Will I be questioned when I arrive back to the U.S.?

We ask our travellers to tell of their experience passing through border security on their return to the U.S. after visiting Cuba. The comments below are from real travellers who have visited Cuba. Were they asked questions by the immigration official, and if so, which questions? Were they asked to show paperwork? What was the reaction by the immigration official?

When returning to the U.S. you need to have your trip itinerary, travel affidavit, trip diary, and know the name of the license category of your legal trip to Cuba. See more about how to make a legal trip to Cuba

Real comments from returning travelers

Date of return: January 14, 2026
Were you asked to show your license? Yes

Comments:

They had a lot of questions and I had to give them a photo of my job and the website. I only had a photo because there had been a rainbow outside of work recently. Also, another American at immigration, not on my tour, that was retired had a lot of difficulty explaining that to them. They seemed confused that she didn't work or go to school.

Date of return: January 13, 2026
Were you asked to show your license? Yes

Comments:

I foolishly purchased a bottle of Aquadiente at the Cuba airport, which was confiscated in the US. The customers agent asked me if there was any running water in Cuba.

Date of return: January 13, 2026
Were you asked to show your license? No

Comments:

No problem or question no one checked my luggage.

Date of return: January 13, 2026
Were you asked to show your license? No

Comments:

I think US immigration searched my checked bag but there was no written or verbal notice that they had (in the past, when TSA has searched my bag, they leave a paper notice in the bag that they did so). I know this because 3 of 5 zippers were not completely zipped and I am always careful about zipping everything up completely. Also my toiletries bag was a bit rearranged.

(I can't remember if US immigration asked for proof of legal travel)

Date of return: January 11, 2026
Were you asked to show your license? Yes

Comments:

Easy

Date of return: January 11, 2026
Were you asked to show your license? No

Comments:

No issues

Date of return: January 11, 2026
Were you asked to show your license? No

Comments:

I had no issues. It was no different than returning from anywhere else.

Date of return: December 31, 2025
Were you asked to show your license? No

Comments:

We had a really easy time with global entry. We just walked through without any issues

Date of return: December 31, 2025
Were you asked to show your license? No

Comments:

We were the only people in the US citizen line. Just took our photo (bio metric data) and let us through.

Date of return: December 31, 2025
Were you asked to show your license? No

Comments:

It was surprisingly smooth. I wasn't stopped or questioned as I expected I would be.

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