Thinking Cuba ? Think Again !

[Captain Mark]

Another nicety with clearing into Cuba is that they will ask you if you want your passport stamped... if you are an American, I would HIGHLY recommend no.

Mark

[sluissa]

Only one of many reasons I'm seriously looking into moving to another country and becoming a citizen there. Got any room for one more in Canada? Maybe Australia or New Zealand?

Other than the suspect propoganda I hear about Cuba from the government, I've never heard anything worse about Cuba specifically that can't be said for many other nations which I would be free to go to.

I don't even know anymore if it's the fact that I want to go to Cuba, or the fact that I just don't like being told I can't go there. I've always hated it when people told me I'm not supposed to do something for silly or arbitrary reasons.

[hellosailor]

Sluissa, unless you declare yourself to be a refugee, it may not be swo easy to get into those places. The Canadian immigration exams are on the web, if you are employed and a college graduate you will *just* make the 65-point minimum required for entry. Marrying a Canadian and having a job waiting for you there will help if you need more points.

Very few countries allow immigration the way the US does.

[Boracay]

The original settlers in Australia were convicts, transported from England for mostly minor offences.

Mostly Australia is very welcoming to skilled immigrants[url=www.immi.gov.au/skilled/general-skilled-migration/index.htm[/url].

As you are under 30 you could be entitled to a short term working visa (make sure you get it before you come if you are intending to work).

[sluissa]

(political stuff edited out)

I'll just say I realize there are hoops to jump through for anything major like what I suggest, but I still believe it to be worth it.

[Boracay]

The original settlers in Australia were convicts, transported from England for mostly minor offences.

Mostly Australia is very welcoming to skilled immigrants.

[44'cruisingcat]

Sluissa, if you have a trade you would find Australia quite welcoming. We are experiencing a serious shortage of skilled tradesmen here ATM.

But it's a long sail to Cuba from here.

[sluissa]

I'll just have to see where things take me, but I will keep Australia in mind.

I'm sorry for pulling things sort of off topic here.

[dana-tenacity]

Same goes for NZ, new employment figures out today show lowest in 27 years. If you can do something you're probably OK. we know a number of cruisers and ex cruisers who have stayed here.

[GordMay]

The Office Foreign Assets Control has updated information on the Cuba Sanctions, which is now available at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, here:
U.S. Treasury - Sanctions Program Summaries - Cuba

[Chief Engineer]

Don't even try getting into Canada if you have an arrest record.....Things that are considered misdemeanors here are felonies up there.

I know a couple of guys that got DUIs 25 years ago and Canada won't let them in.....
Between the two of them they have been sober close to 45 years.

But they gladly take our deserters and draft dodgers.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Chief Engineer

Don't even try getting into Canada if you have an arrest record.....Things that are considered misdemeanors here are felonies up there.
I know a couple of guys that got DUIs 25 years ago and Canada won't let them in.....
Between the two of them they have been sober close to 45 years.
But they gladly take our deserters and draft dodgers.

Actually, you know a couple of guys who just didn’t try to get in to Canada legally.

There are several ways individuals can overcome criminal inadmissibility (to Canada), including:
* Deemed rehabilitation at a Canadian port of entry;
* Streamlined rehabilitation at a Canadian port of entry;
* Approval of rehabilitation through a Canadian Consulate in the United States; and
* A Temporary Resident Permit.

Both Canadian and American border officials have a wide discretion as to whom they will permit into their respective countries.

For more information on offenses that prohibit entry to Canada, goto the Canadian Consulate's Web site at:
geo.international.gc.ca/can-am/seattle/visas/inadmissible-en.asp
Consulate General Seattle :: Visas and Immigration :: Persons who are inadmissible to Canada

We need to be periodically reminded that every issue has at least two sides to it; where my hero of conscience (war resistor) might be your draft dodger, my freedom fighter, your insurgent ...

[Chief Engineer]

Oh Pshaw.....

The bottom line is that Canada is very restrictive

Have you ever triedgoing thru the bureacracy...prolly not.

[GordMay]

About 96 million people cross Canada's border every year (nearly 3 times our population).
Would you like us to routinely admit un-rehabilitated criminals* to our country?
* As defined under our laws.

As a Canadian, I expect that my experience with Canadian bureaucracy might be more extensive than yours (as an American). Obviously, your friends didn't try going through the bureaucracy.

As I previously indicated, there are established procedures for Overcoming Criminal Inadmissibility to Canada, including getting a pardon from your own bureaucracy.
Goto:
Overcoming criminal inadmissibility

[Chief Engineer]

"Applications may take over a year to process" (from the website)