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

Hi, it's obvious that the United States has a record that goes way beyond a paper passport. In this digital age, everything is recorded electronically—nowadays, there isn’t even a stamp when you go to the U.S. anymore... So, those who say you can just change your passport are really talking nonsense. Obviously, you shouldn’t take any risks because if you lie on an ESTA, not only will you be denied entry, but you’ll also face a lifetime ban from U.S. territory.

A new passport doesn’t change anything. Everything is computerized... Besides, passports don’t even get stamped anymore...

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

It’s an unchangeable 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 president—one less of a dictator—removes Cuba from the list. And I’ll go to the USA even if the country doesn’t have much to offer some people. Best regards.

You’ll be waiting a long time. By the way, Democrat Biden hasn’t changed the rules during his term.

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

It's an unchangeable 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 dictatorial president... removes Cuba from the list. And I'll go to the USA even if the country isn't perfect. Best regards.

You'll be waiting a long time. By the way, Democrat Biden didn't change the rules during his term.

Hello. Sorry, but that's not true—it was actually Biden who removed Cuba from the list, and Trump put it back. Did you check your facts before writing that? https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2025/01/14/joe-biden-retire-cuba-de-la-liste-noire-des-etats-soutenant-le-terrorisme-pour-encourager-des-discussions_6498224_3210.html https://www.humanite.fr/monde/blocus-de-cuba/donald-trump-revient-sur-la-recente-decision-de-joe-biden-et-ordonne-le-retour-de-cuba-sur-la-liste-des-etats-soutenant-le-terrorisme

Hello,

Hello, it’s obvious that the United States tracks travel well beyond a paper passport. In the digital age, everything is recorded electronically—nowadays, there isn’t even a stamp when you enter the U.S....

As for entries and exits to the U.S., undoubtedly yes. But imagining that the officer sees all your travels around the world from the past ten years pop up on their screen is a fantasy. Could they investigate it if there were valid reasons justifying the effort? Yes, with partial access to PNRs, etc. But what counts as "valid reasons"? A law created for domestic political messaging, which—like so often—only really scares those who have nothing to hide, like a perfectly legitimate trip.

Michel

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

It’s an intangible fact, like not having traveled to Cuba or having a criminal record when applying for an ESTA.

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

You’ll be waiting a long time. By the way, Democrat Biden didn’t change the rules during his term.

Hi. Sorry, but that’s not true—it was actually Biden who removed Cuba from the list, and Trump put it back. Did you check your facts before posting? https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2025/01/14/joe-biden-retire-cuba-de-la-liste-noire-des-etats-soutenant-le-terrorisme-pour-encourager-des-discussions_6498224_3210.html https://www.humanite.fr/monde/blocus-de-cuba/donald-trump-revient-sur-la-recente-decision-de-joe-biden-et-ordonne-le-retour-de-cuba-sur-la-liste-des-etats-soutenant-le-terrorisme

My mistake. Given how little I care about Cuba... I do like your journalistic references, though.

Hello,

Hello, it’s obvious that the United States keeps records far beyond a paper passport. In the digital age, everything is recorded electronically—nowadays, there isn’t even a stamp when you enter the U.S...

As for entries and exits to the U.S., no doubt, yes. But imagining that the officer sees all your travels around the world from the past ten years on their screen is a fantasy. That they *could* investigate it, with valid reasons justifying the effort—yes, with possible partial access to PNRs, etc. But what "valid reasons"? A law created for domestic political messaging, which, as usual, only impresses those who have nothing to hide—a perfectly legitimate trip.

Michel

And yet, this *does* exist for real.

Hello,

Hello, it’s obvious that the United States leaves a trace far beyond a paper passport. In this digital age, everything is recorded electronically—nowadays, there’s not even a stamp when you go to the United States...

As for entries and exits in the U.S., undoubtedly yes. But imagining that the officer sees all your travels around the world from the past ten years displayed on their screen is a fantasy. Could they investigate it, with valid reasons that justify the effort? Yes, with partial access to PNRs, etc. But what are these "valid reasons"? A law created for domestic political messaging, which, as usual, only impresses those who have nothing to hide—just a perfectly legitimate trip.

Michel

Hello. As you say: "undoubtedly yes," which means you don’t actually know. I canceled my ESTA after reading comments in another forum from a woman who constantly shuttles to NY, which shows on her passport. Well, during her last trip less than a month ago, she was still questioned in depth about her job in France and asked things like "Do you like your job?" while being stared right in the eyes to detect any discomfort or lies!!! Best regards.

