Travel Information For Cuba Changed Following Inquiry

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Travel for Americans to and from Cuba prompted another look at policy that was apparently erroneously posted on the U.S. embassy's website for more than a year.

Thoughts of a Cuba trip for Cuban American families turned to concern when word got out that sons and daughters of Cuban American citizens born in Cuba would automatically be considered Cuban citizens and subject to service in the Cuban armed forces, according to the information previously posted on the site.

"Last year the American embassy put out an advisory as to travel to Cuba. In it, erroneously, they said children born of Cuban parents in the United States would be considered Cubans," said Willy Allen.

CBS4 took the issue to the U.S. State Department and quickly the website information was changed but there was no explanation why.

According to Allen, the bottom line is, "Any child born of Cuban parents, born in the United States, is an American. If they go to Cuba, they are considered to be American and go with American passports."

Following the inquiry, the U.S. State Department issued a statement Thursday saying,

"It was brought to our attention that we were providing inaccurate information on our website regarding children born in the U.S. to Cuban-born parents.  We have corrected that inaccurate information.

On our website, we note that the Government of Cuba treats U.S. citizens born in Cuba as Cuban citizens, and may subject them to a range of restrictions and obligations.

It is our understanding that, although children born in the United States to Cuban-born parents are entitled to APPLY for their parents' Cuban citizenship and in so doing could be considered Cuban citizens, the Government of Cuba DOES NOT automatically consider such children to be Cuban citizens."

This means travel for children of those born in Cuba should be trouble-free, according to the U.S. embassy website.