Office of Foreign Assets Control, U.S. Department of the Treasury

CUBA: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE U.S. EMBARGO

An overview of the Cuban Assets Control Regulations -- Title 31 Part 515 of the
U.S. Code of Federal Regulations

o INTRODUCTION - The Cuban Assets Control Regulations, 31 CFR Part 515 (the
"Regulations") were issued by the U.S. Government on 8 July 1963 under the
Trading With the Enemy Act in response to certain hostile actions by the Cuban
government.  They are still in force today and affect all U.S. citizens and
permanent residents wherever they are located, all people and organizations
physically in the United States, and all branches and subsidiaries of U.S.
organizations throughout the world.  The Regulations are administered by the
U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control.  The basic goal of
the sanctions is to isolate the Cuban government economically and deprive it of
U.S. dollars.  Criminal penalties for violating the sanctions range up to 10
years in prison, $1,000,000 in corporate fines, and $250,000 in individual
fines.  Civil penalties up to $55,000 per violation may also be imposed.  Please
note that the Regulations require those dealing with Cuba to maintain records
and, upon request from the U.S. Treasury Department, to furnish information
regarding such dealings.

o EXPORTING TO CUBA - Except for publications, other informational materials
(such as CDs and works of art), certain donated food, and certain goods licensed
for export or re-export by the U.S. Department of Commerce (such as medicine and
medical supplies, food, and agricultural commodities), no products, technology,
or services may be exported from the United States to Cuba, either directly or
through third countries, such as Canada or Mexico.  This prohibition includes
dealing in or assisting the sale of goods or commodities to or from Cuba, even
if done entirely offshore.  Such brokering is considered to be dealing in
property in which Cuba has an interest.  Provision of consulting services is
also prohibited.  Thus, no U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien, wherever
located, and no foreign subsidiary or branch of a U.S. organization may export
products, technology, or services to Cuba or to any Cuban national, wherever
they may be located, or broker the sale of goods or commodities to or from Cuba
or any Cuban national.

Pursuant to provisions of the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992 (the "CDA") and the
Trade Sanctions and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 (the "TSRA"), the Commerce
Department authorizes the sale and export or re-export of medicine and medical
supplies, food and agricultural commodities to Cuba.  Those interested in
engaging in such exports or reexports must first obtain authorization from the
Commerce Department's Bureau of Export Administration.  All licensed sales may
be financed by cash-in-advance or by third - country banks that are not
Specially Designated Nationals.  Foreign subsidiaries of U.S. banks are
authorized to directly finance licensed sales of agricultural products.  All
U.S. banks may advise or confirm any of the above.

Section 1705(b) of the CDA provides for donations of food to independent
non-governmental organizations or individuals in Cuba.  Shipments of food can be
donated to non-governmental organizations from the U.S. or from third countries
without the need for a license from the U.S. government.  The CDA specifically
provides that payments to Cuba involving telecommunications may be made pursuant
to specific license.  In the mid-1970s, Section 515.559 was added to the
Regulations to allow OFAC to license foreign subsidiaries of U.S. firms to
conduct trade in commodities with Cuba so long as several specific criteria were
met.  Section 1706(a) of the CDA, however, prohibits the issuance of a license
that would have been issued pursuant to Section 515.559, except where a contract
was entered into prior to enactment of the CDA or where the exports at issue are
medicines or medical supplies.

Unless otherwise authorized, no vessel carrying goods or passengers to or from
Cuba or carrying goods in which Cuba or a Cuban national has any interest may
enter a U.S. port.  The prohibition also applies to vessels which enter only to
take on fuel and supplies (bunker), whether from U.S. fuel providers within the
port limits or at offshore points, as well as vessels discharging or loading
merchandise offshore, by lighter or otherwise.  In addition, vessels which enter
a port or place in Cuba to engage in the trade of goods or services are
prohibited from loading or unloading any freight at any place in the U.S. for
180 days.  Prohibited entry does not apply to vessels engaging solely in trade
with Cuba authorized by license or exempt from the Regulations (e.g., vessels
carrying authorized exports of agricultural products, or donations of food to
nongovernmental organizations or individuals).

