Traveling to Cuba and its impact on ESTA applications (page 2 of 3)

Hi Brigitte, I simply changed my passport because it was about to expire. And despite what’s said here and there, I know very well that all my past trips can still be seen by airport authorities. For info, it was Biden who removed Cuba from the list, and Trump who put it back on. Trump isn’t eternal—neither in his life nor in government—so I’ll be patient and wait. PS: I’m not receiving email notifications for replies even though I’ve set everything up correctly and checked my spam folder. A bit complicated, this forum! 🙂

Whether Cuba is back on the okay list or not with the criminal record, it doesn’t change much.

I think it’s best to avoid lying for a trip to the USA. They’re really not messing around.

In any case, your situation is a matter for the embassy.

It’s up to you to decide if this destination is worth the cost (the visa is just a drop in the bucket compared to everything else—the US is one of the most expensive places).

For my part, I’d say no. It’s not the most memorable destination I’ve been to, far from it.

Hi,

I know full well that all my past trips can be seen by airport authorities.

Not the airport authorities. Possibly, potentially, the U.S. authorities in general—if they have a good reason to bother. As I mentioned, this isn’t a measure designed for efficiency; it’s about crafting a narrative and making a statement.

Michel

so I’ll be wise and wait.

Especially since there’s an alternative, and with the "deal king" running the country, ten receipts are enough to get an ESTA without any conditions. 😉

@Biggie

I understand your frustration, but trying every possible way to bypass a law isn’t an honorable approach....

It’s not often we’re reminded of this fundamental principle of living in society. 🙂

Whether Cuba is now okay or not with a criminal record doesn’t change much.

I think it’s best to avoid lying for a trip to the US. They’re really not messing around.

Your case will anyway be handled by the embassy.

It’s up to you to decide if this destination is worth the cost (the visa is just a drop in the bucket compared to the rest—US travel is among the most expensive).

For my part, I’d say no. It’s not the most memorable destination I’ve been to, far from it.

Hi, I think it’s possible to go without necessarily paying full price. Between Airbnbs, local transport, and youth hostels—which I’d personally prioritize for the social aspect and the prices—including excursions that’ll be cheaper through their network. Best regards.

Between Airbnbs, local transport, and youth hostels—which I personally prefer for the social, friendly vibe

Airbnbs aren’t allowed everywhere, and the ones that exist aren’t cheap. A bunk in a crappy dorm in New York costs nearly 60 €. Local transport, sure—but only in cities...

including prices for excursions, which will be cheaper through their network.

A guided tour is always pricier than doing it solo. Whether you book it at a hostel or elsewhere. And let’s be real—not everyone loves the herd mentality.

No matter if you’re traveling on a small, medium, or big budget, the U.S. will always be more expensive than Indonesia, Morocco, or Bolivia under the same conditions.

And it’s not just accommodation that’s pricey—food is too. Even a burger.

This country has the worst value for money of any I’ve visited.

Well, you didn’t like this country, that’s all (but to put everyone off like that). In my opinion, it won’t work ;)

Hi Brigitte;

I understand your frustration, but trying by all means to bypass a law isn’t an honorable approach....

I was going to refrain from responding to avoid upsetting anyone, but still, I’ll try to do so with tact and nuance.

We shouldn’t confuse common social rules—fundamental principles that indeed allow us to live more or less peacefully in society—with mere regulations, which are far removed from natural law.

The world is built on positioning, on deals with regulations that we respect to varying degrees, on laws we bend to our advantage, and which we consciously push to the limit. Every industrialist, every merchant, every taxpayer—even the state itself, especially when it’s an employer—walks this tightrope of regulations, knowingly accepting the risks involved.

In this case, the ESTA issue after traveling to Cuba—it’s clear to everyone that this isn’t a natural law or an essential one. It’s a regulation, and a politically motivated one at that. Jean Luc, in my opinion, is missing the point when he calls it a "fundamental principle of life in society"—it’s nothing more than a secondary political measure. You even acknowledge this yourself by suggesting we wait for the law to disappear, admitting that it’s just an artificial rule without solid grounding.

