Peace Works Travel Blog

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Office of Foreign Asset Control: Cuba Regulations

Frequently Asked Questions

Why the new regulations on Cuba?

President Trump believes that economic isolation of state-funded businesses in Cuba will put pressure on the Cuban government to democratize the island. The regulations prohibit transactions with state-run businesses.

How are these regulations different from the Obama administration’s laws?

The proposed regulations restrict individual people-to-people travel from the United States to Cuba. Individual people-to-people travel (i) does not involve academic study pursuant to a degree program; and (ii) does not take place under the auspices of an organization that is subject to U.S. jurisdiction that sponsors such exchanges to promote people-to-people contact. The President instructed Treasury to issue regulations that will end individual people-to-people travel. The announced changes do not take effect until the new regulations are issued.” (Source: Office of Foreign Assets Control)

Will this affect my tour to Cuba?

No, the new regulations only limit individual people-to-people travel. Our tours are classified as group people-to-people travel, therefore are not restricted by the new regulations.

I have already booked a trip to Cuba, can I still go?

Yes. Essentially the new regulations have added another layer of bureaucracy to the travel process from the United States to Cuba.

If you have booked with Peace Works Travel your travel is considered to be group people-to people travel therefore you are not affected by these proposed regulations.

If you have not booked with Peace Works Travel but have already completed at least one travel related transaction (such as booking a flight) as of June 16, 2017 your travel will be authorized even if it is scheduled after the new regulations take effect.

When will the new regulations take effect?

OFAC expects to issue the new regulations in the coming months and will not take effect until at least 30 days after the new regulations are published by OFAC.

Is this a travel ban?

No. There have been no changes to the regulations that permit flights or cruises from the United States to Cuba.

How will the ban affect travelers?

This will only affect individual people to people travel which is classified as educational travel that: (i) does not involve academic study pursuant to a degree program; and (ii) does not take place under the auspices of an organization that is subject to U.S. jurisdiction that sponsors such exchanges to promote people-to-people contact. The President instructed Treasury to issue regulations that will end individual people-to-people travel. The announced changes do not take effect until the new regulations are issued. (source: Office of Foreign Assets Control)

*Updated 6/20/2017