o IMPORTING CUBAN-ORIGIN GOODS OR SERVICES - Goods or services of Cuban origin
may not be imported into the United States either directly or through third
countries, such as Canada or Mexico.  The only exceptions are: publications,
artwork, or other informational materials.

o TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING PROPERTY IN WHICH CUBA OR A CUBAN NATIONAL HAS AN
INTEREST - In addition to the prohibitions on exports to and imports from Cuba,
the Regulations prohibit any person subject to U.S. jurisdiction from dealing in
any property in which Cuba or a Cuban national has an interest.  Under the
Regulations, "property" includes but is not limited to contracts and services. 
For example, unless otherwise authorized, persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction
(including U.S. overseas subsidiaries) may not purchase Cuban cigars in Mexico;
may not sign a contract with a U.K. firm if the contract terms include
Cuba-related provisions (even if those provisions are contingent upon the
lifting of the embargo); and may not provide accounting, marketing, sales, or
insurance services to a Cuban company or to a foreign company with respect to
the foreign company's Cuba- related business.

o SPECIALLY DESIGNATED NATIONALS - The Regulations prohibit buying from or
selling to Cuban nationals whether they are physically located on the island of
Cuba or doing business elsewhere on behalf of Cuba.  Individuals or
organizations who act on behalf of Cuba anywhere in the world are considered by
the U.S. Treasury Department to be "Specially Designated Nationals" of Cuba.  A
non-exhaustive list of their names is published in the Federal Register, an
official publication of the U.S. Government. This list may be obtained by
calling the Office of Foreign Assets Control at 202/622-2490.  The listing,
however, is a partial one and any individual or organization subject to U.S.
jurisdiction engaging in transactions with foreign nationals must take
reasonable care to make certain that such foreign nationals are not acting on
behalf of Cuba.  Individuals and organizations subject to U.S. jurisdiction who
violate the Regulations by transacting business with Specially Designated
Nationals of Cuba are subject to criminal prosecution or civil monetary
penalties.

o ACCOUNTS AND ASSETS - There is a total freeze on Cuban assets, both
governmental and private, and on financial dealings with Cuba; all property of
Cuba, of Cuban nationals, and of Specially Designated Nationals of Cuba in the
possession or control of persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction is "blocked."  Any
property in which Cuba has an interest which comes into the United States or
into the possession or control of persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction is
automatically blocked by operation of law.  Banks receiving unlicensed wire
transfer instructions in which there is a Cuban interest, or any instrument in
which there is a Cuban interest, must freeze the funds on their own books or
block the instrument, regardless of origin or destination.  "Suspense accounts"
are not permitted.  Blocking imposes a complete prohibition against transfers or
transactions of any kind.  No payments, transfers, withdrawals, or other
dealings may take place with regard to blocked property unless authorized by the
Treasury Department.  Banks are permitted to take normal service charges. 
Blocked deposits of funds must be interest-bearing.  "Set-offs" are not allowed.

Persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction are required to exercise extreme caution in
order not to knowingly involve themselves in unlicensed transactions in which
Cuba has an interest.  Except as authorized, no bank in the U.S. or overseas
branch or subsidiary of a U.S. bank may advise a letter of credit involving Cuba
nor may it process documents referencing Cuba.  All such "property" must be
blocked as soon as it comes within the bank's possession or control.  All
persons in possession of blocked property are required to register with the
Office of Foreign Assets Control.  Persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction who
engage in any commercial dealings that involve unauthorized trade with Cuba,
either directly or indirectly, risk substantial monetary penalties and criminal
prosecution.