Yes, it’s possible that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has had access to the PNR of a European passenger since 2011, following an EU/USA agreement: it’s called the "US/EU PNR agreement."

My bad. Given how interested I am in Cuba... I really like your journalistic references...

Hello! Well, why reply if Cuba doesn’t interest you? 🤪 As for my so-called journalistic references, I just took the first ones that came up on Google—I wasn’t going to spend my Sunday doing research just to prove you didn’t do any before posting your wrong answer 🤪 Cheers!!!

Yes, it’s possible that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has had access to the PNR of a European passenger since 2011, following an EU/USA agreement: it’s called the "US/EU PNR agreement"

And not just the US, either. 😉

Thanks for the details.

My mistake. Given my interest in Cuba... I really like your journalistic references...

Hello, well! Why reply if Cuba doesn’t interest you? 🤪

It’s not Cuba that interests me, but your writing and your perspectives.

Do you live in the Cévennes?

Prices in the USA don't care 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 obtain an ESTA.

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

You'll be waiting a long time. By the way, Democrat Biden didn't change the rules during his term.

Hello. Sorry, but that's not true—it was actually Biden who removed Cuba from the list, and Trump put it back. Did you check your facts before writing? https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2025/01/14/joe-biden-retire-cuba-de-la-liste-noire-des-etats-soutenant-le-terrorisme-pour-encourager-des-discussions_6498224_3210.html https://www.humanite.fr/monde/blocus-de-cuba/donald-trump-revient-sur-la-recente-decision-de-joe-biden-et-ordonne-le-retour-de-cuba-sur-la-liste-des-etats-soutenant-le-terrorisme

Sure, Biden took Cuba off the blacklist, but only 6 days before the end of his term (even though he had 4 years to do it!) knowing full well that Trump would put it back right away. So he didn't do it out of conviction—just for the political gesture 😉

I canceled my ESTA after reading comments in the other forum from a woman who constantly shuttles to NY, which shows on her passport.

What do you mean, you canceled your ESTA??? I thought you didn’t have one!

Yes, I live in the Cévennes, where the locals consider me a foreigner (and I agree with them), since I’m Camarguais through and through—at least four generations in my family! As for the old Cévenols, I’m happy to “steal” their cep mushrooms, chanterelles, and sheep’s foot mushrooms because they can’t digest them anymore 😄

I paid for my ESTA and didn’t notice I didn’t check the box about my trip to Cuba in the questionnaire. It was only after talking to a regular NY traveler that I let my ESTA go. Anyway, it was too late because my top travel priority—both in the U.S. and elsewhere—is the temperature, which I adapt to with climate change (and NY when it’s hot doesn’t mess around. And when it’s freezing, brrr! 😅)

Hi,

"Sans doute" means there’s no doubt. So, it’s a yes, and I know it. I could’ve written "certes".

Michel

Good evening,

Without wanting to dampen your enthusiasm—which I can’t quite explain but can certainly sense—this is a sort of legal framework where it’s possible to act while respecting the limits:

The US-EU PNR agreement can only be used for specific, well-defined purposes: "to prevent, detect, investigate, and prosecute (i) terrorism and related crimes and (ii) other serious transnational crimes (punishable by ≥ 3 years), plus, on a case-by-case basis, protecting vital interests or enforcing a judicial decision. Any other purpose is excluded by the purpose limitation clause (Art. 4)." "What’s not allowed as such: the general application of immigration law (e.g., campaigns to identify overstayers, routine visa checks, admission statistics) isn’t a listed purpose under the agreement. PNR data can’t be used primarily for this kind of ‘ordinary’ administrative policing." "In short: the agreement confines PNR use to a strict criminal-security framework. It excludes commercial uses and routine immigration control as primary purposes; it allows targeted screening at borders and incidental use of offenses discovered during compliant use." Source: ChatGPT’s summary of the official EUR-Lex site (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/agree_internation/2012/472/oj/eng)

That said, this agreement raised a lot of concerns and reservations in Europe. Would it be renewed today if the question came up? Not so sure.

Michel

Good evening,

Without wanting to dampen your enthusiasm, which I don’t quite understand but can guess,

Michel

Didn’t quite get your point. Sorry.

So the orange thief from the vendor is gonna end up in Guantanamo if she tries to cross? 🤪 Just asking to pack my toothbrush and stuff in my bag just in case 😂