France lol. I feel like the French are trying to get out. Thanks to the new communist NFP govt!
- Thread starter johne
- Start date
Travelling to Europe for Dominican citizens changes in 2024
I'm a lawyer and I've never helped anyone produce a letter of invitation. If it's for tourism purposes a LOI is not mandatory. I've had lots of successful applications with hotel reservations. And if it's for business, then the institution or business abroad must provide you with one.
I have had quite a lot of experience in immigration matters, and I'm helping a friend set up an immigration law firm at the moment. Why would you use a lawyer? Simply because the decision to grant a visa or not is based on immigration law. These laws have a lot of conditions and clauses, and understanding them is not as simple as you might think. You are required not just to fill in a form, but to prove that you meet the conditions of the law.
One of those conditions for example is normally that the applicant must intend to return back to their country of origin at the end of their visit. How do you prove this? A lawyer is going to know exactly the type of proof that is required, will have experience of what has been accepted, and what isn't enough to count as proof. You as an applicant without a great deal of experience are not.
The issue with visa matters is that if you get rejected, the next time you apply you will automatically be at a disadvantage. There is always a question relating to whether you have applied before, and if you've been rejected once, this will be taken into account.
In my experience of using immigration lawyers, I've still had to do all the work to amass all the documents they require, but what they have done is to tell me what I need to provide, and have then set out the documentation and the application in a way that it is very likely to be granted, and in each case it has been.
One of those conditions for example is normally that the applicant must intend to return back to their country of origin at the end of their visit. How do you prove this? A lawyer is going to know exactly the type of proof that is required, will have experience of what has been accepted, and what isn't enough to count as proof. You as an applicant without a great deal of experience are not.
The issue with visa matters is that if you get rejected, the next time you apply you will automatically be at a disadvantage. There is always a question relating to whether you have applied before, and if you've been rejected once, this will be taken into account.
In my experience of using immigration lawyers, I've still had to do all the work to amass all the documents they require, but what they have done is to tell me what I need to provide, and have then set out the documentation and the application in a way that it is very likely to be granted, and in each case it has been.
Thank you, yes, I can fully agree with this. I suppose I'm a bit biased here as I have never had to think outside the box in the sense that we have only ever provided exactly those documents listed on the requirements, nothing more, nothing less. And have never had issues. And indeed, I know that the question of whether the person will return to the DR or not, based on the embassy's "behavior", somehow this has never occurred to them. I don't know why. As said previously, we have never had really any valuable assets in the DR. We have our vehicle there but even that is old.
For the above mentioned invitation letter, I suppose I can imagine a lawyer writing this, but I can't help thinking this being like a job application, so they officials could in the worst case scenario spot if you did not write it, or can ask questions about it? But yes, I can understand a lawyer being used for this.
Letter Of Invitation (LOI). Yes it has to come from abroad. I wasn't clear enough. Someone inviting you, providing financial support. Whether the LOI is required to Spain I do not know.
I wasn't aware a lawyer is needed to do hotel reservations in another country?
Re: Immigration law. I'm not quite sure (99%) that the granting of a visa is solely based on the law. What makes you believe that? Do you think that 100% of the people that apply for visas world wide, and are rejected, were not in accordance of the laws of immigration to the country they are applying? Do you think that all rejections are based on a application on line,a personal interview? If that was the case immigration worldwide could disband their immigration departments and rely on AI. Perhaps, that's the way it should go? All that would be missing would be: Biasis the agent might have against certain countries (entering HIS country), quota numbers HE needs to have each day on the job, a bias against vacation visas for a person with very little money, (or too much money), he is grumpy today because his wife said he was an ashole and will get even with each and every female he interviews today.
Maria, I respect you opinions, but on this one I totally disagree.
P> Edited to add: The political situation between the the two countries involved and how the "agent in power" feels about that.
