuba Travel
-
Freelance Journalistic Activities
-
Professional Research and Meetings
-
Academic Activities from accredited U.S. Undergraduate/Graduate Degree-Granting Academic Institutions
-
Academic Activities for Undergraduate/Graduate Students of an Accredited U.S. Academic Institution
-
Religious Activities with religious organizations
-
Public Performances, Athletic and Other Competitions, and Exhibitions
-
Support for the Cuban People
-
Humanitarian Projects
-
Private Foundations and Educational and Research Institutes
-
Exportation/Importation of Information and Informational Materials
-
Exportation from the U.S. and Exportations of 100% U.S. - Origin Items from Overseas Entities
-
Exportation from U.S. - Owned or Controlled Foreign Firms
If you went to Cuba illegally and received a request for more information about your trip from
OFAC, you might want to read about illegal travel to Cuba.
OFAC People to People License
Click on image above to see enlarged photo
Cuba Trade and Travel Restrictions
Allowable Cuba trade and travel activities (with many restrictions)
-
Exporting US agricultural goods to Cuba
-
Exporting US medicine, medical equipment and supplies
-
-
Importation and sale of Cuban art in the US
-
Offering humanitarian missions to Cuba
-
Providing charter flights to Cuba as a Carrier Service Provider
-
Booking travel as a licensed Travel Service Provider
-
Sending money to Cuba as a license Remittance Service Provider
The Havana Journal maintains a list of Cuba Service Providers that includes Travel Service Providers, Carrier Service Providers and
Remittance Providers.
Be sure to read OFAC attorney Erich Ferrari's Sanction Law blog to stay current on US sanctions against Cuba.
Wire Transfer Funds Blocked by OFAC
US banks have been known to block wire transfers for simply for containing the word Cuba or Havana.
In order to unblock funds held by a US bank for "potential" Cuba sanctions violations, you will need the wiring
party to file a Swift Tracer in order to find out where the funds are being blocked.
You may be able to follow this system yourself or contact us and we can refer you to a US attorney who specializes
in releasing blocked wire transfers.
More OFAC Information
Cuban Americans no longer have to apply for a Cuba Family Travel License using the electronic OFAC
Fast Request.
OFAC News and Discussion Forum
Failed "Plan A" Embargo"
In my opinion... For about fifty years the US has maintained a failed "Plan A" embargo thanks to financial
contributions to US politicians from old Cuban exiles who selfishly benefit from USAID grants and other US taxpayer
funds.
For this reason, the entire US population has to suffer restrictions on their freedoms of travel and trade.
So, 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. companies throughout the world are subject to fines
and potential jail time for violating OFAC's Cuba sanctions unless they have a specific license or qualify to
travel to Cuba under a general license.
Rob Sequin - owner of CubaLegalServices.com and publisher of the Havana Journal.
OFAC Practice Attorneys and Consulting
Our Cuba legal referral service can help you with:
-
Compliance reviews
-
Fines and Penalties
-
Travel Service Provider license application
-
Remittance Provider application
-
Carrier Service Provider application
|