A tourist visa for a Dominican

[Jim Hinsch]

This question has been posted more times than I can count. To get a tourist (or student) visa for a Dominican to travel to a country such as the USA or Canada, and many European countries, the immigration people at the destination country must be convinced the applicant will not stay once they arrive. This means proving the applicant has something substantial back home and has it good enough back home that they would have little reason to stay.

This often translates to having money in the bank, having held down a good job for a long time, usually a skilled job, significant assets such as a car, house, boat, etc. that one would have to abandon if they were to stay.

In addition, race, social status, family and political connections and luck can play a strong role. Pressure can be applied via local politicians from the USA or Canada that often meets with success, even if the other criteria have not been met very well.

The alternative is a fiance visa. You apply, wait 3-12 months for approval after providing a ton of personal information and proof that you really know eachother and perhaps even hire an attorney to help with the process, the foreigner signs a support agreement, a visa is issued, the applicant travels, and has 90 days to marry or return, after which, they must remain married for I think 2 years else again they have to return.

Some European countries are much easier to travel to, especially if a European agrees to "sponser" the applicant, taking full responsibility for expenses and support and making a formal invitation for the applicant to visit.

Jim Hinsch JimHinsch@CSI.COM

 

[Mike]

Why do you feel race plays a role?

I'm not blind, but seems in this day and age in the USA race should not be a factor. The other items you mention are of course considered.

 

[Loren]

Re: Why do you feel race plays a role?

Jim is right. "Should not" is one thing, but "Is not" is something completely different. Unfortunately, it is sometimes a factor. Patrick Buchanan advocated giving preferential immigration treatment to europeans. Nicaraguans and Cubans have been treated better than hatians, though their circumstances have been similar, and in some cases, the hatians have been in a more dealy situation from which they had to escape. Do you notice how quickly we mobilized to move refugees from Kosovo to US soil? Did you see that in Rwanda or Somalia (or haiti?)

 

[Mike]

Re: Why do you feel race plays a role?

He was talking about Visa's, not immigration to the USA, and my understanding is that for Tourist visa's, you have to meet the critria he listed, Fiancee Visa depend more on the sponser than the visitor.

Your points however, I will comment on.

Pat is a bigot, he admits it, but at least I know where he stands on issues like this. I think the Jewish people attack him unfairly so thus, I sometimes find myself defending him. I had not heard/read about the prefrencial treatment you describe, but would assume he has no problem with any person who qualifies.

As far as the Hatians, well I think you are confused again about the qualifications for legal immergration, one would assume they are leaving for a better life , risking there own, or in fear, but none of these qualify for same. The Cuban and Nicaraguans have an economic base here in the US and you will also find it is those with money coming, not the poor.

Kosovo people were never realy moved here, it was a political show as you know. I never understood why we did not just set up a camp there on the border, seems we could protect a square mile of soil? anywhere in the world and in a square mile or two, all could have been housed and fed. It was all political, not racial. The African situation is considered not to be in American interest, which is a fact. Humantiarn aid is another question.

Mike

 

[gio]

Re: Why do you feel race plays a role?

I agree that race and also nationality plays a role sometimes. For example, whenever there was an immigration lottery in the USA, it only involved "white countries" like Ireland, and I think Poland, and others. It seemed to me that the Hispanics and the browner populations like Asians and Africans were ignored. I have nothing against people for their color! I come from a very rainbow kind of family! However; take a look at the past immigration lotteries in the USA and correct me if I'm mistaken!