~July 2007 K-1 Filers~

[Ovaltine Jenkins 5]

Concerning the prison, it really is. And the worst thing is I keep forgetting about it. Now when we were in Key West last week, this is what happened. I like to explore, cuz that´s my nature. So I see the sign "Cuba 90 miles". So I ask Scott how it is for an American to go to Cuba and he says he thinks it´s not really that restricted, just thinks we can´t transport any goods. So I say it would be cool if we went on a boat trip to Cuba And then I realize, oh wait a minute...we didn´t take Scott´s passport. Oh well. And then I realize, oh wait a minute, I can´t leave USA!

[*julez* 124]

Marta, you can leave at any time you want....its the coming back that will be a problem!!!

As for Cuba, visiting it not as easy as getting on a boat for US citizens:

Most everybody in the world, EXCEPT Cuban-born-non-Cuban citizens, and EVERYBODY under United States jurisdiction, can travel to and from Cuba freely. If you are a Cuban-born non-Cuban citizen, you will need to apply for a visa at a Cuban Embassy. For all other North American and EEC citizens, traveling to Cuba as short-term visitors, you need a passport and the tourist cards that is issued with your plane ticket to Cuba. Cuba welcomes non-Cuban born U.S. tourists with no red tape.

For everybody under United States jurisdiction (if you are a U.S. resident, regardless of your passport) there is one additional level of complexity. The U.S. has a partial embargo of trade with Cuba. The embargo is enforced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) as part of their work as a lead agency against terrorism (in 2005, 1/6th of their anti-terrorism work is focused on going after Americans who visit Cuba.) In conjunction with this, OFAC is increasingly limiting people's opportunities to learn about Cuba. For the official word on US policies go to http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement/o...cuba/cuba.shtml.

[Ovaltine Jenkins 5]

I know I can leave But I wanna be able to come back I don´t wanna go through months of K3 and then have to go through the whole AOS again

[Ovaltine Jenkins 5]

So Scott is non-Cuban born U.S. tourist right? So he is welcome in Cuba?

[*julez* 124]

The US prohibits your Average Joe USC from traveling to Cuba. There is a lot of long boring info in the link I provided above!!

[StillThePrettiest 3]

I REALLY want to go to Cuba too

have wanted to for ages... and here we are so close, and can't go

bloody US

[*julez* 124]

I REALLY want to go to Cuba too

have wanted to for ages... and here we are so close, and can't go

bloody US

I think YOU could still go!

I keep hoping with the younger Castro now in power that these bans will be lifted sooner, rather than later.

here is a link to an interesting news article on the issue:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2002/02/12/usat-cuba.htm

Edited June 10, 2008 by *julez*

[StillThePrettiest 3]

wow, yes; very interesting! I didn't know they were actually FINING people

but I thought that now I'm a resident of the US I'd come under the same laws...?

[Ovaltine Jenkins 5]

But would anyone find out if you traveled there as an Australian citizen, which you are? I dunno I mean, if an Australian citizen flies to Cuba from Mexico, how does the U.S. Treasure department get to those information?

So according to the article it´s not illegal to travel there, it´s only illegal to spend money there. So how about going there and then begging for money in the streets and then only spending those money (if someone ever gives you any money there)? Then what can they fine you for?

[StillThePrettiest 3]

somehow, with what I know of the US government, that wouldn't stop them

[*julez* 124]

wow, yes; very interesting! I didn't know they were actually FINING people

but I thought that now I'm a resident of the US I'd come under the same laws...?

Though you currently reside here, you are not yet an LPR. Although, I doubt you want to go through any further separation from Dave and visa nonsense just so you can visit Cuba!

What if you went in on an Aus passport, then went to another country and returned via that other country and presented your green card upon re-entry to the US, which is the way I understand it to work???

I'm sure its not OK, but I like to think about conundrums like this!

Anyway, the fining is crazy!

Edited June 10, 2008 by *julez*

[StillThePrettiest 3]

yeah, I wondered about that too... but why can't US citizens go that way as well? if they travel from some third country, and Cuba doesn't stamp passports...?

in other news, I have my doors open because it's so lovely and fresh here after a rain storm, and some lovely neighbours came to check I was ok

that's the SECOND set of neighbours I've met through, literally, open doors; the same thing happened a week or so ago

guess it's not that common here

[Ovaltine Jenkins 5]

You open the doors and there you go Visitors

[StillThePrettiest 3]

yes, and me sitting with my post-root-canal mouth in an almost empty lounge room, on an ENORMOUS ugly couch, typing on my laptop

I wonder what they thought of me...

[VisaJourneyLady 33]

Am I right in thinking that the safest way to go is to wait till you get citizenship, and then go on your other passport? They surely would never know then?

wow, StP, it's day for you now? Weird how this funny world works. Silly things I really should be used to by now, like time difference, still blow my mind.

When I was looking for a dress for out ceremony, I actually had to force myself not to automatically gravitating towards the white stuff. Went for red in the end. But gold sounds lovely