Need Help

Y

Yuyi

Registered Users (C)
Guys,

I am Cuban. I applied for my citizenship 2 years ago. Recently my grandmother was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer and I had to travel in several occasions to Cuba through a Grand Cayman.

I am not that confident now about what to say in the interview. I have six recorded re-entries from Grand Cayman in the last three months with obvious signs of transit stamps. All trips have been short all from 2 to 4 days top. As we all know it is illegal to travel to Cuba, but it is also unconstitutional to ban anyone in US to travel.

I am in the middle of this dilemma and my interview will be in 15 days. What should I do?

All your opinions will be much appreciated

Thank you all!
 
Is there any record for your travel to Cuba?
I've been to Cuba as a LPR (something I only realized afterwards was technically illegal), but have no plans on mentioning it at my interview since there's no record of it anywhere (Cuba did not stamp passport).
 
Bob,

Thanks for your response. I feel you on that! there is no stamps on my passport from Cuba, but I have stamps in my passport that I was leaving in transit Grand Cayman Miami. that shows everywhere. I don't want to assume I was in Cuba in my interview, because I really think this will be the end of the story. Trust me man, this has nothing to do with good moral, Most of cubans that travel to the island, travel in desperate situations like mine. One of my biggest goals is my US citizenship I am really hectic about saying I visited Cuba.

I thought about not bringing my passport to the interview and not declare the trips I did since they were not reflecting in my N-400, but I don't know what Im talking about anymore.

What do you think?

Thanks again!
 
There's probably only one thing worse than admitting that you've traveled to Cuba, and thats lying about it to obtain an immigration benefit.

Best case scenario is you don't get asked where you went after arriving in Grand Cayman. If the IO does ask, you pretty much have to tell the truth, otherwise you can earn yourself a denial, a permanent bar to naturalization and a one way ticket back to Cuba.
 
The travel to Cuba restriction is about spending money in Cuba as per the letter of the law. So if a person could go to Cuba and spend no money then I think the interpretation can be made that the law was not broken!!

I don't know how this can help with multiple visits though.
 
Yes, it's true that going to Cuba is illegal unless a prior permission it taken from US govt. (Dept. of State). However, I PERSONALLY don't know if this restriction is only for US citizens or for everyone else who lives in US (such as LPRs and temporary visa holders). So, you might like to check on that before assuming something else.

One of the reporters (a US citizen) from New York Times is under trial as of now because he went to Cuba as undercover to cover a story on "Cuba's under Fidel Castro". On this forum, 3 yrs or so ago, I read 3 cases similiar to this. One got denied because the person did disclose on his application about visiting to Cuba. The second one got approved because officer did not ask nor knew anything about that person to be in Cuba. In third case, officer found out that the lady from Cuba went to Cuba to visit her family. Officer didn't approve nor denied her application; rather continued until supervisory review is completed. That lady never came back on this forum to update us.
 
This is crazy, you guys should read all these and learn more since you have done it.

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1097.html

Specific Licenses to Visit Immediate Family Members in Cuba

OFAC will issue specific licenses authorizing travel-related transactions incident to one visit lasting no more than 14 days to immediate family members who are nationals of Cuba per three-year period. For those who emigrated to the United States from Cuba, and have not since that time visited a family member in Cuba, the three-year period will be counted from the date they left Cuba. For all others, the three-year period will be counted from the date they last left Cuba pursuant to the pre-existing family visit general license, or from the date their family visit specific license was issued. Travelers wishing to visit an immediate family member in Cuba who is authorized to be in Cuba, but is not a national of Cuba, may be granted a specific license in exigent circumstances provided that the U.S. Interests Section in Havana concurs in the issuance of such a license.



ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS/TRAVEL TRANSACTION LIMITATIONS: The Cuban Assets Control Regulations are enforced by the U.S. Treasury Department and affect all U.S. citizens and permanent residents wherever they are located, all people and organizations physically in the United States, and all branches and subsidiaries of U.S. organizations throughout the world. The Regulations require that persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction be licensed to engage in any travel-related transactions pursuant to travel to, from, and within Cuba. Transactions related to tourist travel are not licensable. This restriction includes tourist travel to Cuba from or through a third country such as Mexico or Canada. U.S. law enforcement authorities have increased enforcement of these regulations at U.S. airports and pre-clearance facilities in third countries. Travelers who fail to comply with Department of Treasury regulations could face civil penalties and criminal prosecution upon return to the United States.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
The best thing to do is to declare all travel to Cuba -- that is much better than lying about it. Remember that every time you get on a plane the paper trail is incredible.
 
boatbod said:
There's probably only one thing worse than admitting that you've traveled to Cuba, and thats lying about it to obtain an immigration benefit.
Click to expand...

del0175 said:
The best thing to do is to declare all travel to Cuba -- that is much better than lying about it. Remember that every time you get on a plane the paper trail is incredible.
Click to expand...

No one ever suggested the OP lie during the interview. If the IO specifically asks if you've been to Cuba, then of course you should answer truthfully. In the OP's case the answer should take a humanitarian tone as he was visiting his ailing mother, not going to travel and spend money.
In my case there's no reason why the IO would ask me if I have been to Cuba, but for the OP being Cuban the question certainly may come up.
 
Bobsmyth said:
No one ever suggested the OP lie during the interview. If the IO specifically asks if you've been to Cuba, then of course you should answer truthfully. In the OP's case the answer should take a humanitarian tone as he was visiting his ailing mother, not going to travel and spend money.
In my case there's no reason why the IO would ask me if I have been to Cuba, but for the OP being Cuban the question certainly may come up.
Click to expand...

