JFK Assassination Plus General Discussion & Debate > JFK Assassination Plus General Discussion And Debate
Cuba visas in 1963
John Anderson:
Something I'm curious about and can't find the answer anywhere online. Were American citizens able to get a visa to Cuba in 1963?
I don't mean maybe an International business man, just a dude wanting a visa for a holiday or even a residents visa.
Walt Cakebread:
--- Quote from: John Anderson on January 24, 2018, 12:57:27 PM ---Something I'm curious about and can't find the answer anywhere online. Were American citizens able to get a visa to Cuba in 1963?
I don't mean maybe an International business man, just a dude wanting a visa for a holiday or even a residents visa.
--- End quote ---
There were American students who traveled to Cuba in 1963...... I believe they traveled as a group and were escorted...
John Anderson:
So other than an escorted group anyone know of Policies toward Americans wishing to travel to Cuba?
Steve M. Galbraith:
--- Quote from: John Anderson on January 24, 2018, 12:57:27 PM ---Something I'm curious about and can't find the answer anywhere online. Were American citizens able to get a visa to Cuba in 1963?
I don't mean maybe an International business man, just a dude wanting a visa for a holiday or even a residents visa.
--- End quote ---
As I understand it, no, not without State Department approval. Oswald reportedly requested an "in transit" or "transit" visa from the Cubans telling them that he was on his way back to the USSR but that he wanted to visit the island on his way there. I'll guess that that too was illegal but that's just a hunch.
In 1963 it was - and still is - illegal to go to Cuba without first getting US government approval. There were and are multiple exceptions to the law. I'm not sure how many of these below were in effect in 1963 (e.g., "support for the Cuban people" is a pretty big exemption). Certainly some were as some Americans including youth groups traveled there.
From the US Embassy in Cuba's website:
Travel to Cuba for tourist activities remains prohibited by statute. However, the Department of Treasury?s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has issued general licenses for 12 categories of travel. Individuals who meet the regulatory conditions of the general license they seek to travel under do not need to apply for an additional license from OFAC to travel to Cuba. The 12 categories of authorized travel to Cuba are: family visits; official business of the U.S. government, foreign governments, and certain intergovernmental organizations; journalistic activity; professional research and professional meetings; educational activities; religious activities; public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other competitions, and exhibitions; support for the Cuban people; humanitarian projects; activities of private foundations or research or educational institutes; exportation, importation, or transmission of information or informational materials; and certain authorized export transactions.
https://cu.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/traveling-to-cuba/
John Anderson:
Ok thanks for that.
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