Upcoming Trips

Afro-Cuban Women Today: In Their Own Voices, etc.

Dance Cuba!

Education in Cuba

Short Term & Long Term Study in Cuba

You may plan your own group trip or join an existing trip to Cuba.  To plan a group trip to Cuba for your organization or a group of colleagues, please first read over the information on the U.S. restrictions and regulations on travel to Cuba, administered by OFAC, the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control. Read the regulations here.  Once you understand the regulations at they apply to you and your group, you will proceed through the steps outlined below.  The U.S. regulations apply to all groups and to all members of the group, regardless of passport, citizenship or residency.

Step 1
Qualifying under the U.S. regulations

If your group will be pursuing specific research in Cuba in the professional field of each participant, you may qualify under general license under the Professional Research category and may not have to apply for a specific license. In that case each member must qualify and the research must be full time and academic in nature.

If your group needs a specific license Common Ground
can assist you with the application process.

The following kinds of groups may now travel under general license:

• Graduate and undergraduate short and long term study programs for credit
• Graduate research in Cuba towards qualifying for a degree
• Travel for religious purposes

Read the OFAC regulations regarding these types of travel.  “General license” means that groups (or individuals) may travel without first obtaining a specific written permission from OFAC so long as each and every member of the group is in full compliance with the regulations and prepared to prove it to the U.S. authorities upon their return.

The following kinds of group need a specific license from OFAC:

• Humanitarian organizations
• Cultural and sports programs in Cuba
• People to People travel sponsored by non-degree granting educational organizations

See the OFAC regulations for a complete list and for guidelines for qualifying for and applying for a specific license in these and other categories.

Step 2
Design a program

Common Ground has more than 30 years experience arranging exchanges between the U.S. and Cuba and specializes in customized academic and professional programs. It has long lasting relationships with many institutions in Cuba and has arranged classes, seminars and information sessions for students, professionals, and religious groups.

Common Ground arranges inclusive programs with the following pre-paid services:

• Flights to Cuba
• Hotel arrangements in all areas of Cuba
• Ground and/or domestic air transportation in Cuba
• Full itinerary of program activities
• Academic courses and seminars
• Visits to sites, museums, and institutions
• Field visits and excursions
• Guide and translation services
• Pre-paid meals
• Medical/evacuation insurance

… And any other services in Cuba you may need.

Design your program

List of institutions with which Common Ground collaborates in Cuba:

• Casa de las Américas
• University of Havana
• Union of Cuban Writers and Artists (UNEAC)
• Union of Jurists
• José Martí Institute
• Federation of Cuban Women (FMC)
• Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP)
• Cuban Council of Churches
• Grand Synagogue of Havana
• Group for the Development of the Capital
• National Library of Cuba
• Fernando Ortiz Foundation
• International Democratic Federation of Women (FDIM)
• Cuban Institute of Education (ICE)

Contact us to discuss program goals and price
and to begin organizing your trip.

Step 3
Common Ground procedures & policies

Our goal at Common Ground is for your group to travel comfortably to Cuba and to meet the goals that you have for the experience.  So we work collaboratively with you to design the program and come up with the budget that will meet your needs.  This can involve a lot of back and forth.  Ours are never “take it or leave it” propositions.  We also try to make sure that you understand the requirements and regulations of Cuba, whch are often quite different than those of the U.S.   As well, we encourage you to understand that while travel to Cuba from the U.S. is limited, the same limitations do not apply to the rest of the world and hotels can fill up quite rapidly – it’s wise to do a lot of very advance planning while having a realistic understanding that others may have beaten you to your first choices.

Common Ground has the following procedures and policies:

Legal authorization to travel

All participants are required to demonstrate eligibility for travel to Cuba under the U.S. regulations through completion of a Common Ground Travel Affidavit and either copy of a specific license and letter of authorization for travel under that license or if students and accompanying faculty traveling for credit from their university towards their undergraduate or advance degree, letter from their university attesting to their travel under this status.  All such paperwork must be received by Common Ground before travel documents can be released. 

Deposit

Participants make a $200 deposit and send the deposit and required paperwork to Common Ground at least 60 days prior to the date of the trip. Deposit is non-refundable.  If members of the group are entering on a tourist visa, participants may be substituted up to 15 days prior to date of departure.  Additional fees may obtain if rooming is altered by the substitution. 

