New travel regulations opening educational travel to Cuba

28 January

To whom it may concern:

On January 14th, President Obama announced new categories of legal travel to Cuba and further details were published yesterday in the Federal Register. They go into effect immediately.

Educational Activities in Cuba
-          Accredited schools and universities will no longer need to apply for a Specific License for travel by their students, faculty and staff (including but not limited to adjunct faculty and part-time staff) to Cuba. Under a General License ( no application necessary) the following travel is now permitted:

o   Participation in a structured educational program as part of a course offered for credit by the sponsoring U.S. institution. Participants must carry a letter on official letterhead, signed by a designated representative of the institution, stating that the travel is part of a structured educational program of the sponsoring institution and that the individual is a member of the faculty or staff or a student currently enrolled in a graduate or undergraduate degree program and that the study in Cuba will be accepted for credit toward that degree. There is no longer any minimum length of time which must be spent in Cuba.  As long as a student is receiving credit towards his/her degree at his/her own academic institution, he/she may now participate in a study program arranged by another school, provided that institution offers credit to its own students for that course.

o   Non-commercial academic research specifically related to Cuba and for the purpose of obtaining a graduate degree. The graduate student must carry a letter on official letterhead, signed by a designated representative of the institution, stating that the student is currently enrolled in a graduate degree program and that the research in Cuba will be accepted for credit toward that degree.

o   Participation in a formal course of study at a Cuban academic institution provided the formal course of study in Cuba will be accepted for credit toward the student’s graduate or undergraduate degree. The student must carry a letter on official letterhead, signed by a designated representative of the institution, stating that the student is currently enrolled in a graduate or undergraduate degree program and that the study in Cuba will be accepted for credit toward that degree. There is no longer any minimum length of time which must be spent in Cuba.

o   Teaching at a Cuban academic institution by an individual regularly employed in a teaching capacity at the sponsoring U.S. academic institution, provided the teaching activities are related to an academic program at the Cuban institution and provided the duration of the teaching will be no shorter than 10 weeks. The teacher must carry a letter on official letterhead, signed by a designated representative of the institution, stating that the individual is regularly employed in a teaching capacity at that institution.

o   Sponsorship, including the payment of a stipend or salary, of a Cuban scholar to teach or engage in other scholarly activity at the sponsoring U.S. academic institution. It is still necessary to obtain a State Department visa for entry into the U.S.

o   The organization of, and preparation for, all the activities described above by faculty and staff of the sponsoring U.S. academic institution (including but not limited to adjunct faculty and part-time staff). Individuals must carry a letter on official letterhead, signed by a designated representative of the institution, stating that the individual is a member of the faculty or staff of the institution and is traveling to engage in the organization of, and preparation for the activities described above.

o   The term ‘designated representative of the sponsoring U.S. academic institution’ means a person designated by the relevant dean or the academic vice-president, provost, or president of the institution as the official responsible for overseeing the institution’s Cuba travel program.

o   U.S. academic institutions are now authorized to open and maintain accounts at Cuban financial institutions for the purpose of accessing funds in Cuba for these purposes described above.

o   Relatives of students studying in Cuba may now send them money (via Western Union for instance)
People to People Educational Exchange under Specific License
Under a Specific License, travel has been re-authorized for educational exchanges not involving academic study when those exchanges take place under the auspices of an organization that sponsors and organizes such programs to promote people-to-people contact.
When this provision was in effect during the Clinton Administration, OFAC granted numerous and varied specific licenses for “people to people” exchanges on a wide-ranging, robust basis that permitted many institutions – including, for example, alumni organizations and museums – to carry out high successful programs to Cuba.
Specific License for Academic Seminars, conferences and workshops in Cuba
Under a specific license, U.S. graduate or undergraduate degree-granting academic institutions can sponsor or co-sponsor seminars, conferences and workshops related to Cuba or global issues involving Cuba and attendance at such events by faculty, staff and students of the licensed institution.

For 30 years, Marazul has assisted students and faculty at several hundred universities and colleges to visit Cuba. We also assisted thousands of people traveling people to people delegations when they were last permitted. With these new exciting possibilities, we look forward to doing so again now at our new offices in North Bergen, New Jersey and through our newly redesigned website.

Bob Guild
Vice President
Marazul Charters, Inc.