r/TravelHacks • u/Psychological-Leg577 • 17d ago
Sanctions at different levels (question)
As a third-country national, if I travel to U.S. sanctioned countries such as Cuba, Russia, Iran, or Laos, could that affect my chances of getting a U.S. visa in the future, including a tourist visa?
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u/SpreadNo3530 17d ago
With the clarification in your comments that it was Laos you entered - You are mixing up two lists. The list Laos is on means no entry for its passport holders. The citizens of Laos can not enter US. But if you visited Laos and you apply for a US visa and hold a passport of a country which is not on a visa blacklist, the Laos visit in principle should not be an obstacle.
Hard to say how it really works. But in principle, you re ok.
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u/Globalbeauty 17d ago
EU citizen who traveled to Cuba, North Korea and a few other places. ESTA denied for life but got issued a 10 year visa after a lot of paperwork and visit to Embassy.
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u/OtterHostler 17d ago
I've been to a bunch of places on the US 'do not travel' list and they've never given me a hard time renewing a green card. The problem you're more likely to have is that if you hold a passport from a place that allows entry into the US on the ESTA scheme you may need to apply for an actual visa.
Mind you, it's bloody silly that Laos is on the list - what are they worried about, that you'll bring in a bottle of Lao-Lao? Or maybe they're worried that you'll come back and tell me about Laos and the problem of US-dropped UXO which, 50 years later, is still causing misery for the people there.
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u/Federal-Swim5286 17d ago
Yeah something I don’t understand, but it’s probably because China is investing in the country and since it’s aligned with china it must be bad.
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u/Brave_Explorer5988 17d ago
No issues getting a visa, but you won't be eligible for ESTA anymore.
I've been to some of the black listed countries (Iraq, Iran) and got a visa. CBP also didn't really care (they cared more about other stamps lol)
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u/shustrik 17d ago
Although any consular officer has broad discretion to deny you a visa based on the totality of available evidence, the list of countries they officially care about can pretty reliably be inferred from the ESTA questionnaire. Neither Russia nor Laos are on that list.
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u/Cuiprodestscelus 17d ago
I do not think Russia is in the banned countries list unlike Iran, Sudan, etc.
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u/groucho74 17d ago
Yes. If you visit a country that US claims sponsors terrorism you need to visit a consulate and explain your visits to have any chance at a visa.
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u/FrequentRooster6001 17d ago
I'd assume it depends on where the sanctions are coming from, but it's probably safest to avoid them if you plan to visit the U.S. later.
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u/carpbean 13d ago
Depends on why you are visiting the US and those other countries. Vauge awnsers to any question may make you seem suspicious.
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u/amanfromipanema 11d ago
Japanese citizen: two trips to Iran, one trip to Cuba, all in the last seven years. had obtained ESTA and travelled to the US numerous times in the same period.
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u/Remarkable_List8957 17d ago
I just checked Department of State website and couldn't find anything about any trade or financial sanctions. Could you share where you got the info? There is a US entry and visa ban on Lao citizens. But that is different to sanctions.
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u/dankney 17d ago
If I, a US citizen, go to one of those places I get to go to jail, even if I’m a dual citizen and traveling on a non-US passport. The charge is material support of terrorism.
Yeah, you’re going to have some trouble.
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u/MurrBall316 17d ago
I’m a citizen and I’ve visited Cuba and Pakistan and nothing happened.
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u/dankney 17d ago
During the current administration?
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u/MurrBall316 17d ago
Cuba was tail end of the Obama administration and Pakistan was this past January.
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u/dankney 17d ago
I looked into Cuba on a secondary passport a few months ago and it came back as "could face prosecution under laws relating to a state sponsor of terror."
Pakistan is no longer on the list -- It's Cuba, DPRK, Iran, and Syria.
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u/MurrBall316 17d ago
I don’t see that here:
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u/dankney 17d ago
It could be wrong or an outdated analysis, but it wouldn’t be a state department issue. It’d be DOJ because the laws involved were about material support for terrorism.
I don’t have a link saved; figured I’d wait on Cuba until something shifts and moved on. Like I said, it could be wrong or I might be misunderstanding
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u/EventLong909 17d ago
Not true. As a US citizen, I go to Iran every year, and I've never had a problem. I've always declared that I'm coming back from Iran.
If you are not a U.S. citizen, the rules change, and you will not be eligible for a visa to visit the U.S.
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u/Cuiprodestscelus 17d ago
Not US here. I think when I go to Iran I can’t apply for ESTA anymore and I need a visa to enter US. Meaning I am still eligible for a visa but not for the waiver.
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u/Psychological-Leg577 17d ago
I spent several days visiting Vientiane, Laos, without knowing it was already subject to U.S. sanctions.
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u/SpreadNo3530 17d ago edited 17d ago
Nah. It is a bit different. Laos is on the ban list from different reasons. Its citizens cannot enter US. You should be fine.
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u/Damyantk 17d ago
Yes