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Country Information
Antigua and Barbuda
Medical Care. Medical care is limited.
Crime Information . Violent crimes have increased and
armed assaults have been perpetrated against tourists. Petty street
crime also occurs and valuables left unattended on beaches are
subject to theft.
Bahamas
Medical Care. Medical care is generally good, but may
be limited in outlying areas.
Drug Penalties. Criminal penalties for possession of
or trafficking in drugs in the Bahamas are severe. The Bahamian
court system has a heavy volume of pending cases, and U.S. citizens
arrested for drugs or other offenses are often held in prison
for months while awaiting trial.
Crime Information. Visitors should exercise normal caution
in safeguarding valuables left on the beach. Woman may wish to
avoid deserted areas, especially at night. Crime is more prevalent
in major population centers, particularly the "over-the-hill"
area of Nassau.
General Information. In the Bahamas, be sure to budget
for hotel room tax, an energy surtax, a 15% obligatory gratuity
in restaurants, and a departure tax of $15, which must be paid
in cash.
Barbados
Medical Care. Medical care is generally good, but may
be limited in outlying areas.
Crime Information . Street crime sometimes occurs. Valuables
left unattended on beaches are subject to theft.
Bermuda
Medical Care. Medical care is generally good.
General Information. Although it is often thought of
as part of the Caribbean, Bermuda is not actually in the Caribbean
Sea, it is located in the Atlantic about 650 miles east of North
Carolina.
Crime Information . Bermuda has a low crime rate. However,
during the tourist season, pickpocketing and theft of unattended
baggage can occur.
British Virgin Islands
General Information. The islands of Anegada, Jost Van
Dyke, Tortola and Virgin Gorda make up the British Virgin Islands.
British West Indies
General Information. The British West Indies include
Anguilla, Montserrat, Cayman Islands and Turks & Caicos.
Special Information for Montserrat. There is potentially
dangerous volcanic activity on the island. For more information,
refer to the Consular Information Sheet for Barbados.
Cuba
Financial Restrictions . The Cuban Assets Control Regulations
of the U.S. Department of the Treasury require that transactions
incident to the travel to and within Cuba of U.S. citizens or
residents be licensed. A general license needs no application.
Transactions under a general license are authorized only for the
following categories of travelers:
-- U.S. and foreign government officials, including representatives
of international organizations of which the U.S. is a member,
traveling on official business;
-- journalists regularly employed in such capacity by a news
reporting organization;
-- persons visiting close relatives who reside in Cuba due to
extreme humanitarian needs once within any twelve month period;
Transactions relating to the following categories of travel
must be authorized by a specific license based upon a written
application to Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control:
-- humanitarian travel by persons traveling to visit close relatives
more than once within 12 months;
-- persons traveling to accompany licensed humanitarian donations
(other than gift parcels);
-- persons traveling in connection with activities of recognized
human rights organizations;
-- persons traveling for professional research or similar activities;
-- persons traveling in connection with clearly defined educational
or religious activities;
-- persons traveling in connection with the exportation, importation,
or transmission of information and informational materials, including
provision of telecommunications services.
U.S. citizens whose transactions are not authorized by general
or specific licenses may not buy goods (a meal at a hotel or restaurant,
for example) or services (an airline ticket or hotel room) related
to Cuban travel.
Important Information: Transactions relating to travel
to Cuba for tourism or business purposes are not authorized by
a general license, nor would they be authorized in response to
an application for a specific license. This restriction includes
transactions related to tourist and business travel from or through
a third country such as Canada or Mexico. Any payments to the
Marina Hemingway International Yacht Club by unlicensed travelers
are prohibited and a violation of the Cuban Assets Control Regulations.
Under U.S. Treasury regulations, authorized travelers may spend
no more than $100 per day for living expenses in Cuba, and, except
for informational materials which are not limited, may bring back
to the U.S. no more than $100 total worth of Cuban goods. Failure
to comply with U.S. Treasury regulations could result in prosecution
upon return to the United States.
For more information, contact the Licensing Division, Office
of Foreign Assets Control, Department of Treasury, Washington,
D.C. 20220, (202) 622-2480.
Cuban Entry Regulations. Cuba requires a passport and
a visa for entry. Attempts to enter or exit Cuba illegally or
to aid the illegal exit of Cuban nationals are punishable by jail
terms. Entering Cuban territory, territorial waters or airspace
without prior authorization from the Cuban government many result
in arrest. Violators may also be putting their lives at risk.
On February 24, 1996, the Cuban military shot down two U.S. registered
civil aircraft in international airspace.
Dual Nationals. For all practical purposes, the government
of Cuba considers Cuban-born U.S. citizens to be solely Cuban
citizens. The Cuban government does not recognize the right or
obligation of the U.S. government to protect dual U.S.-Cuban citizens.
Cuban authorities have consistently denied U.S. consular officers
the right to visit incarcerated dual nationals and to ascertain
their welfare and proper treatment under Cuban law. Dual U.S.-Cuban
nationals may be subject to a range of restrictions and obligations,
including military service.
Crime Information . As severe economic problems continue
in Cuba, street crime against tourists has increased noticeably.
Foreigners are prime targets for purse snatchings, pickpocketing
and thefts from hotel rooms, beaches, historic sites and other
attractions.
Credit Card Transactions. Credit cards issued by U.S.
financial institutions are not valid in Cuba. Personal checks
drawn on U.S. banks are not accepted in Cuba. However, some non-U.S.
travelers checks are sometimes acceptable.
Restriction on Photography. Photographing military or
police installations or personnel, harbor, rail or airport facilities
is forbidden.
U.S. Interests Section. U.S. travelers in Cuba should
register in person, in writing, or by telephone during business
hours at the U.S. Interests Section which is part of the Embassy
of Switzerland. Further information is available in the Consular
Information Sheet for Cuba.
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