US expected to ease Esta ban for Cuba visitors

[El Presidente]

............that well thought out policy lasted just over a month. Well done morons 

 

 

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/us-cuba-esta-traveller-trump-b2221169.html

 

But the State Department insists: “Any visit to an SST on or after March 1, 2011, even if the country was designated yesterday, renders the applicant ineligible for Esta.”

As a result, some passengers have been turned away from departure airports because they are regarded by the airlines as inadmissible to the US.

Now, though, The Independent understands that US Customs & Border Protection (CBP) is likely to announce this month – possibly within a matter of days – that visits in the decade before 2021 will no longer disqualify a traveller from using the Esta scheme.

 

US government sources have said that discussions in Washington are at an advanced stage and that CBP is pressing for the 12 January 2021 date to be used. While negotiations continue, front-line staff are taking “a relaxed approach” to British visitors who were in Cuba before 2021.

The former president’s aim was to cause maximum damage to the Communist republic by deterring visitors. But it is also having an impact on US tourism, with some visitors choosing to visit Cuba in preference to America.

[Russell]

I’d rather visit Cuba than the US and I live here

[UK2Cuba]

Looks like I won't be visiting the US for a while then 😆

[bishop532]

On 11/9/2022 at 5:55 PM, Russell said:

I’d rather visit Cuba than the US and I live here

Right?

[JohnnyO]

The Esta has also been a problem for Cuban nationals that hold a second passport (Spain/Italy etc) and try to enter the US on a direct flight. Airlines are not boarding some passengers on those flights and they are having to travel through a third country (Cayman, Bahamas) to enter the US. John 

[El Presidente]

2 hours ago, JohnnyO said:

The Esta has also been a problem for Cuban nationals that hold a second passport (Spain/Italy etc) and try to enter the US on a direct flight. Airlines are not boarding some passengers on those flights and they are having to travel through a third country (Cayman, Bahamas) to enter the US. John 

Rumour floating around is cuba will be removed from the Sponsors of Terrorism List over the next few months. 

Deportation changes (US to Cuba) have been agreed upon. last week.  The Dems have worked out that Florida is a lost cause for now.  There are a few deals being done to the benefit of the CBP. There would have been a price to pay.