That is true, but as department of state website s/he needed to ask for permision. But you are right, S/he needs to give a tone of urgent probelm and family issues which had no time to ask for permision.
 
Bobsmyth said:
No one ever suggested the OP lie during the interview.
Click to expand...

Maybe I misunderstood the OP's intentions?

Yuyi said:
I thought about not bringing my passport to the interview and not declare the trips I did since they were not reflecting in my N-400, but I don't know what Im talking about anymore.
Click to expand...

...or maybe not.

Either way, it wouldn't be smart to lie about these trips.
 
boatbod said:
Maybe I misunderstood the OP's intentions?
Click to expand...


niceuser said:
If this is not a suggestion then what is it?
:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Not mentioning something is not the same as lying. Purposely withholding information to deceive is. Again, if the IO specificaly asks about Cuba , then the OP should be truthful. The answer should be based on humanitarian grounds.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Bob,

Thanks for defending my approach. I am not trying to lie to the officer; I am just shitting in my pants to lose the chance of becoming a citizen of this country. You can't consider permissions and laws when it comes to family emergencies and desperate situations. My only intention is to make it better and try to find a logical excuse for my trips to the island and not be denied. It is inhuman that on stupid political basis Cubans are banned to visit relatives in the island. We love these people! They grow us up! Parents, sons, brothers and sisters. It is very painful for any Cuban not to be able to visit their close relatives period. Cubans do not have other ways; we can't meet in Mexico or Haiti.

I do appreciate all your opinions….. I hope everything goes well in the interview and like you said “I’m not asked if I visited Cuba”
 
My dear friend Niceuser,

I already used my specific license to travel to Cuba and I presented my problem to OFAC and very cold they denied my petition because I traveled with a specific license already.

Before I decided to move forward with the trips I understood the meaning and the consequences, but I still didn't care and I don't regret what I did. Unfortunately I am caught in a difficult scenario. I just pray for the best.....

Most people that travel to Cuba are subject to OFAC sanctions as we all know we are not allowed to travel, but most people get away with it in the re-entry to US soil. I have never been sanctioned and I have always said the truth to the immigration officers at the port of entry. There are no records other than your word of traveling to the island. Only the suspicious transit stamps from Grand Cayman and the fact that you are Cuban.

I find it very hard for me to lie to an authority, but this could be the only chance I have to be a citizen and I didn't commit a crime my dear friends. I think the most honest human in my situation would reconsider hiding this information.

Thank you,
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Yuyi said:
You can't consider permissions and laws when it comes to family emergencies and desperate situations.
Click to expand...

That's fair enough, but you can't then turn around and have your cake and eat it too by requesting exemption from the consequences of violating those laws. You may want to consider waiting five years after your last trip before applying for citizenship.

Lying to get your citizenship is an especially poor idea.
 
I agree my dear friend. I wish I would have known such thing would happen; I wouldn't have applied for it, but this just took place and I didn't have a choice. I know this is crazy and the reason I asked the question is to get your opinions or maybe there was something else I could do.

I have proof I didn't spend any money in Cuba, because my father sponsored all my trips, but I don't know this will be enough for the Interviewer. I will keep you all posted. Hopefully there will not be problems.

Thank you!
 
Nice User,

That's a question we all ask. Why make us suffer so much? We are not even a threat to US; however, the president signs every year to keep the embargo for the island and who are the affected as usual the people not the politicians. Cuba is handled like any other terrorist country as: Iran or Korea; same crap and restrictions. Hopefully Obama will be the next president and will lift some of these non sense restrictions and stop this pain.
 
Yuyi, has US customs and border patrol ever asked you what countries you visited during your previous entries from Grand Cayman?
If you told them you traveled to Isla de Juvidad would they know the difference?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
The ironic (good) thing about the trade embargo on Cuba is that it keeps out narrow minded US citizens from turning it into a capitalistic state with Wal-Mart and McDonald's at every corner.
When I mention to some US citizens about my vacation to Cuba, the first thing they asks is "Cuba?? Why the hell would you want to travel there?..they are communists!!" Goes to show you how uninformed and shut out some people have become to justify their so called "freedom" from a government that dictates where you can and cannot travel to.
 
Yuyi said:
Bob,

You can't consider permissions and laws when it comes to family emergencies and desperate situations.
Click to expand...

Wrong. Laws/rules are made to follow them all the time than waving them off when it comes to family emergencies and desperate situations or anything else or when it would be convient to your situation. If everyone would follow your rational on laws/rules then they will all break all kinds of laws when it comes "family emergencies" and "desperate situations" which would include robbing the bank to feed themselves up since it would be a desperate situation to survive, or killing a US citizen oversees and use his/her passport to get into the US under false pretense, or making all kind of lies at US embassies at abroad to get US visa to meet their family over here, lying on green card/naturalization to get immigration benefit so that they could make money here and live here for their "desperate situations", or breaking traffic laws, etc...etc....I can go on and on but nothing could justify breaking the laws/rules. Period.

I know thousands of people who have had family members over here who were either dying because of some major medical sickness or have had some major family/medical emergencies, yet still US embassies denied visa to their family members. Why? Because US embassies followed immigration laws/rules which made those family members at abroad to not be eligible to obtain a US visa despite of those emergency situations. Also, a few years back a 49 yrs old man in Philippines was put on death for raping his 12 yrs daugther for 2yrs. In his justification, he said that he was "so desperate" to get laid but couldn't find any other female particulary where he was living...in a very remote farm land....hundreds of miles away from any human. He asked the President of his country to commute his death penalty but President said law is law and nobody is above the law....

So, don't try to justify breaking a law in the name of family emergeny or desperate situation.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top