Traveling to Cuba before getting a TN

Hi all,

I am a Canadian student about to graduate and start work on a TN visa in the US. After graduation (and before I apply for TN status) my family wants to go on a vacation to Cuba. Is this going to put my application for TN status in jeopardy? I would like to go, but if it is going to cause future problems, then I would rather avoid this.

I've found the following from the Canadian Government's Cuban travel website, but I'm not sure how this applies to me, as I am not yet a US resident, and technically I would have to remain a non-resident while on my TN.

Thanks in advance!

U.S. Residents

Under U.S. law, people residing in the United States, including Canadian citizens, are prohibited from spending money (in any currency) related to Cuban travel unless they are licensed by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), in the U.S. Department of the Treasury. For more information about the Cuban sanctions program, contact the OFAC at 202-622-2000.

I would not recommend going to Cuba. Mexico, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, etc. there are lot's of countries that are pleasant to visit and that are not thorns to the US. Heck, you couldn't even bring a Cuban cigar to the US, and you want to apply for work there with a "Cuba" stamp in your passport? Dude, not a good idea!

When you enter Cuba they do not stamp your passport, they stamp the visitors card that you surrender upon leaving Cuba. I have been to Cuba over 10 time and I have never had my passport stamped. The Cubans know that the Americans give hell to people that go there and they don't want to lose the tourists in that way. I have also seen Americans passing Cuban passport control in front of me with American passports and they had no problems what so ever.

Yeah, it's not a problem because you're not yet a resident of the US.