Volunteer abroad in Cuba? Yes, you can

Volunteer abroad in Cuba? Yes, you can
August 24, 11:34 AM

Americans are aware of the restrictions against travel to Cuba, but did
you know that you can get permission to go there for a number of
different activities? These include humanitarian work, journalism,
conducting research, teaching, disseminating information, performing
publicly, and participating in athletic or religious activities.
Volunteer Cuba

Volunteers are most likely to obtain permission for Cuba travel by
working with an established Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) and
volunteering as a teacher or on a humanitarian project. (It is quite
easy for teaching professionals and college students to get a travel
license.) To obtain permission, the traveler must show that the project
will benefit the Cuban people.

It can be very difficult to find information on Cuban organizations
directly, and your research will lead you to discover that many of the
NGOs taking volunteers to Cuba are based in Canada and the U.K. If you
plan to work with one of these organizations, you'll want to find an NGO
that accepts American volunteers. You will also need plenty of lead time
to get the necessary documents in order before you travel.

Keep in mind that Cuba travel for Americans is restricted to a duration
of 14 days or less, and you may not bring any Cuban goods back with you.
(This would violate the embargo, and the goods may be seized by Customs
officials upon your return to the U.S.) There are also restrictions on
how much money you can spend while in Cuba. To determine the allowable
amount, check for the current per diem rate.
Getting the License

The U.S. Government's Office of Foreign Assets Control is the agency
responsible for granting Cuba travel licenses. To apply for a license,
travelers need to submit a letter specifying the details of the proposed
travel, including any accompanying documentation, to:
Licensing Division,
Office of Foreign Assets Control,
U.S. Department of the Treasury,
1500 Pennsylvania Ave.,
NW, Washington, DC 20220.

The letter should include the following details:
• Your name, U.S. address, telephone number
• Your passport number
• The exact travel dates
• Your destination(s) within Cuba
• Your specific reason for traveling to Cuba. (This is where a
volunteer would want to explain how the project will benefit the Cuban
people. If you can't convince them of that, you will not be granted a
travel license.)
• Documentation from the NGO or school you are traveling with
which describes their work in Cuba

Volunteer abroad in Cuba? Yes, you can (24 August 2009)
http://www.examiner.com/x-19500-San-Diego-Volunteer-Travel-Examiner~y2009m8d24-Volunteer-abroad-in-Cuba-Yes-you-can