515.505—Certain Cuban nationals unblocked; transactions of certain other Cuban nationals lawfully present in the United States; transactions with Cuban nationals who have taken up permanent res

(a) General license unblocking certain persons. The following persons are licensed as unblocked nationals, as that term is defined in § 515.307 of this part :

(1) Any individual who:

(i) Has taken up residence in the United States;

(ii) Is a United States citizen, a permanent resident alien of the United States, or has applied to become a permanent resident alien of the United States and has an adjustment of status application pending; and

(iii) Is not a specially designated national; and

(2) Any entity that otherwise would be a national of Cuba solely because of the interest therein of an individual licensed in paragraph (a)(1) of this section as an unblocked national.

Code of Federal Regulations

Note to paragraph (a): An individual unblocked pursuant to this paragraph does not become blocked again merely by leaving the United States. An individual unblocked national remains unblocked unless and until the individual thereafter becomes domiciled in or a permanent resident of Cuba, meets any of the criteria in § 515.302(a)(2) through (5), or is a “specially designated national” of Cuba, as that term is defined in § 515.306 of this part.

(b) Specific licenses unblocking certain individuals who have taken up permanent residence outside of Cuba. Individual nationals of Cuba who have taken up permanent residence outside of Cuba may apply to the Office of Foreign Assets Control to be specifically licensed as unblocked nationals. Applications for specific licenses under this paragraph should include copies of at least two documents indicating permanent residence issued by the government authorities of the new country of permanent residence, such as a passport, voter registration card, permanent resident alien card, or national identity card. In cases where two of such documents are not available, other information will be considered, such as evidence that the individual has been resident for the past two years without interruption in a single country outside of Cuba or evidence that the individual does not intend to, or would not be welcome to, return to Cuba.

(c) General license authorizing certain transactions of individuals who are lawfully present in the United States in a non-visitor status. An individual national of Cuba who is lawfully present in the United States in a non-visitor status is authorized to engage in all transactions available to an unblocked national, as that term is defined in § 515.307 of this part, except that all property in which the individual has an interest that was blocked pursuant to this part prior to the date on which the individual became lawfully present in the United States in a non-visitor status shall remain blocked. Such an individual is further authorized to withdraw a total amount not to exceed $250 in any one calendar month from any blocked accounts held in the individual's name. For the purposes of this section, the term “non-visitor status” does not apply to an individual who is present in the United States on a non-immigrant visa valid only for a specified period of time.

(d) General license authorizing certain transactions with individuals who have taken up permanent residence outside of Cuba. Persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction are authorized to engage in any transaction with an individual national of Cuba who has taken up permanent residence outside of Cuba as if the individual national of Cuba were an unblocked national, as defined in § 515.307 of this part, except that all property in which the individual national of Cuba has an interest that was blocked pursuant to this part prior to the later of the date on which the individual took up permanent residence outside of Cuba or January 28, 2011 shall remain blocked. In determining whether an individual national of Cuba has taken up permanent residence outside of Cuba, persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction must obtain from the individual copies of at least two documents indicating permanent residence issued by the government authorities of the new country of permanent residence, such as a passport, voter registration card, permanent resident alien card, or national identity card.

(e) The licensing of any person pursuant to this section shall not suspend the requirements of any section of this chapter relating to the maintenance or production of records.

(f) The following examples illustrate the application of this section:

Code of Federal Regulations

(1) Example 1: A national of Cuba with a blocked U.S. bank account receives a U.S immigration visa. Upon arrival in the United States, she is issued a permanent resident alien card and thereby is licensed as an unblocked national pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section. She can apply immediately to OFAC for a specific license to have her bank account unblocked.

Code of Federal Regulations

(2) Example 2: A national of Cuba with a blocked U.S. bank account arrives in the United States without a valid visa but is allowed by the U.S. Government to remain in the United States in a non-visitor status. One year later, he applies for and receives permanent resident alien status. From the date he was permitted to remain in the United States in a non-visitor status until the date he applies for permanent resident alien status, he qualifies for the general license contained in paragraph (c) of this section. During this time he can engage in all transactions as if he is an unblocked national, with the exception that he cannot gain access to his blocked bank account other than to withdraw $250 each month. Beginning at the point in time when he applies for permanent resident alien status, he is licensed as an unblocked national pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section. At this time, he can apply to OFAC for a specific license to have his blocked bank account unblocked.

Code of Federal Regulations

(3) Example 3: A national of Cuba with a blocked U.S. bank account arrives in the United States on a temporary visa valid for six months. After her visa expires, she remains in the United States for an additional six months and then applies to become a permanent resident alien. She has an adjustment of status application pending until she receives permanent resident alien status one year later. From her arrival in the United States until her application for permanent resident alien status, she does not qualify for any of the authorizations contained in this section. Instead, she is authorized by § 515.571 only to engage in transactions ordinarily incident to her travel and maintenance in the United States and to withdraw $250 each month from her blocked account to cover her living expenses. Beginning with her application to become a permanent resident alien, she is licensed as an unblocked national pursuant to paragraph (a) of this section. At this time, she can apply to OFAC for a specific license to have her bank account unblocked.

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Code of Federal Regulations

(4) Example 4: An individual national of Cuba who has taken up permanent residence outside of Cuba wishes to open a bank account at a branch of a U.S. bank in Spain and then withdraw a portion of her previously blocked funds held by the same U.S. bank's New York branch. The individual provides the Spanish branch with a copy of her third-country passport and voter registration card demonstrating her permanent residence status in the third country. The Spanish branch may open an account for the individual and provide her with banking services. The New York branch may also handle any transactions related to this new account processed through the United States but may not unblock her funds that had been blocked prior to the later of the date on which the individual took up permanent residence outside of Cuba or January 28, 2011. Those funds remain blocked unless and until the individual is licensed as an unblocked national pursuant to paragraph (a) or (b) of this section or the funds are otherwise unblocked by a separate Office of Foreign Assets Control authorization.

Code of Federal Regulations

Note to § 515.505 : See § 515.571 for the authorization of certain limited transactions incident to travel to, from, and within the United States by Cuban nationals who enter the United States on a non-immigrant visa or other non-immigrant travel authorization issued by the State Department.

Code of Federal Regulations

[68 FR 14145, Mar. 24, 2003, as amended at 74 FR 46004, Sept. 8, 2009; 76 FR 5074, Jan. 28, 2011]

CFR

515.505—Certain Cuban nationals unblocked; transactions of certain other Cuban nationals lawfully present in the United States; transactions with Cuban nationals who have taken up permanent res

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