When I was at the Casino in the Hard Rock when we opened in 2010 I had two people working for me that were applying for a tourist Visa in the US Embassy in SD. One was a 25 year old Dominican that worked in the Sportsbook cleaning up. Like people throw tickets on the floor, etc. He takes care of that. The other was one of the secretary’s. She had a much higher job. Had a car, bank account, papers they wanted The guy had a reservation that was not paid for yet and no bank account, car, or anything else.
She got turned down, and he got the Visa. ….
Well, had you practiced in the US BI (Before Internet) then they were required.
That having been said, they are no longer required in the US but I always suggest applicants strengthen/bolster an application with a detailed LOI to submit with their immigration package. Getting a tourist visa to the US is one of those vague processes where one never knows which way the wind will blow, so it is best to have as much supporting documentation as possible.
One thing I have surmised over the years is that there is an unwritten quota on tourist visas......once reached they turn off visa approvals for that day/week/month/year. Knowing when AND how to navigate those waters is where experienced immigration attorneys are worth their fees.
Realizing this post is not about the topic at hand, it is still a worthwhile endeavor for Dominicans to package a detailed LOI with a tourist visa application to any country......even if not required.
Respectfully,
Playacaribe2
Of course, such a letter of invitation would have to come from the country where the invititaion is made with the appropriate stamps and seals of that country, not from a lawyer in the DR. Some don't seem to have even read what the applicaiton needs and are making invalid assumptions on what a lawyer in the DR could do.
I can understand people using help if they are not able to read and/or comprehend the information for how to fill out the on line application for a Schengen visa, but that would be the only reason I can see not to do it yourself.
Don’t forget a LOI transfers several responsibilities to the one inviting and signing it. Unless unknown of the possible consequences only close related family members, friends or a company will be willing to sign it. In other words you really need to know someone who is willing to back you up in the country of your choice.
Thank you PC for your opinion on this subject and I fully agree with what you have written.
What do you think about (With a visa application for a visa to the USA) submitting a well written statement all the reason why the applicant will return to the DR after a vacation of 15 days? Reason being: I think a greater percentage of applicants to the USA that want a visa are turned down because the agent feels that applicant will not return. Clearly, that can't be the case with 100% of the applicants.
Perhaps you could, as a help to people here, post what you found out you needed from a lawyer that was above and beyond what you already had so that in the future people would not need a lawyer and still be approved.
I mean, unless that is something you want to keep a secret only lawyers are privy to.
I disagree as well. But then I only have experience with getting visas for my wife to the USA, Canada, and Mexico. Not the Schengen area. That appears to be more shrouded in secrecy...
I suspect there are also quota systems that are set up where a certain amount of visas are granted, but I could be wrong.
As to those suggesting a lawyer in the DR could draw up a letter of invitation in the DR which has to be submitted by someone in the Schengen area, why would you think that is even possible?
No letter of inivitation necessary. Let us see if we can further pierce the shroud of secrecy in getting Schengen visas for Dominicans.
I have NO IDEA what you are talking about re: "pierce the shroud of secrecy". Much of this subject regarding Schengen was discussed while you were in prison. Perhaps you weren't kept up to date?
Since I brought that LOI topic to the table I'm going to reply. I never suggested any DR lawyer can draw up a LOI and get it sent from someone in the Schengen group of countries. I just did not make it 100 % clear what I meant. LOI is an invitation coming from someone inviting you. I've had 29 of those since 2005 and a few more before that.
Lawyers needed to do hotel bookings abroad!? Most humans should be able to do that on their own.
Correct, in the case of German embassy, a so called "Verpflichtungserklärung" (declaration of commitment) is also needed, which is essentially a document created/issued by German government certifying that you, the one who invited in Germany, can take care of the invitee. The government can even check your credit history verifying your financial state. This document is then sent to the migration/embassy and forms part of the visa application.
They even look (in the case of Belgium/Netherlands) on google street view. At least that was the case when we invited my wife’s cousin in 2014.
If it is a barrio I assume they tend to deny.
We were discussing with the embassy about a 3 month visa, so tourist visa application falls under that as well.