“Can I go to the USA after a trip to Cuba?”

question from valentine

“Can I go to the USA after a trip to Cuba?

Apparently, and even with an Esta, you must apply for a visa at the American consulate”.

Dear Valentine,

First of all, be aware that nationals of around forty countries, including France, are exempt from visa requirements for tourist (or business) trips of less than 90 days in the United States.

As a reminder, it is necessary to request an electronic travel authorization (Esta) before departure.

This request must be made exclusively on the official website of the American authorities, esta.cbp.dhs.gov.

Valid for two years from the date of authorization or until your passport expires, its price is 21 US dollars.

But it gets more complicated for French people who have traveled to Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen since March 1, 2011 and all people who have dual nationality (Iran, Iraq, Sudan or Syria).

But also for French nationals, having traveled or resided in Cuba!

All these passengers now require a visa to travel to the United States.

To be clearer, if you have a valid Esta and you have made a stay, whatever its duration, in Cuba after January 12, 2021, this authorization is immediately canceled when you wish to enter the UNITED STATES.

It is mandatory to apply

BEFORE traveling to the country of Uncle Sam. And this, even if an Esta has been previously accepted by the American authorities.

And be careful, know that you will also no longer be eligible to obtain an Esta if you apply for a new one.

Read alsoThese stamps on your passport could ruin your next vacation

Which visa for the USA after a trip to Cuba?

The Biden administration has again reignited tensions between the two countries by including Cuba among the list of countries that "support terrorism".

This decision was made on January 12, 2021, which ranks Cuba on the same level as countries such as North Korea, Syria and Iran.

Therefore, strict measures have been taken for nationals or people who have stayed on the island, resulting in the cancellation of their electronic travel authorization.

What makes access to the United States so special is that there are more than a dozen different visas depending on the reason for your stay in the territory.

If you have the Esta and entry is prohibited following a visit to Cuba, it is because the reason for your trip must be tourism or business.

In these specific cases, you must apply for a B visa, in particular the B-1 visa for business travel and the

.

Where to apply for a visa and what are the steps?

The visa application is mainly done online, but you will also need to schedule an interview at the premises of the United States Embassy in your country of residence.

The first step is to go to the official website of the United States Embassy of the country where you live.

Third-party sites may offer the service of producing your visa.

However, it is advisable to only go to the official site to avoid any scams.

Be careful, the course is tedious!

You must meet certain criteria to hope to obtain your

, such as being financially able to support yourself during your stay in the United States, to pass an

, ​​to gather all the required

(including a letter detailing the reason for your trip and your

) and pay the costs relating to this visa application.

For a tourist B-2, the

.

These fees are to be paid when you submit your application online.

There you go, you know everything.

For more information and to start your visa application, visit Global Support Services (GSS).

Finally, last advice, be aware that the processing time can last from a few weeks to a few months.

So don't do it at the last moment!

More info on the website Embassy and consulates of the United States of America in France

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