Quote:
Originally Posted by sailr69
You have nothing to worry about if you stop in Cuba, being Canadian you have every right to go there. even Americans can go there legally. The laws governing Americans are: you can go to Cuba but you cannot spend US currency there. you can spend all the Canadian currency you want however.
I live on the border with Canada and I have friends who go to cuba often. they drive to Windsor airport and fly air Canada to havana. they exchange
US dollars to Canadien dollars before they go. US government does not like that but they do nothing about it. I guess they don't know what to do about it.
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Sorry to dispute what you say but I don't think this is exactly correct.
First, there are a number of documented incidents of foreign registered boats being harassed by US
Customs and Immigration, especially in south
Florida.
Second, US restrictions do not specify whether you spend US dollars, Canadian dollars, Euros or any other currency. Yes the ban is based on financial restrictions instead of an outright ban on travel to Cuba but the government is well aware of the supposed loophole about "not spending money" or "not spending US dollars". If you want to read in more detail go to this thread
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...s-v-89490.html and read post #6 that links to numerous previous discussions on the issue which will then link to the US government web sites and
regulations.
Bottom line, you can go there and probably get away with it but you will be violating the ban and could be fined or prosecuted.
Here is a quote from the US Department of State web site. Note that it says "transactions" which does not restrict in what currency.
ENTRY / EXIT REQUIREMENTS, TRAVEL TRANSACTION LIMITATIONS: The U.S. Department of the Treasury enforces the Cuban Assets Control
Regulations, which apply to all U.S. citizens and permanent residents wherever they are located, all people and organizations physically located in the United States, and branches and subsidiaries of U.S. organizations throughout the world. The regulations require that persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction be licensed in order to engage in
any travel-related transactions pursuant to travel to, from, and within Cuba. Transactions related to travel for tourist activities are not licensable.
This restriction also prohibits tourist travel to Cuba from or through a third country such as Mexico or Canada. U.S. law enforcement authorities enforce these regulations at U.S. airports and pre-clearance facilities in third countries. Travelers who fail to comply with Department of the Treasury regulations could face civil penalties and criminal prosecution upon return to the United States.