o SENDING GIFTS - Gift parcels may be sent or carried by an authorized traveler
to an individual or to a religious, charitable, or educational organization in
Cuba for the use of the recipient or of the recipient's immediate family (and
not for resale), subject to the following limitations:  the combined total
domestic retail value of all items in the parcel must not exceed $200 (with the
exception of donations of food, which are not so restricted); not more than one
parcel may be sent or given by the same person in the U.S. to the same recipient
in Cuba in any one calendar month; and the content must be limited to food,
vitamins, seeds, medicines, medical supplies and devices, hospital supplies and
equipment, equipment for the handicapped, clothing, personal hygiene items,
veterinary medicines and supplies, fishing equipment and supplies, soap-making
equipment, or certain radio equipment and batteries for such equipment. 
Organizations that consolidate and send multiple gift parcels in single
shipments must obtain a validated license from the U.S. Department of Commerce. 
Each gift parcel in the single shipment must meet commodity, dollar-value, and
frequency limitations.  If a parcel being shipped or carried to Cuba fails to
meet these standards, it is subject to seizure by the U.S. Government.

o CUBA-RELATED TRAVEL TRANSACTIONS - Only persons whose travel transactions fall
into the categories discussed below may be authorized to spend money related to
travel to, from, or within Cuba.  Persons traveling to Cuba to visit immediate
family members pursuant to a specific license may spend no more than $50 per day
on non-transportation-related expenses in Cuba, and up to an additional $50 per
trip to pay for transportation-related expenses in Cuba.  Persons licensed to
engage in other travel- related transactions in Cuba may spend up to the State
Department Travel Per Diem Allowance for Havana, Cuba for purchases directly
related to travel in Cuba, such as hotel accommodations, meals, local
transportation, and goods personally used by the traveler in Cuba (travelers can
check the current per diem rate on the Internet at
<<http://www.state.gov/www/perdiems/index.html>>).  Most licensed travelers may
also spend additional money for transactions directly related to the activities
for which they received their license.  For example, journalists traveling in
Cuba under the journalism general license (described below) may spend money over
and above the current per diem for extensive local transportation, the hiring of
cable layers, and other costs that are directly related to covering a story in
Cuba.  Purchases of services unrelated to travel or a licensed activity, such as
non-emergency medical services, are prohibited.  The purchase of publications
and other informational materials is not restricted.

WHO CAN GO - The following travelers are authorized, under OFAC general license,
to engage in travel transactions while in Cuba:

- Journalists and supporting broadcasting or technical personnel (regularly
employed in that capacity by a news reporting organization and traveling for
journalistic activities).

- Official government travelers (traveling on official business).

- Members of international organizations of which the United States is also a
member (traveling on official business).

- Travelers who have received specific licenses from OFAC prior to going.

- Full-time professionals whose travel transactions are directly related to
professional research in their professional areas, provided that their research:
(1) is of a noncommercial academic nature, (2) comprises a full work schedule in
Cuba, and (3) has a substantial likelihood of public dissemination.

- Full-time professionals whose travel transactions are directly related to
attendance at professional meetings or conferences in Cuba organized by an
international professional organization, institution, or association that
regularly sponsors such meetings or conferences in other countries.  The
organization, institution, or association sponsoring the meeting or conference
may not be headquartered in the United States unless it is specifically licensed
to sponsor the meeting.  The purpose of the meeting or conference cannot be the
promotion of tourism in Cuba or other commercial activities involving Cuba, or
to foster production of any biotechnological products.

SPECIFIC LICENSES TO VISIT IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS* IN CUBA - OFAC will issue
specific licenses authorizing travel-related transactions incident to one visit
lasting no more than 14 days to immediate family members who are nationals of
Cuba per three- year period. A "member of the immediate family" is defined as a
spouse, child, grandchild, parent, grandparent, or sibling of the remitter or
that remitter's spouse, as well as any spouse, widow, or widower of any of the
foregoing.  For those who emigrated to the United States from Cuba, and have not
since that time visited a family member in Cuba, the three year period will be
counted from the date they left Cuba.  For all others, the three year period
will be counted from the date they last left Cuba pursuant to the pre-existing
family visit general license, or from the date their family visit specific
license was issued.  Travelers wishing to visit an immediate family member in
Cuba who is authorized to be in Cuba but not a national of Cuba may be granted a
specific license in exigent circumstances provided that the U.S. Interests
Section in Havana concurs in the issuance of such a license.  Applications for
this specific license should be mailed to OFAC's Miami Office at:

     Office of Foreign Assets Control
     U.S. Department of the Treasury
     P.O. Box 229008
     Miami, FL 33-122-9008

*a "member of the immediate family" is defined as a spouse, child, grandchild,
parent, grandparent, or sibling of the remitter of that remitter's spouse, as
well as any spouse, widow or widower of any of the foregoing.