Required paperwork

• Travel affidavit, completed and signed
• Flight reservation form, completed and signed
• Visa application form, completed
• Copy of specific license and letter of authorization from entity holding the license, or letter of authorization if traveling under certain categories of General License. 
• Copy of their U.S. passport valid at least 4 months beyond the date of the trip’s return.  If a passport is being obtained or renewed, please inform Common Ground.  
• If citizens of another country, valid passport of that country along with U.S. residency permit or visa with multiple entry permitted, also valid at least 4 months beyond the date of the trip’s return
• If Cuban born, the person is required to hold either a valid and stamped Cuban passport of if the person left Cuba prior to January 1, 1971, a U.S. passport and a PE-11 entry permit which can be obtained through this office

Final payment and forms of payment

Deposit is per person and may be paid by individuals by check or by credit card or by institution for the group by check, credit card or wire transfer.  All credit card payments must be accompanied by a written authorization.  Final invoice is issued once hotels and flights are confirmed, and payment is due upon receipt of final invoice, usually at least 15 days prior to departure and if possible 30 days prior. 

Travel documents

Travel packets with documents, tickets, visas and other relevant paperwork and information are sent out within 10 days or less of receipt of final payment. 

Travel insurance

Medical/evacuation insurance is included with charter flights from the U.S., or if traveling from a non-U.S. country to Cuba it is purchased at entry point in Cuba.  It is a requirement of the Cuban government that all visitors from abroad hold insurance valid in Cuba, that is from a non-U.S. based company as insurance companies in the U.S. are restricted by the travel embargo from providing coverage inside Cuba.  Trip interruption and baggage insurance is not included and is not provided by Common Ground.  Such insurance may be purchased directly from American Express or another company offering this coverage. 

Common Ground cancellation policy

If cancellation is received with advance notice of
at least 45 days                                 Full refund less deposit.
at least 44 22 days                            Full refund less deposit, visa and 10% of package price
at least 21 15 days                            Full refund less deposit, visa and 15% of package price
at least 14 days                                 Full refund less deposit, visa and 30% of package price
at least 9 days                                   Full refund less deposit, visa, 50% of package price
Therein or no show                          Full forfeiture of funds paid

Air Cancellation policy follows that of airlines or charter companies.

Guarantee of Services:  Charter companies reserve the right to change schedule and/or price at any time, to set limits on weight, acceptance of overweight, and fees for overweight at their discretion.  Tour operators in Cuba also reserve the right to substitute hotels of equal ranking and to substitute equivalent activities when necessary due to local conditions. 

Step 4
Forms & instructions to be completed

Travel to Cuba is different than travel to other destinations because of the U.S. Travel Restrictions. At Common Ground we have helped thousands of travelers through the process. Your group will need to provide us with certain information so we can make your trip an enjoyable and smooth experience.

Each passenger needs to complete and return the following forms:

Travel Affidavit	For groups of professionals doing research in their field
Visa Application	A copy of each traveler’s passport(must be valid at least 6 months after dates of travel)
Reservation forms	Each passenger must fill out a reservation form for the charter company
Deposit form	Submit when making a group deposit, payable a minimum of 60 days before date of travel.

Step 5
Travel documents

• Program itinerary
• Charter or other Cuban airline ticket
• Land services voucher
• Copy of legal documentation establishing qualifications for permitted travel to Cuba
• Visa
• Emergency Contact Information

Common Ground also provides its clients with:

• Maps of Cuba
• Travel tips on Cuba
• Copies of passports and legal documentation for group leaders

To begin you group trip, please fill out our group application form.

Study Abroad

The OFAC regulations now permit programs of 10 weeks or more only for undergraduate students in Cuba. Common Ground can assist you in arranging such programs for undergraduate and graduate students at Cuba’s universities and at other academic learning centers such as Casa de las Américas and the Center for José Martí Studies, among others. We can also design research study in Cuba for graduate students, traveling either individually or in a group. These latter programs include background briefings as well as contacts, assistance and mentoring with research topics for credit towards a graduate degree.

Our Study Abroad packages include:

• Collaborative assistance between U.S. university and Cuban academic institution to establish program
• Assistance with understanding U.S. regulations and guidelines, and with application for appropriate licenses and permits
• Initial planning trip(s) for faculty/staff to meet with hosting institution, inspect facilities, and gain familiarity with Cuba and the prospective plans and individuals involved
• Assistance in development of background reading materials and presentations
• Provision of housing, transportation where necessary, schedule development, field excursions, medical insurance, visas, English speaking guides and all other in country requirements
• In country emergency contacts and assistance from English speaking Cuban specialists
• Appropriate and economical transportation alternatives for participants, to Cuba and to point of departure for Cuba,
• Coordination of regular and 24 hour emergency contact for students, parents and U.S. university administration during length of program

Please contact us for more information about how your college or university can set up a study abroad program in Cuba.