151 its official after more than 50 years of isolationist policies toward the island nation the united states and cuba establish normal diplomatic relations monday but now that relations are normal what actually changes here are four things that will and five things that wont change as the two countries reestablished diplomatic relations president obama new chapter begins as us cuba will open embassies cubaus expect to announce embassy openings next week take a look inside the cuban embassy that will reopen in the us what will change 1 theres an embassy in january 1961 president castro banished us diplomats calling them a nest of spies closed down the embassy and broke ties with america the cuban embassy in the united states was also shuttered both being turned over to third parties to maintain until 1977 when they became interest sections with the reestablishment of diplomatic relations today both countries officially have embassies and will be able to fly their countries flags once again 2 diplomats can travel under the interest sections cuban diplomats were not allowed to travel outside the beltway in washington without first getting special permission americans couldnt travel outside havana without special permission that changes today diplomats in both countries have the freedom to move as they please with only the standard international agreement to notify the host country after travel 3 more technologyinternet access there has already been an increase in telecommunication development in cuba the government increased internet hot spots throughout the country while reducing the price to access the internet while most cubans still dont have access to the internet in their own homes their ability to use it around the country has increased google has already visited the island twice and with the united states allowing commercial sale of some telecommunication devices it is expected to continue to grow 4 easier cultural religious group travel when president obama announced his intention to normalize relations with cuba he expanded the groups allowed to visit and made it easier for them to go previously people needed a special license from the treasury now if they fit one of the 12 groups they can go without getting the license what wont change 1 the embargo remains the us governments normalized relations with cuba dont mean the embargo goes away international relations with other countries are decided by the president but the embargo is controlled by congress and as such will require an act of congress to end there are some bills introduced to end travel and ease business interactions but they havent gone very far 2 travel still banned for pure tourism despite normal diplomatic relations people cant go to cuba for a sun and sand vacation tourist travel to cuba is still prohibited for us citizens unless they fall into one of the 12 preapproved groups outlined by the treasury mostly including family visits and workrelated travel 3 only limited us companies can do business us businesses may be clamoring to get into