515.564—Professional research and professional meetings in Cuba.

(a) General license— (1) Professional research. The travel-related transactions set forth in § 515.560(c) and such additional transactions that are directly incident to professional research by full-time professionals who travel to Cuba to conduct professional research in their professional areas are authorized, provided that:

(i) The research is of a noncommercial, academic nature;

(ii) The research comprises a full work schedule in Cuba;

(iii) The research has a substantial likelihood of public dissemination; and

(iv) The research does not fall within the categories of activities described in paragraph (c), (d), or (e) of this section.

Code of Federal Regulations

Note to paragraph (a)(1): This general license does not authorize as professional research any travel-related transactions incident to attendance at professional meetings or conferences. Such transactions must either qualify under the general license set forth in paragraph (a)(2) of this section or be the subject of a request for a specific license under paragraph (b) of this section.

(2) Professional meetings organized by an international professional organization. The travel-related transactions set forth in § 515.560(c) and such additional transactions as are directly incident to travel to Cuba by full-time professionals to attend professional meetings or conferences in Cuba organized by an international professional organization, institution, or association that regularly sponsors meetings or conferences in other countries are authorized, provided that:

(i) The international professional organization, institution, or association is not headquartered in the United States unless that organization, institution, or association has been specifically licensed to sponsor the meeting in Cuba;

(ii) The purpose of the meeting or conference is not the promotion of tourism in Cuba or other commercial activities involving Cuba that are inconsistent with this part; and

(iii) The meeting or conference is not intended primarily for the purpose of fostering production of any biotechnological products.

(3) Professional meetings for commercial telecommunications transactions. The travel-related transactions set forth in § 515.560(c) and additional transactions directly incident to participation in professional meetings for the commercial marketing of, sales negotiation for, or performance under contracts for the provision of the telecommunications services, or the establishment of facilities to provide telecommunications services, authorized by paragraphs (b), (c), or (d)(1) of § 515.542 of this part by a telecommunications services provider that is a person subject to U.S. jurisdiction are authorized, provided that:

(i) The traveler is regularly employed by a telecommunications services provider that is a person subject to U.S. jurisdiction or by an entity duly appointed to represent such a provider; and

(ii) The traveler's schedule of activities does not include free time, travel, or recreation in excess of that consistent with a full work schedule.

Code of Federal Regulations

Note to paragraph (a): See §§ 501.601 and 501.602 of this chapter for applicable recordkeeping and reporting requirements. Exportation of equipment and other items, including the transfer of technology or software to foreign persons (“deemed exportation”) and items not eligible for Department of Commerce GFT or BAG License Exceptions, 15 CFR 740.12 and 740.14 , may require separate authorization by the Department of Commerce.

(b) Specific licensing. Specific licenses may be issued on a case-by-case basis authorizing the travel-related transactions set forth in § 515.560(c) and other transactions that are directly incident to professional research and professional meetings that do not qualify for the general license in paragraph (a) of this section. Specific licenses may be issued pursuant to this section authorizing transactions for multiple trips to Cuba over an extended period of time by applicants demonstrating a significant record of research. Specific licenses will not be issued for travel-related transactions for purposes of attendance at meetings or conferences in Cuba organized by the Cuban government where such meetings or conferences could be intended primarily for the purpose of fostering the production of any biotechnological products.

(c) Categories of activities that do not qualify for the general license in paragraph (a) of this section and for which the specific licenses described in paragraph (b) of this section will not be issued include recreational travel; tourist travel; travel in pursuit of a hobby; research for personal satisfaction only; and any travel for an authorized professional research purpose if the schedule of activities includes free time, travel, or recreation in excess of that consistent with a full work schedule of professional research or attendance at professional meetings or conferences.

(d) An entire group does not qualify for the general license in paragraph (a) of this section and will not be issued a specific license under paragraph (b) of this section merely because some members of the group could qualify individually for such licenses.

Code of Federal Regulations

Example 1 to paragraph (d): A musicologist travels to Cuba to do research on Cuban music pursuant to the general license for professional researchers set forth in paragraph (a) of this section. Others who are simply interested in music but who do not research music as part of their careers may not engage in travel-related transactions with the musicologist in reliance on this general license. For example, an art historian who plays in the same band with the musicologist would not qualify as a professional researcher of Cuban music for purposes of this general license.

Code of Federal Regulations

Code of Federal Regulations 105

Example 2 to paragraph (d): A specific license issued pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section authorizing travel-related transactions by a fish biologist who travels to Cuba to engage in professional research does not authorize transactions by other persons who might travel with the fish biologist but whose principal purpose in travel is to engage in recreational or trophy fishing. The fact that such persons may engage in certain activities with or under the direction of the professional fish biologist, such as measuring or recording facts about their catch, does not bring these individuals' activities within the scope of professional research and similar activities.

(e) A person will not qualify as engaging in professional research merely because that person is a professional who plans to travel to Cuba.

Code of Federal Regulations

Example 1 to paragraph (e): A professor of history interested in traveling to Cuba for the principal purpose of learning or practicing Spanish or attending general purpose lectures devoted to Cuban culture and contemporary life does not qualify for the general license in paragraph (a) of this section or for a specific license issued pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section.

Code of Federal Regulations

Example 2 to paragraph (e): A professional photographer who wishes to take photographs in Cuba that will become the basis for creating post cards, paintings, and other secondary products or that merely document the photographer's travel does not qualify for the general license in paragraph (a) of this section or for a specific license issued pursuant to paragraph (b) of this section.

Code of Federal Regulations

[64 FR 25815, May 13, 1999, as amended at 69 FR 33772, June 16, 2004; 74 FR 46006, Sept. 8, 2009]