Cuban cigars okay to bring home now?

[Leinad79]

Now that restrictions between the U.S. and Cuba are eased a bit in regards to trade, are Cuban cigars purchased from the islands okay to bring back (without having to "hide" it)?

 

I found online that the maximum Americans will be able to import will be $400 worth of goods, including no more than $100 worth of tobacco products. Will that restriction apply to importing Cuban cigars from the Bahamas for example?

 

Anyone have some recent experience with customs officials regarding this?

[Shmoo here]

Now that restrictions between the U.S. and Cuba are eased a bit in regards to trade, are Cuban cigars purchased from the islands okay to bring back (without having to "hide" it)?

 

I found online that the maximum Americans will be able to import will be $400 worth of goods, including no more than $100 worth of tobacco products. Will that restriction apply to importing Cuban cigars from the Bahamas for example?

 

Anyone have some recent experience with customs officials regarding this?

 

I believe that you can only bring Cuban cigars back if they are actually purchased in Cuba. And there's a $100 limit on them.

[Cruzaholic41]

No. Only those licensed travelers to Cuba are allowed to import $100 worth of tobacco and alcohol. This does not apply to people on cruises.

[boscobeans]

I believe that you can only bring Cuban cigars back if they are actually purchased in Cuba. And there's a $100 limit on them.

 

Legal travel to Cuba for U.S. citizens no longer requires a formal prior license as it did up until the relaxation of the travel requirements.

 

There are 12 types of reasons that one can now visit the forbidden zone. They are basically, cultural, humanitarian or educational and are similar to what were required before, however the visitor just has to check off one of the reasons on a form and keep some type of records showing why they went and what they spent. Prior to this the visitor had to apply for and show reasons for travel BEFORE getting a license to travel.

 

Any airline can now fly in and out of Cuba ( NO MENTION OF LEGAL CRUISE TRAVEL IN THE NEW REGULATIONS ).

 

If you fulfill the requirements you are then allowed to bring back some alcohol and cigars, but with the spending limits it wont be more than a few cigars and a bottle of Havana Club.

 

 

Maybe someday?

 

bosco

[Folk Singer]

I believe that you can only bring Cuban cigars back if they are actually purchased in Cuba. And there's a $100 limit on them.

 

That is my understanding as well.

[Husky61]

Now that restrictions between the U.S. and Cuba are eased a bit in regards to trade, are Cuban cigars purchased from the islands okay to bring back (without having to "hide" it)?

 

I found online that the maximum Americans will be able to import will be $400 worth of goods, including no more than $100 worth of tobacco products. Will that restriction apply to importing Cuban cigars from the Bahamas for example?

 

Anyone have some recent experience with customs officials regarding this?

 

Now that you have received different answers, why don't you call Customs and ask them? They are the experts.:)

[boscobeans]

No Cuban products such as cigars or alcohol can be LEGALLY brought into the United States,

UNLESS they are purchased while LEGALLY visiting Cuba under the new relaxed visitation regulations

 

There are 12 types of reasons that one can now LEGALLY visit the forbidden zone. They are basically, cultural, humanitarian or educational and are similar to what were required before, however the visitor just has to check off one of the reasons on a form and keep some type of records showing why they went and what they spent. Prior to this the visitor had to apply for and show reasons for travel BEFORE getting a license to travel.

 

If you fulfill the requirements you are then allowed to bring back some alcohol and cigars, but with the spending limits it wont be more than a few cigars and a bottle of Havana Club.

 

Travel to Cuba by U.S. citizens by any other means, such as flying or cruising to Cuba from NON-USA airports or ports, is NOT LEGAL.

 

Bringing back Cuban products purchased in countries where there are no regulations, such as the British or Dutch Virgin Islands is also NOT LEGAL.

 

People can and do ignore the law by travelling to Cuba from Canada or other venues or by simply smuggling in Cuban products, however it is still NOT LEGAL.

 

Only travelers who visit under the new regulations can bring back these products. Those who do this must check off a document showing their reasons (one of the 12 approved) and have documentation proving they were there for one of those reasons, but they no longer need a license prior to their visit.

 

Nothing has really changed except that there is no longer any need to apply for and get a license from the Office of Foreign Asset Control PRIOR TO VISITING Cuba.

 

I hope this helps.

 

bosco

Edited January 22, 2015 by boscobeans

[Leinad79]

Thanks for everyone's help.

[iheartbda]

Boscobeans, your post needs to be made a sticky.:)

So many people are jumping to conclusions without fully understanding exactly what is going on and not just with cigars. ;) Any changes are not going to be made overnight.

[boscobeans]

Boscobeans, your post needs to be made a sticky.:)

So many people are jumping to conclusions without fully understanding exactly what is going on and not just with cigars. ;) Any changes are not going to be made overnight.

 

So true, my main fear is that the relaxation of regulations will be mostly used by U.S. businesses and not tourists. Big business will use everything they can muster to get in first so there is a Mickey D's or a Diamonds International on every corner of what should be a place that uses tourist dollars to foster private entrepreneurial growth leading to a hopefully slow and careful restoration of Cuban architecture and culture. Money flowing into the private sector will be more helpful in building better relations with Cuba than a group of high rise resorts licensed by the Cuban government.

 

bosco

[Aquahound]

So true, my main fear is that the relaxation of regulations will be mostly used by U.S. businesses and not tourists. Big business will use everything they can muster to get in first so there is a Mickey D's or a Diamonds International on every corner of what should be a place that uses tourist dollars to foster private entrepreneurial growth leading to a hopefully slow and careful restoration of Cuban architecture and culture. Money flowing into the private sector will be more helpful in building better relations with Cuba than a group of high rise resorts licensed by the Cuban government.

 

It's very unfortunate, but down the road (way down the road) when American based cruises do start porting in Cuba, that's exactly what's going to happen. Within 2 blocks of the port, there will be DI, Del Sol, Margaritaville, Senor Frogs, and all the other venues that mysteriously are filled with cruise passengers.

[boscobeans]

It's very unfortunate, but down the road (way down the road) when American based cruises do start porting in Cuba, that's exactly what's going to happen. Within 2 blocks of the port, there will be DI, Del Sol, Margaritaville, Senor Frogs, and all the other venues that mysteriously are filled with cruise passengers.

 

Yuup.

 

I'd rather spend my tourist dollars at some locally owned bars, cigar shops, cafes, craft shops, taxis, music and dance venues than at any one of the places you mentioned. Alas, not to be.

 

This whole change looks like it was well lobbied in favor of big profit and not really for those interested in doing something truly unique and exciting that might lead to more friendly and humanitarian relations with our neighbor to the South.

 

(Leaving politics out of the discussion) What has been done so far has really not accomplished anything for the last 50 years except to allow repressive outside influences to hold a heavy hand over the Cuban people and government.

 

bosco

Edited January 22, 2015 by boscobeans