There seems to be like a million posts about Dominicans obtaining US visas (or more realistically not getting them), but I would like to get an honest opinion on my situation if my girlfriend has any shot at a US F-1 student visa.
This looks like a great site with a lot of ideas, opinions, etc and the people here seem to have heard it all before, but here are the facts of my situation (as briefly as I can state them):
1. I was 24 yrs old, in DR for 3 months in 2002, met a girl early on (19 yrs old) and started what I never thought I would do (a long distance relationship - especially since it is with a girl from 3rd world country).
2. I am now in NY, working as an accountant and been back to DR 4 times in past year. We talk everyday and against whatever odds there there could be an outside chance of a future for us.
3. She is from a working class family (I know what everyone assumes about this). She has completed 3 semesters at Universidad O y M in POP and was previously working at her aunt's gift shop/tour company.
4. Early on, I was clueless about US visas so she was obviously rejected for a US tourist visa.
5. I knew things had to change if she would have any chance to visit here (fiance/marriage visas will always be the last resort as I want more normal time together with her before a drastic move like this).
6. She was making a DR salary at her job (like 1000 pesos/week), so I encouraged her to continue making and selling to tourists and stores the jewelry that she and her brothers did in their spare time.
7. I pushed the process along and told her to UPS me 1000 of her necklaces so that I could sell here (I have done well and sold a lot so far to stores/fleamarkets, etc).
8. With the money I sent her for the necklaces (about $2000), she opened a small bar in Sosua 2 months ago and has been working like crazy to be able work 7 days/week and continue school at O y M.
9. We picked a more realistic vacation spot (obviously not the US or Canada) and will be going to Aruba next month for 1 week (she got the Dutch visa yesterday).
10. I think she is doing good for someone with little bar experience (her gross sales are like 50,000 pesos/month, rent is 6300, 1 employee is 1100 + tips, and alcohol is marked up the normal amount for Sosua).
11. If bar continues to grow we would like to visit another country together in summer - possibly Ecuador because it is cheap, culturally very different than US/Aruba/or DR, and no back and forth bullshit for her to Santo Domingo because no visa is needed.
12. Also assuming decent profits for her, she plans to buy a small plot (she thinks it could cost 30,000 to 50,000 pesos) of land to 1 day build a house.
13. I found a community college with English as a second language courses here in New Jersey that accepts international students.
14. Talking with the school, they would accept her (her grades are good in DR) and issue the I-20 for her to take to consulate if she has enough money in bank (specifically 12,000/year to cover tuition, cost of living, etc).
15. I could sign the affidavit of support for her (because her parents would be of little help and she has not saved that much yet), but I think the consulate would just think I am trying to beat the system to get my girlfriend in the country so the best thing would be for a woman to do it (my mother is my #1 prospect if I can convince her).
So, if anyone has had the will and patience to follow (I probably wouldn' t if someone else posted something like this) - considering all the facts, do you think my girlfriend has any chance to get a student visa? (she would like to study childhood education and someday open a billingual school in DR). Any statistics about student visas from DR, ideas, suggestions, comments would be great!
Also, I would love to hear peoples' opinions on George Bush's immigration plan and how it could affect my situation.
Thank you,
Chris
This looks like a great site with a lot of ideas, opinions, etc and the people here seem to have heard it all before, but here are the facts of my situation (as briefly as I can state them):
1. I was 24 yrs old, in DR for 3 months in 2002, met a girl early on (19 yrs old) and started what I never thought I would do (a long distance relationship - especially since it is with a girl from 3rd world country).
2. I am now in NY, working as an accountant and been back to DR 4 times in past year. We talk everyday and against whatever odds there there could be an outside chance of a future for us.
3. She is from a working class family (I know what everyone assumes about this). She has completed 3 semesters at Universidad O y M in POP and was previously working at her aunt's gift shop/tour company.
4. Early on, I was clueless about US visas so she was obviously rejected for a US tourist visa.
5. I knew things had to change if she would have any chance to visit here (fiance/marriage visas will always be the last resort as I want more normal time together with her before a drastic move like this).
6. She was making a DR salary at her job (like 1000 pesos/week), so I encouraged her to continue making and selling to tourists and stores the jewelry that she and her brothers did in their spare time.
7. I pushed the process along and told her to UPS me 1000 of her necklaces so that I could sell here (I have done well and sold a lot so far to stores/fleamarkets, etc).
8. With the money I sent her for the necklaces (about $2000), she opened a small bar in Sosua 2 months ago and has been working like crazy to be able work 7 days/week and continue school at O y M.
9. We picked a more realistic vacation spot (obviously not the US or Canada) and will be going to Aruba next month for 1 week (she got the Dutch visa yesterday).
10. I think she is doing good for someone with little bar experience (her gross sales are like 50,000 pesos/month, rent is 6300, 1 employee is 1100 + tips, and alcohol is marked up the normal amount for Sosua).
11. If bar continues to grow we would like to visit another country together in summer - possibly Ecuador because it is cheap, culturally very different than US/Aruba/or DR, and no back and forth bullshit for her to Santo Domingo because no visa is needed.
12. Also assuming decent profits for her, she plans to buy a small plot (she thinks it could cost 30,000 to 50,000 pesos) of land to 1 day build a house.
13. I found a community college with English as a second language courses here in New Jersey that accepts international students.
14. Talking with the school, they would accept her (her grades are good in DR) and issue the I-20 for her to take to consulate if she has enough money in bank (specifically 12,000/year to cover tuition, cost of living, etc).
15. I could sign the affidavit of support for her (because her parents would be of little help and she has not saved that much yet), but I think the consulate would just think I am trying to beat the system to get my girlfriend in the country so the best thing would be for a woman to do it (my mother is my #1 prospect if I can convince her).
So, if anyone has had the will and patience to follow (I probably wouldn' t if someone else posted something like this) - considering all the facts, do you think my girlfriend has any chance to get a student visa? (she would like to study childhood education and someday open a billingual school in DR). Any statistics about student visas from DR, ideas, suggestions, comments would be great!
Also, I would love to hear peoples' opinions on George Bush's immigration plan and how it could affect my situation.
Thank you,
Chris