Status of current family visit specific licenses:  All current family visit
specific licenses are valid only through June 30, 2004, after which they are
revoked.

SPECIFIC LICENSES FOR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS - Specific licenses may be issued
by OFAC to authorize travel transactions related to certain educational
activities by students or employees at U.S. undergraduate or graduate
institutions. Such licenses must be renewed after a period of one year.  Once an
academic institution has applied for and received such a specific license, the
following categories of travelers affiliated with that academic institution are
authorized to engage in travel- related transactions incident to the following
activities without seeking further authorization from OFAC:

- Undergraduate or graduate students participating in a structured educational
program lasting at least 10 weeks in Cuba as part of a course offered at a U.S.
undergraduate or graduate institution.  Students planning to engage in such
transactions must carry a letter from the licensed institution stating: (1) the
institution's license number, (2) that the student is enrolled in an
undergraduate or a graduate degree program at the institution, and (3) that the
travel is part of an educational program of the institution.

- Persons doing noncommercial Cuba-related academic research in Cuba for the
purpose of qualifying academically as a professional (e.g. research toward a
graduate degree).  Students planning to engage in  such transactions must carry
a letter from the licensed institution stating: (1)  the institution's license
number, (2) that the student is enrolled in a graduate degree program at the
institution, and  (3) that the Cuba research will be accepted for credit toward
that graduate degree;

- Undergraduate or graduate students participating in a formal course of study
lasting at least 10 weeks at a Cuban academic institution, provided the Cuban
study will be accepted for credit toward a degree at the licensed U.S.
institution.  A student planning to engage in such transactions must carry a
letter from the licensed U.S. institution stating: (1) that the individual is a
student currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program or a
full-time permanent employee at the institution, (2) that the Cuba-related
travel is part of a structured educational program of that institution that will
last at least 10 weeks, and (3) citing the number of the institution's license.

- Persons regularly employed in a teaching capacity at a licensed U.S.
undergraduate or graduate institution who plan to teach part or all of an
academic program at a Cuban academic institution for at least 10 weeks.  An
individual planning to engage in such transactions must carry a letter from the
licensed institution stating: (1) the U.S. institution's license number, and (2)
that the individual is regularly employed by the licensed institution in a
teaching capacity.

- Cuban scholars teaching or engaging in other scholarly activities at a
licensed college or university in the United States. Licensed institutions may
sponsor such Cuban scholars, including payment of a stipend or salary.  The
Cuban scholar may carry all such stipends or salary payments back to Cuba.

- Full-time employees of a licensed institution organizing or preparing for the
educational activities described above.  An individual engaging in such
transactions must carry a letter from the licensed institution stating: (1) the
institution's license number, and (2) that the individual is regularly employed
by the institution.

Status of current educational institution licenses:  Licensed educational
institutions that have already planned Cuba trips that will not meet the new
requirements issued in June 2004 may still engage in all transactions incident
to such trips provided that the trips and all associated transactions are
completed by August 15, 2004.

SPECIFIC LICENSES FOR RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS - Specific licenses may be issued
by OFAC to religious organizations to authorize individuals affiliated with the
organization to engage in travel transactions under the auspices of the
religious organization.  Applications by religious organizations for such
licenses should include examples of the religious activities to be undertaken in
Cuba.  All individuals traveling pursuant to a religious organization's license
must carry with them a letter from the licensed organization citing the number
of the license and confirming that they are affiliated with the organization and
that they are traveling to Cuba to engage in religious activities under the
auspices of the organization.

