Cuba customs stamping passports?

[AlohaStyle]

A BOTL was just recently talking about Cuba stamping passports as people come through customs rather than having the loose travel visa that they normally stamp. This person last arrived on March 26th and customs told him it started the day before.

Does anyone have more information about this and if it will be a permanent thing? If so, US citizens should take this into consideration before planning any travels...

I heard this could affect other country's citizens too that have any immediate travel plans to the US... having a Cuba stamped passport could cause some issues. I haven't looked into that more though to know if that's the case.

With all that said though, US Customs didn't give one look at my passport stamps coming home, but it can happen.

[PapaDisco]

I don't know about Cuba specifically, but other questionable countries get the hairy eyeball from INS on a random basis. It is very hit or miss, but over the years when I, or my compadres, have been returning from Myanmar, any of the "'Stans", some parts of Africa, southeast asia (Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia), etc. we sometimes get the once over (as in extra questions). It's tailed off quite a bit in the last couple of years, and I can't remember any extra scrutiny at all in the last year (and my travel hasn't changed).

[Sutton]

You will be told to go to the room(airport ),pretty much every time . If you have a US passport , you can also ask not to have it stamped.

[Duxnutz]

Or just have multiple passports! Muahaha

[El Presidente]

I heard this could affect other country's citizens too that have any immediate travel plans to the US... having a Cuba stamped passport could cause some issues. I haven't looked into that more though to know if that's the case.

Generally when transiting through the US on the way back from Cuba they will ask you where you have been. I always say mexico....works 50% of the time albeit the other 50% they will say "How long in Mexico" and I will say 2 hours transit from Cuba.

Most US Border protection officials are fine, they smile, sometimes ask if I have any Cuban product, I say yes "but maaaaaaaate, we are fighting together in Afghanistan/Iraq....cut me a break". They are mostly good. + I tell them the guy behind me is anti US and carrying a load of cigars and rum.

Ken.

[Duxnutz]

After my experience last week, just tell them the guy behind you has a banana in their bag!

[MPS]

Had mine stamped last month for the first time. All legal though so I didn't mind.

[JHands]

That could put a monkey wrench in my plans for future travel

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Bartolomeo]

Putting this to the test in May

Bart

[Lant63]

Putting this to the test in May

Bart

Let me know how this goes! I hope to return in August!

[Rushman]

Happened to a friend of mine two weeks ago. I'm heading over Easter weekend so I will find out first hand. I'm not worried about it.

[puromaniac]

So, something like a million Canucks a year head to the Island. And many then travel to the U.S. Surely it won't be an issue? Otherwise hard to contemplate the alternatives.

[CUBANO]

My family is headed to Holguin, Cuba on Friday will post if their passports get stamped.

[PuffDaddie]

Cubano tell your family to bring back some Havana club and a box of cigars El rey del mundo infants for me.

[CUBANO]

Cubano tell your family to bring back some Havana club and a box of cigars El rey del mundo infants for me.

That is the plan. Lets see what happens.

[Duxnutz]

Any updates?

[PaulP]

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g147271-i387-k7360213-Cuba_stamping_passports-Havana_Cuba.html

[Rushman]

I heard two weeks ago that some passports were not stamped. I'm flying there Friday and will report back.

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[santela]

I was planning on going last month but changed my mind due to this. I have an US passport.

So now what is the easiest way for an American dude to get a second passport from another country? And please don't tell me to get a Citizens of the World passport, that **** is useless...

[Fuzz AI]

I was planning on going last month but changed my mind due to this. I have an US passport.

So now what is the easiest way for an American dude to get a second passport from another country? And please don't tell me to get a Citizens of the World passport, that **** is useless...

If you are of Italian, Greek, Irish or Lithuanian descent, you can claim citizenship by descent. Of course, if you are Greek and get citizenship, you will be obligated to do national service if aged between 18-45.

[Maplepie]

Jus sanguis, if I can remember.

Claim that for multiple countries to acquire those passports. (ones Chris listed above me)

Plus an EU passport is never a bad thing to have!

Sent by the Enigma on BlackBerry.

[Fuzz AI]

Several countries also give passports for a small monetary donation, usually in the realm of $200k-$500k.

[Ryan]

In some countries it is possible to have 2 concurrent valid passports, issued by the same country.

I have friends who travelled with work a lot. Visa applications to some countries could take a month, with the passport gone for that time. Travel in the meantime would require a second passport.

They're not easy to get, need some proof and I'm not sure if the US will provide the service.

Easier than paying Bulgaria, Malta or Ireland $1m for citizenship, although Ireland takes 5 years.

Easiest of all though is to ask the immigration official in Cuba not to use the stamp.

[Bartolomeo]

I was planning on going last month but changed my mind due to this. I have an US passport.

So now what is the easiest way for an American dude to get a second passport from another country? And please don't tell me to get a Citizens of the World passport, that **** is useless...

Just ask politely for them not to stamp it, it worked for me in May and others here recently

A cuban stamp in your passport is not the end of the world

[Ryan]

Here you go. You might need to convince them of your need.

http://www.uspassporthelpguide.com/second-passport/