The
Office of the Foreign Assests Control
of the US Treasury Department (OFAC)
has implemented a full embargo against
Cuba, pursuant to the Trading With the
Enemy Act and several other laws. OFAC
has published regulations governing
this embargo, which are located at 31
C.F.R. Part 515. OFAC also maintains
a website that provides guidelines on
its licensing requirements. This website
also can be used for information on
current US policies on spending while
in Cuba. This website is located at:
http://www.ustreas.gov/ofac/.
OFAC's regulations restrict travel to
Cuba, by prohibiting U.S. persons from
engaging in transactions relating to
their travel, unless the persons are
licensed by OFAC. There are two types
of licenses that OFAC has established:
general licenses and specific licenses.
A general license constitutes an authorization
that OFAC has stated in its regulations.
A specific license is written authorization
from OFAC authorizing you or your group
to engage in Cuba travel-related transactions.
OFAC has established four general licenses
in its regulations. OFAC also has identified
twelve activities, for which it may
issue specific licenses on a case-by-case
basis. Congress codified these travel
activities into law. For OFAC licensing
information, please refer to the OFAC
website.
The
U.S. State Department also provides
useful information about Cuba on its
website. The website is located at:
http://travel.state.gov/cuba.html.
CUBA
REGULATIONS
Cuban Customs permits each travel
to bring 44 lbs of personal belongings
and 22 lbs of medicine into the island
without any customs fees. Anything
above these amounts is subject to
Cuban Custom fees. While Cuban Customs may
permit 22 pounds of medicine, you
must comply with the U.S. Department
of Commerce requirements on exports
of medicine parcels to Cuba. These
requirements are summarized in DOC
Export Administration Regulations.
The U.S. Department of Commerce (“DOC”) permits licensed travelers to carry baggage that contains only the usual and reasonable kinds and quantities of items for the travelers’ personal use. DOC does not permit licensed travelers to carry items that the travelers intend to leave in Cuba.
DOC currently limits the amount of baggage that seven categories of licensed persons may carry from the United States to Cuba. DOC limits “baggage” to 44 pounds per traveler and does not exempt carry-on baggage from this limitation. Licensed persons subject to this limitation may carry only up to 44 pounds of carry-on and checked baggage. The 44 pound limitation applies to the following categories of licensed persons:
Cuban Americans who are visiting immediate family members one time in three years;
Full-time professionals who are conducting professional research in their professional areas or who are attending certain professional meetings and conferences in Cuba;
Students and full-time employees of accredited U.S. undergraduate and graduate institutions, who are engaging in licensed educational activities in Cuba;
Amateur and semi-professional athletes who are participating in certain athletic competitions and persons who are participating in public performances, non-athletic competitions, or exhibitions in Cuba;
Persons who are engaging in activities of private foundations or nonprofit organizations or research or educational institutes;
Persons who are engaging in export transactions that DOC has authorized by regulation or license (such as agricultural firms); and
Cuban nationals who are returning to Cuba.
Licensed persons who fall within any other category set forth in OFAC’s regulations may carry more than 44 pounds of checked and carry-on baggage. Before you travel to Cuba, we recommend that you verify how much baggage you may take with you to Cuba. ABC Charters cannot permit you to carry more than the allowed amount.
Gift Parcels
Licensed persons may include in their baggage one gift parcel, provided that it complies with DOC’s requirements. The gift parcel is allowed only if the recipient is an immediate family member of the licensed traveler and if the recipient is not a prohibited Cuban Government official or Communist Party official. The contents of the gift parcel are limited to food and medicine items only, and the value of all contents cannot exceed $200. (Food items are not restricted in value.) The gift parcel must be addressed to the recipient. If licensed persons wish to carry to Cuba other items, they must determine in advance of the flight whether DOC requires an export license.
DAY OF TRAVEL
Licensed persons are expected to check-in 3 hours before the charter flight is scheduled to depart. The direct air carrier will close each charter flight 45 minutes prior to departure. If any passenger arrives after the flight has been closed, ABC cannot process the passenger. In this case, the passenger will not be permitted to board the charter flight.
FULL FARE
The airfare for the Cuba charter flights includes all U.S.-government imposed taxes, user fees, September 11th security charges, and passenger facility charges. Specifically, these charges total $49.80 and comprise $15.40 U.S. international arrival tax, $15.40 U.S. international departure tax, $7.00 immigration user fee, $5.00 APHIS user fee, $2.50 September 11th security charge, and $4.50 MIA passenger facility charge.
The airfare does not include Cuban government imposed per passenger departure tax of $25 CUC. Licensed passengers are responsible for paying the Cuban departure tax directly to the Cuban authorities on their departure from Cuba.
The airfare also does not include any excess baggage charges for the six categories of licensed travelers, who are allowed to
carry more than 44 pounds of baggage. ABC will collect excess baggage charges at the airport.