OTHER SPECIFIC LICENSES:  Specific licenses may be issued by the Office of
Foreign Assets Control on a case-by-case basis authorizing travel transactions
by the following categories of persons in connection with the following
activities:

- Humanitarian Projects and Support for the Cuban People - (1) Persons traveling
in connection with activities that are intended to provide support for the Cuban
people, such as activities of recognized human rights organizations; (2) Persons
whose travel transactions are directly related to certain humanitarian projects
in or related to Cuba that are designed to directly benefit the Cuban people. 
Licenses authorizing transactions for multiple trips over an extended period of
time are available.

- Free-Lance Journalism - Persons with a suitable record of publication who are
traveling to Cuba to do research for a free- lance article.  Licenses
authorizing transactions for multiple trips over an extended period of time are
available for applicants demonstrating a significant record of free-lance
journalism.

- Professional Research and Professional Meetings - Persons traveling to Cuba to
do professional research or to attend a professional meeting that does not meet
the requirements of the relevant general license (described above).  Licenses
authorizing transactions for multiple trips over an extended period of time are
available.

- Religious Activities - Persons traveling to Cuba to engage in religious
activities that are not authorized pursuant to a religious organization's
specific license.  Licenses authorizing transactions for multiple trips over an
extended period of time are available.

- Public Performances, Athletic or Other Competitions, and Exhibitions - Persons
traveling to participate in a public performance, athletic or other competition
(that does not meet the requirements of the specific license described below),
or exhibition.  The event must be open for attendance, and in relevant
situations participation, by the Cuban public, and all profits from the event
after costs must be donated to an independent nongovernmental organization in
Cuba or a U.S.-based charity, with the objective, to the extent possible, of
promoting people-to-people contacts or otherwise benefiting the Cuban people.

- Amateur or semi-professional athletes or teams traveling to Cuba to
participate in an athletic competition held under the auspices of the relevant
international sports federation. The athletes must have been selected for the
competition by the relevant U.S. sports federation, and the competition must be
one that is open for attendance, and in relevant situations, participation, by
the Cuban public.

- Activities of Private Foundations or Research or Educational Institutions -
Persons traveling to Cuba on behalf of private foundations or research or
educational institutes that have an established interest in international
relations to collect information related to Cuba for noncommercial purposes. 
Licenses authorizing transactions for multiple trips over an extended period of
time are available.

- Exportation, Importation, or Transmission of Information or Informational
Materials - Persons traveling to engage in activities directly related to the
exportation, importation, or transmission of information or informational
materials.

- Licensed Exportation - Persons traveling to Cuba to engage in activities
directly related to marketing, sales negotiation, accompanied delivery, or
servicing of exports of food and agricultural commodities, medical products or
other exports that are consistent with existing Department of Commerce
regulations and guidelines with respect to Cuba, including certain exports
engaged in by U.S.-owned or -controlled foreign firms.

Applying for a specific license:  Except with regard to applications pertaining
to family travel and the provision of travel, carrier and remittance forwarding
services, persons wishing to travel to Cuba under a specific license should send
a letter specifying the details of the proposed travel, including any
accompanying documentation, to the Licensing Division, Office of Foreign Assets
Control, U.S. Department of the Treasury, 1500 Pennsylvania Ave., NW,
Washington, DC 20220. Applications for transactions referenced above should be
submitted directly to OFAC's Miami office.

Provision of travel services: U.S. travel service providers, such as travel
agents, who handle travel arrangements to, from, or within Cuba must hold
special authorizations from the Office of Foreign Assets Control to engage in
such activities. These authorizations are issued based on written applications
from the service providers, subject to appropriate checks by the Treasury
Department. A "traveler" should not use any travel agent or tour operator in the
United States that does not hold valid Treasury authorization. If in doubt about
the status of a company's authorization, travelers should call the Office of
Foreign Assets Control at 305/810-5140. Only carrier service providers that have
been authorized by OFAC may operate direct charter flights between the United
States and Cuba. To find a licensed travel service provider, consult OFAC's
website.

