if a person (a US citizen) were considering marriage to a dominican, would it be easier for that person to obtain a residency visa before the marriage, or is it easier to obtain this visa after the wedding?
If you apply after marriage, you are exempt from the requirement of a guarantor. Your Dominican spouse serves as the guarantor. If you are a woman marrying a Dominican, you can also opt for citizenship, which is easier to get than a residency.
Go to the Legal section of DR1 for more information on requirements for both residency and citizenship.