I went to cuba illegally through canada...am i screwed?

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Tropicales

Odds are nothing will happen. Many go through Canada from the US to Cuba.

Take a look at these links to give you peace of mind and how to go about things:

http://www.cubatravelusa.com/Travel_Tips.htm
http://www.cubatravelusa.com/FAQ.htm

And just make sure that you don't bring over any Cuban souvenirs and that your paper trail is clear.

*edit: I just noticed Beardo's suggestion about pleading the 5th if anyone gives you a hassle (which is still highly unlikely...thousands of Americans travel to Cuba every year via a 3rd country)...anyway, what Beardo mentioned is in detail in the links IN CASE anyone wants to be a stickler and try to push information out of you. You aren't obligated to speak more than necessary. Just remember, travel to Cuba is NOT illegal...it's the spending of money without a licence from the OFAC that's the real issue.
Look at the FAQs link about 'what to say' if you are put in a situation.

But again, you most likely won't have any problems. There's no reason for them to suspect you've been to Cuba if you don't have souvenirs from Cuba, neither plane tickets, receipts, stubs, etc. For all they know, you could have gone anywhere else.

Just try and relax...it's all good.

**2nd edit: take a look at this link:
http://gocanada.about.com/od/canadatravelplanner/qt/drive_border.htm

Up until June 1, 2009, you don't necessarily need your US passport to get back into the US IF you have another equivalent piece of ID.

Again, though, don't sweat it.

BEST ANSWER MAN

Sneek over the border like everyone else. or become Canadain

B G

tell the truth.........Your name will now be on the watch list....as it should be.....

tungstenium1

why did you do it?

anyways you don't need a passport to go to canada (or mexico if you want to go to bangladesh via mexico)so no one should notice

awesome_hawk

fuch yeack

Beardo

The chances that you will have problems are tiny.

In recent years OFAC has only prosecuted about 30 people each year - mostly for cigar violations.

Don't have anything from Cuba in your luggage.

There is a good chance the CBP won't even notice the stamp. If they do, you have the option of claiming the fifth amendment to not self-incriminate.

Can you still cross using other ID ? Fedex your passport back from Canada and cross using your other ID.

Another option - do some more travelling, get a lot more stamps in your passport before you go back !

PS have a look at http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?messageID=12100495?

and

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?messageID=15400338?

Cherie

i have never had immigration look through my passport at any of the stamps in there. you should be fine.

lola

No worries, if your stamp from Canada doesn't say any city name and just Toronto, you can tell at the border that you flew to Vancouver or Montreal by plain and that you went to see some friends that's all; you are not the only one who travels to Cuba through Canada and trust me as long as Cuba doesn't stump your passport you are fine; that's exactly why Cuban Immigration avoid this problem for your people in the USA.

Just go back home, be confident at the border that everything is going to be fine.

Hope everything goes well and I hope that all this politic of fear ends one day between Cuba and the USA.

Good Luck my friend.

tron.quito

Don't worry about it. When I flew back to Antigua from Cuba a couple of months back, they stamped my passport, but I always have the excuse that I came in by my own boat if the U.S. INS ever asked me... which they never do.

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