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The Independent UK

Travel

Simon Calder

Do Britons travelling to the US really need a visa if they’ve visited Cuba?

Cuba United States America Donald Trump Joe Biden Ned Price Caribbean State Department US State Department

Getty Images/iStockphoto

The vast majority of UK visitors to America enter through the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation – Esta. This is the swift, cheap and easy online permit. But the US government insists that any visit to Cuba since 1 March 2011 disqualifies British holidaymakers from the Esta scheme.

Instead, they must spend $160 (£143) on a full visa – and attend an interview at the US Embassy in London or the Consulate-General in Belfast. The backlog for appointments is stretching for months.

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