CUBA: what to bring for holidays (paper work, funds, gifts)

[thekatocat 0]

Was hoping some CUBA VJers and other experts could chime in.

I'm about to leave for Cuba (to visit fiance (K-1), her daughter (K-2) and family) during the Christmas Holidays and just need to run a couple of issues through folks in the know. Still waiting for NOA2 which is stilll 1 1/2 months away at best. This may be my last trip before projected interview date time-frame.

Wanted to know what would be beneficial to send for this trip in advance of future required A) paperwork, B) funds, fees, travel costs, and C) misc.

A) Already sent a copy of my I-129F packet to her. I know I need the affidavit of support and supporting docs? Anything else I'm forgetting?

B) I know I have to account for the Visa fee (?); Medical exam fee (~$450); Cuban Passport fee (?); Carta Salida fee (?) and one way ticket out of Cuba (?) Any other ancillary costs? If anyone can confirm/fill in the blanks I would appreciate it. Also would I have to double each fee as she will be accompanied by her daughter?

C) I've read that there are some stiff custom taxes applied to "gifts" brought in to Cuba per Aduana guidelines. I heard a rumor (perhaps on another forum) that these were largely unenforced if claimed for "personal use" or exempted during the holiday season? Can some one confirm, or is this really a non-issue and few travellers get stopped.

Thanks in advance. Happy holidays!

[K-9 Visa 12]

Has she received her packet to apply for her K-1 visa? The letter I received after my half of the application was accepted said that the embassy in Havana would mail her packet. 6 weeks later she hadn't received it so on my next trip I planned an extra half-day in Havana and went to the embassy. They gave me her packet and explained that they never mail out the packets, the Cuban (or the fiance) is expected to go to Havana and pick it up. No one told us this.

Once she has her packet it should self-explanatory what she needs to bring to her interview. Your list of fees looks pretty good. You might want to add $200-300 for her to get her university transcript and grades. My wife is still waiting for hers.

As for bringing gifts through the aduana, I have considerable experience here. :-) The one time I flew through Miami directly to Cienfuegos I was pulled aside into the special room for Americanos (I was the only one on the flight) and my bags examined throughly. I had receipts for everything. They let everything under $100 go. I had only one gift over $100 (a sewing machine that cost about $180), and I paid 100% duty on it. Or maybe I paid 100% duty on the $80, I forget.

I've flown into Havana from Cancun a half-dozen times, usually with 30 kg of gifts, and never paid any customs. The 8:30pm flight that arrives around 11pm is the last flight and the aduana want to go home. One time they just waved everyone through. Another time I arrived on the afternoon flight and a zealous aduana tried to examine my bags. After several attempts I got him to understand that a government official was waiting for me with official papers to receive professional equipment my company was licensed to donate to the government. He checked her papers and waved me through, with one bag of professional equipment and one bag of gifts. Another time I'd inadvertently left my bag unlocked in the Cancun airport and it appeared that drugs had been transported in my bag. I called the aduana over immediately after I retrieved my bag. They searched everything carefully for about an hour but didn't ask me to pay any duty. In summary, in the Havana airport late at night you likely won't pay duties. In small airports that only get a couple flights a week, expect more scrutiny.