I’m not advising anyone on what to do. Everyone is free and of age, capable of weighing the stakes and making their own choices. We gather information, assess the situation, decide, act, and take responsibility. When traveling, we’re often a little stressed, apprehensive, or even overestimate the difficulties. I do too, quite often.

In the U.S., of course, people bend laws and rules, walk the fine line between legality and risk—in business, politics, and economics. To the point of even triggering cascading wars based on a famous lie, whose author, rest their soul, was never punished as far as I know.

Since you have interests in and with the U.S., you tend to idealize them, mixing fear and admiration. It seems to me we can take a more detached view. But I know it’s easier for me than for you, and I acknowledge that.

Michel

hi there, what you call travel stress, I personally call excitement. And for me, it starts with researching the country I’m dreaming of online—this eager, discovery-filled state only grows stronger on the way to the airport 🤓

Personally, I only book the first night, maybe the second at most. Finding accommodations on the spot, meeting friendly staff and owners, and of course checking out the rooms beforehand are all part of the thrilling discoveries (since I’m pretty picky about hospitality, the actual place often comes second for me).

Best regards.

Hello,

And for me, it starts with searching for the desired country online, where this eager state of discovery intensifies on the way to the airport

No, I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about those more or less imagined reasons, those imaginary problems that pop up a few weeks or days before and make you reconsider everything—sometimes even cancel.

quite demanding when it comes to hospitality, often the accommodation is secondary for me

For me, it’s the opposite.

Michel

Hello,

And for me, it starts with researching the desired country online, where this eager state of discovery intensifies on the way to the airport

No, I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about those more or less fantasized reasons, imaginary problems that pop up a few weeks or days before and push you to rethink everything—sometimes even to cancel.

quite demanding about hospitality—often, the accommodation is secondary for me

For me, it’s the opposite.

Michel

Re- Personally, I’ve solved the cancellation issue by never taking out travel insurance—no overlap with the one from my bank card, which I only use for online purchases for my home, that’s it). No refundable flight tickets, airport parking, car rentals on-site, etc. Nothing refundable, so I just go (usually 10–20 days after my bookings). It’s all good 😉

Prices in the USA don't care what some Attila thinks of the country.

It's an unchangeable fact, like not having traveled to Cuba or not having a criminal record, if you want to get an ESTA.

Prices in the USA couldn't care less about what some Attila thinks of the country.

It's an intangible fact, like not having traveled to Cuba or not having a criminal record to get an ESTA.

Hello, as mentioned earlier, I’ll wait until another, less dictat... president removes Cuba from the list. And I’ll go to the USA even if the country isn’t perfect either. Best regards.

And what about the criminal record?

And what about the criminal record?

My criminal record, which you’ve mentioned several times, won’t be an issue for the ESTA once Cuba is removed from the problematic list. Best regards,

It was you who brought up this topic. Far more important for U.S. authorities than the previous trip to Cuba.

You’re the one who brought this up. Far more important for U.S. authorities than the previous trip to Cuba.

yeah yeah, “brought it up,” but not *harped on* like we say back home 😄

You asked for information, so here’s my answer.

Whether you like my response or not, it’s still accurate. 🙂

Hi Agnès,

I don’t understand why you’re spreading this story about criminal records, along with so many others. The U.S. doesn’t check French criminal records on their own because, fortunately, they don’t have the right to do so. They *can* request an excerpt—if, for example, you’re applying for a visa—but even then, it’s not the full record, just section 3.

Michel

I’m not spreading rumors. There’s a question about criminal records in the ESTA form. And since this question is asked in the simplified procedure, it must also be asked at the embassy.

As for the actual verification of answers, I don’t know.

Lying being the biggest sin in Uncle Sam’s country, everyone will decide for themselves, but it must be really complicated to do face-to-face.

In the past, every passenger underwent a full interrogation at the airport before departure.

Now, it’s upon arrival. Or not.

If I had something to hide, I’d prefer the old system. They’d deny you access to the plane, you’d go back home, and that was that.