CFR

515.571—Certain transactions incident to travel to, from, and within the United States by Cuban nationals.

(a) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, the following transactions by or on behalf of a Cuban national who enters the United States on a non-immigrant visa or other non-immigrant travel authorization issued by the State Department are authorized:

(1) All transactions ordinarily incident to travel between the United States and Cuba, including the importation into the United States of accompanied baggage for personal use;

(2) All transactions ordinarily incident to travel and maintenance within the United States, including the payment of living expenses and the acquisition of goods for personal consumption in the United States;

(3) All transactions on behalf of aircraft or vessels incident to non-scheduled flights or voyages between the United States and Cuba, provided that the carrier used has a carrier service provider license issued pursuant to § 515.572. This paragraph does not authorize the carriage of any merchandise into the United States except accompanied baggage; and

(4) Normal banking transactions involving foreign currency drafts, travelers' checks, or other instruments negotiated incident to travel in the United States by any person under the authority of this section.

(5) All transactions ordinarily incident to the activities for which a visa or other travel authorization was issued.

(i) This paragraph (a)(5) does not authorize receipt of compensation in excess of amounts covering living expenses and the acquisition of goods for personal consumption. See § 515.565(a)(5) of this part for an authorization of payments to certain Cuban scholars of stipends or salaries that exceed this limit.

(ii) Examples of transactions authorized by this paragraph (a)(5) include: the payment of tuition to a U.S. educational institution by a national of Cuba issued a student visa; the payment of compensation covering only living expenses and the purchase of goods for personal consumption to a national of Cuba issued a performance-related visa; and the rental of a stage by a Cuban group issued a performance visa.

(b) Payments and transfers of credit in the United States from blocked accounts in domestic banking institutions held in the name of a Cuban national who enters the United States on a visa or other travel authorization issued by the State Department to or upon the order of such Cuban national are authorized provided that:

(1) Such payments and transfers of credit are made only for the living, traveling, and similar personal expenses in the United States of such Cuban national or his or her family;

(2) The total of all such payments and transfers of credit made under this section from the accounts of such Cuban national do not exceed $250 in any one calendar month; and

(3) No payment or transfer is made from a blocked account in which a specially designated national has an interest.

(c) This section does not authorize any transfer of property to Cuba, or, except as otherwise authorized in paragraph (b) of this section, any debit to a blocked account.

Code of Federal Regulations

Note to § 515.571 : For the authorization of certain transactions by Cuban nationals who become U.S. citizens, apply for or receive U.S. permanent resident alien status, or are lawfully present in the United States in a non-visitor status, see § 515.505 of this part.

Code of Federal Regulations

[64 FR 25819, May 13, 1999, as amended at 68 FR 14148, Mar. 24, 2003; 69 FR 33773, June 16, 2004; 76 FR 5077, Jan. 28, 2011]

Tips