Unauthorized travel-related transactions:  Unless otherwise authorized, any
person subject to U.S. jurisdiction who engages in any travel-related
transaction in Cuba violates the Regulations.

WHAT CAN BE BROUGHT BACK - If U.S. travelers return from Cuba with Cuban origin
goods, such goods, with the exception of informational materials, may be seized
at Customs' discretion.  [Section 515.204 of the Regulations].  There are no
limits on the import or export of informational materials.  [Section 515.206 of
the Regulations].  Such materials are statutorily exempt from regulation under
the embargo and such items as books, films, tapes and CDs may be transported
freely.  However, blank tapes and CDs are not considered informational materials
and may be seized.

VESSELS - All persons on board vessels, including the owner, must be authorized
travelers, as listed above, to engage in travel-related transactions in Cuba. If
you are not an authorized traveler, you may not purchase meals, pay for
transportation, lodging, dockage or mooring fees, cruising fees, visas, entry or
exit fees and you may not bring any Cuban origin goods back to the United
States. Any payment to the Marina Hemingway International Yacht Club is
considered a prohibited payment to a Cuban national and therefore in violation
of the Regulations. Vessel owners are prohibited from carrying passengers to
Cuba because OFAC does not authorize vessel owners as service providers.

EMERGENCIES - In case of emergencies requiring financial transactions such as
emergency repair of vessels or medical treatment, travelers are urged to contact
OFAC at (202)622-2480, to discuss necessary authorizations.

HUMANITARIAN DONATIONS - There is joint OFAC and Commerce Department ("USDOC")
administration over export of gift parcels and humanitarian goods to Cuba to
meet basic human needs.  If an export is licensed by USDOC, OFAC authorizes
certain financial and other transactions related to that export.  [See part 746
of the USDOC's Export Administration Regulations (15 C.F.R. Chapter 7), which
are available on-line at http://w3.access.gpo.gov/bis/ear/ear_data.html, for the
relevant USDOC regulations.]  Please note that travel-related transactions
incident to humanitarian donations must be separately licensed by OFAC.

o EXPORTATION OF ACCOMPANIED BAGGAGE - Authorized travelers to Cuba are limited
to 44 pounds of accompanied baggage per traveler unless a specific license from
OFAC or the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security authorizes
a higher amount.

o SENDING OR CARRYING MONEY TO CUBA - U.S. persons aged 18 or older may send to
members of the remitter's immediate family in Cuba or to a Cuban national in a
third country "family" cash remittances of up to $300 per household in any
consecutive three- month period, provided that no member of the household is a
prohibited official of the Government of Cuba [such officials include Ministers
and Vice-ministers, members of the Council of State, and the Council of
Ministers; members and employees of the National Assembly of People's Power;
members of any provincial assembly; local sector chiefs of the Committees for
the Defense of the Revolution; Director Generals and sub-Director Generals and
higher of all Cuban ministries and state agencies; employees of the Ministry of
the Interior (MININT); employees of the Ministry of Defense (MINFAR);
secretaries and first secretaries of the Confederation of Labor of Cuba (CTC)
and its component unions; chief editors, editors and deputy editors of Cuban
state- run media organizations and programs, including newspapers, television,
and radio; and members and employees of the Supreme Court (Tribuno Supremo
Nacional)] or a prohibited member of the Cuban Communist Party (such members
include members of the Politburo; the Central Committee; Department Heads of the
Central Committee; employees of the Central Committee; and secretary and first
secretary of the provincial Party central committees).  No more than a combined
total of $300 of family remittances may be sent by a remitter to any one
household in any consecutive three- month period, regardless of the number of
members of the remitter's immediate family residing in that household.  A
licensed traveler may carry up to $300 of his own family remittances to Cuba.

