For those Americans who have waited anxiously for the opportunity to travel to Cuba, the time is near.
Under new U.S. government rules, Cuban-Americans can now visit relatives in Cuba, thanks to new regulations put forth from the Obama Administration. Travel licenses to Cuba for Americans without family in the country isn’t far away.
So what will become of Cuba once its borders are open to the U.S.? The opinions vary. In an impromptu poll hosted by Cheapflights.com on the company Twitter profile, many travelers are concerned that the opening of these travel walls will mean a more ‘commercialized’ Cuba. However, for many Americans with family in Cuba, this new regulation is a blessing.
According to the Miami Herald, U.S. citizens with family in Cuba can book flights to Cuba to visit their families effective immediately. The biggest restriction? Right now, Cuban-Americans with family in Cuba are only permitted travel to Cuba once in a calendar year.
The new U.S. travel rules state that any traveler who has a qualifying relative in Cuba may apply for a general travel license immediately. The 12-month period will go into effect upon return from an authorized trip.
In addition, those who qualify for immediate Cuba travel and want to visit multiple times throughout the same year can apply for specific travel licenses that will be approved on a case-by-case basis.
More information is available from the Treasury department's Office of Foreign Assets Control.
© Cheapflights Ltd Melanie Nayer
