DR citizen travelling outside DR

gardito

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Jan 15, 2004
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Anyone can tell me what would be the requirements for a DR citizen to travel to any Caribbean island ? Keep in mind that he most probably would have to go through SJU (USA). Would he require an exit visa, or an entry visa or any special paperwork for in transit via SJU ?

Thanks, E.
 

SKY

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Apr 11, 2004
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SJU is the same as going to the U.S. A Dominican would need a Visa to the U.S.

There are other routes without going to the U.S. or Puerto Rico to take. Any Domincan travel agent can help you.
 

ricktoronto

Grande Pollo en Boca Chica
Jan 9, 2002
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They have to have a transit visa or a visitors visa, since there are no sterile transfer areas in US airports a transit visa is as risky to INS as the other type, as you can leave the San Juan airport or you can switch to a domestic flight or whatever you want. E.g. no chance of the average Dominican connecting in San Juan, Miami, NYC. Because they won't get a visa.

COPA has connections in Panama, in theory there are connections out of Havana, and out of Caracas with Aeropostal.
 

Hillbilly

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Jan 1, 2002
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There are direct flights to the Dutch West Indies: Curaçao, Aruba and Bonaire as well as St. Maartens. That is one of the preferred routes into Puerto Rico BTW...

HB:D
 

gardito

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Jan 15, 2004
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Thank you for the replies. It would be for an "average" dominican. HB, what airlines would be direct to SXM (Saint Maarten) ? Also, I figure they would need DR passports, how difficult ($$$) would it be to obtain one (if they don't have one already) ??

Again, Thanks. E.
 

yaidani

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Feb 23, 2005
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ricktoronto said:
They have to have a transit visa or a visitors visa, since there are no sterile transfer areas in US airports a transit visa is as risky to INS as the other type, as you can leave the San Juan airport or you can switch to a domestic flight or whatever you want. E.g. no chance of the average Dominican connecting in San Juan, Miami, NYC. Because they won't get a visa.

COPA has connections in Panama, in theory there are connections out of Havana, and out of Caracas with Aeropostal.

Transit visas are not terribly hard to get. These visas are insured because they will hold onto your passport (take away from you) until you reach your destination. An "average" dominican should have little trouble obtaining one.
 

SKY

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yaidani said:
Transit visas are not terribly hard to get. These visas are insured because they will hold onto your passport (take away from you) until you reach your destination. An "average" dominican should have little trouble obtaining one.

The U.S. does not issue transit visas, you would need a regular Visa.
 

SKY

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To get a transit visa you would have to go through the same steps as a regular Visa. It may be called a transit Visa, but in fact you have the same chance to obtain a regular one as you would this one. About one in a hundred for an average Dominican.

In the past you could travel through the U.S. without a Visa. This changed and everyone that lands in the U.S.now needs a Visa.
 

Conchman

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Jul 3, 2002
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Transit Visas or travelling 'in transit' through the U.S. used to be a regular non problem process. Since, 9-11, a transit visa is just as hard to get as a visitor visa. In fact, I'm not even sure they still issue transit visa but as other posters have stated, even if you just want to stop in Miami to catch another flight, you would have to apply for a visitor visa as if you were staying in the country. Its ridiculous but so again is whole US Immigration department. Maybe if you're mexican or cuban or a terrorist you have it easier to get in the country.
 

ricktoronto

Grande Pollo en Boca Chica
Jan 9, 2002
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yaidani said:
Transit visas are not terribly hard to get. These visas are insured because they will hold onto your passport (take away from you) until you reach your destination. An "average" dominican should have little trouble obtaining one.

Who will hold your passport? Nobody. If you are thinking of the TWOV program it was cancelled more than 2 years ago right in the middle of the PanAm games in Santo Domingo. No visa, no US connection, simple fact. No average Dominican will get one, in other words.

Whether a transit visa exists or not is moot - because there is no system to control the arriving/connecting passenger's activity since once through INS, the passenger is in the non-sterile area of the airport (in fact is even outside security except ITI connections), they can just leave the airport, thus exposing the US to the same risk as a visitors visa.

The US and Canada have not twigged to the value of the Hong Kong or San Salvador/Guatemala/Panama type of connection where you can go from an arrival gate to another without ever actually entering the country through immigration. Which is why Iberia switched many flights from LatAm to Madrid to Guatamela from Miami - no immigration/visa issues to contend with.