U.S. persons also may send up to $1,000 per payee on a one-time basis as an
"emigration-related" remittance to a Cuban national to enable the payee to
emigrate from Cuba to the United States.  Specifically, up to $500 may be
remitted to a Cuban national prior to the payee's receipt of a valid U.S. visa
or other U.S. immigration document, and up to $500 may be remitted to the Cuban
national after the payee receives a valid U.S. visa or other U.S. immigration
document.  A licensed traveler may only carry immigration remittances to Cuba if
the visa has already been issued.

Remittances must be transferred through an OFAC-licensed depository institution
or remittance forwarder.  Those OFAC- licensed entities originating transfers on
behalf of non- aggregating customers must obtain an affidavit from the remitter
certifying that each family remittance does not exceed $300 in any consecutive
three month period and that each emigration- related remittance meets the
requirements of the Regulations.  Remitters can expect to have their identity,
date of birth, address, and telephone number verified.

Specific licenses may be issued on a case-by-case basis authorizing remittances:

- to independent nongovernmental organizations in Cuba;

- to households of Cuban nationals living outside of Cuba in excess of $300 per
quarter from blocked accounts; or

- to individuals in Cuba to facilitate their non-immigrant travel to the United
States under circumstances where humanitarian need is demonstrated, including
illness or medical emergency.

o FAIR BUSINESS PRACTICES - Anyone authorized by the U.S. Department of the
Treasury to provide Cuban travel services or services in connection with sending
money to Cuba is prohibited from participating in discriminatory practices of
the Cuban government against individuals or particular classes of travelers. 
The assessment of consular fees by the Cuban government, which are applicable
worldwide, is not considered to be a discriminatory practice.  However,
requiring the purchase of services not desired by the traveler is not permitted. 
Persons wishing to provide information on such activities should call
305/810-5170.  All information regarding arbitrary fees, payments for
unauthorized purposes, or other possible violations furnished to the U.S.
Treasury Department will be handled confidentially.

o ESTATES AND SAFE DEPOSIT BOXES - An estate becomes blocked whenever a Cuban
national is an heir or is the deceased; money from a life insurance policy is
blocked whenever the deceased is a Cuban resident.  The heir of a person who
died in Cuba, or the beneficiary of a life insurance policy of a person who died
in Cuba, may apply for a license from the Office of Foreign Assets Control to
unblock the estate or insurance proceeds.  Persons administering or interested
in a blocked estate should contact the Office of Foreign Assets Control at
202/622-2480 for more information.  A safe-deposit box is blocked whenever a
Cuban has an interest in the property contained in the box.  Access to a blocked
safe deposit box for inventory purposes may be granted under certain conditions,
but the contents of the box remain blocked and may not be removed without the
permission of the Office of Foreign Assets Control.  Authorized remittances may
be made from blocked estates.

o PAYMENTS FOR OVERFLIGHTS - Private and commercial aviators must obtain a
specific license authorizing payments for overflight charges to Cuba.  Banks
will ask to see the originals of such licenses before executing transfers and
keep a copy for their files.

----------

If you have information regarding possible violations of the Cuban Assets
Control Regulations, please call the Office of Foreign Assets Control at
305/810-5170.  Your call will be handled confidentially.

This document is explanatory only and does not have the force of law.  The
statutes, Executive Orders, and implementing regulations relating to Cuba
contain the legally binding provisions governing the sanctions and this document
does not supplement or modify those statutes, Executive Orders or regulations.

The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control also administers
sanctions programs involving Libya, Iraq, certain targets in the Western
Balkans, North Korea, Iran, Syria, Sudan, diamond trading, highly enriched
uranium, designated international terrorists and narcotics traffickers, Foreign
Terrorist Organizations, designated foreign persons who have engaged in
activities relating to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and
Burma (Myanmar).   For additional information about these programs or about the
Cuban sanctions program, please contact the:

OFFICE OF FOREIGN ASSETS CONTROL U.S. Department of the Treasury Washington,
D.C. & Miami, Florida 202/622-2520 :: 305/810-5140 <<http://www.treas.gov/ofac>>

File date: July 2004