Travelling to Europe for Dominican citizens changes in 2024

[DrNoob]

Is it possible that this confusion is because Dominica has short term visa-free access and will move to ETIAS ?

I used to apply for Schengen at France/Dutch consulates. On the 'might overstay' part, they look for things like family, pensions, financial interests, businesses in the country of origin as factors that will compel them to return. It might also help if someone is inviting you to visit them or as someone mentioned, a package trip where the tour operator will provide paperwork to help.

BTW ETIAS is from mid-2025 and the only thing it has been useful so far has been to provide British newspapers a constant source to write articles warning Brits that 'changes are coming' every blooming week

 

[Manuel01]

I have read that a visa waver program (ETIAS) will be put in place in 2024 that will allow travel for up to 90 days visa free. Any members on board with expertise on the subject willing to elaborate. TIA.

YEAH RIGHT !!! ......WILL NEVER HAPPEN !!!! With all the social benefits that illegals get in Europe (specially in Germany). Who is going to come back ???

 

[Aguaita29]

So why doesn't Colombians, Venezuelans or Peruvians need a Visa? I don't think that citizens from those countries have less interest in leaving their home country than Dominicans.
Those who have enough money to leave normally wants to stay in the DR, and those who don't, normally don't have enough money to pay for the trip. And I don't believe that it would make any difference, those who are determined to leave DR and live illegally somewhere else will find the way with or without Visa requirements, it only "hurts" the rest of us who has to take those additional costs and steps to be able to take our families abroad.

Mexicans don´t need a visa either, and they´re also notorious for "relocating".

 

[Fulano2]

Is it possible that this confusion is because Dominica has short term visa-free access and will move to ETIAS ?

I used to apply for Schengen at France/Dutch consulates. On the 'might overstay' part, they look for things like family, pensions, financial interests, businesses in the country of origin as factors that will compel them to return. It might also help if someone is inviting you to visit them or as someone mentioned, a package trip where the tour operator will provide paperwork to help.

BTW ETIAS is from mid-2025 and the only thing it has been useful so far has been to provide British newspapers a constant source to write articles warning Brits that 'changes are coming' every blooming week

Sorry but I don’t understand what Dominica has to do with this.

 

[Fulano2]

YEAH RIGHT !!! ......WILL NEVER HAPPEN !!!! With all the social benefits that illegals get in Europe (specially in Germany). Who is going to come back ???

Illegals get nothing, forget it.

 

[JimW]

Yes. Last week we received ( for my dominican wife) a rejection letter for a visa to Spain that we wanted to vacay sept/Oct. We provided every proof of assets one would need to buy a million dollar home. Seriously. Still rejected. "Applicant shows she may not return".
Foolishness and wasted my money in fees including $150 to expedite. Package included: Title to late model car, on title for a house in the capital, my 6month finace statements and more.
No problem. Less stress. Go to plan B

Hi John,

Sorry to hear. Question, so I assume you either have an EU visa or are an EU citizen where you don't need any additional documentation and the appointment was just for you wife, correct? If so, since you are married, they may then suspect that both of you would be able to enter and not leave (especially if you already are an EU citizen with ability to support both of you). Note when you mention title to a late model car, that's not anything that really grounds a person to a country (though it does show proof of resources to be able to afford the vacation).

Question though, when you wrote; "on title for a house in the capital", is her name actually on the title or is it in your name and you both live there? Big difference of course. If it's your titled property on her application that doesn't necessarily tie her to the country and give her a reason to go back.

Sorry again to hear it didn't work out...

 

[DrNoob]

Sorry but I don’t understand what Dominica has to do with this.

I think the OP might have confused Schengen/ETIAS changes applying to Domincan citizens (from Dominica) and thought they applied to Dominicans (from Dominican Republic)

 

[Manuel01]

Illegals get nothing, forget it. Of course they do ! Upon arrival they only need to request asylum . Until they might be deported (at least 2 years if they do not lawyer up, min 5 years with a decent lawyer and never with a good lawyer) they are legal Asylum seekers and get a whole bunch of benefits incl. housing, free healthcare and up to 500Euro in Cash

 

[aarhus]

If the ETIAS into the EU is like the ESTA into the US then it's just a formality that you fill in online and quickly get approval. In the DR it affects citizens of countries who don't need a visa to the EU. Americans, Brits, Canadians etc

 

[josh2203]

If so, since you are married, they may then suspect that both of you would be able to enter and not leave (especially if you already are an EU citizen with ability to support both of you).

As far as I understand, that does not really make sense, as being married would actually be a positive sign in the eyes of the embassy. I don't know about other embassies, but for Germany, applying Schengen visa for married persons is free of charge and you need to submit fewer documents as opposed to persons who are not married. As per the embassy/migration, I have the "right" to travel to my home territory with my legal spouse. I put "right" into quotation marks as obviously it's not a "human right" as such, but still, I am legally allowed to visit my home country with my legal family. Other requirements will still need to be fulfilled though, but the process is lighter, I think.

Due to the above mentioned as well, I really have hard time understanding why the application for johne was declined.

For the assets, we have never had any notable assets anywhere, much less my wife, and nobody has ever asked about this either...

 

[aarhus]

In general as an idea tu build up for a visa to the US or the EU for a Dominican someone can start traveling first internationally to other places. I did that with my ex. I was really gutted together with her when she was rejected a US visa at first for a trip we where planning. Later she got a 10 year visitors visa which I was happy I could contribute to happening. I am certain it helped that they could see she had travelled to Colombia, Panama and Brazil. Places we went together. I believe she just renewed her 10 year US and last year got a 5 year Schengen and in this case with the EU it was an organised group travel thing which has also been recommended in this thread.

 

[MariaRubia]

In general as an idea tu build up for a visa to the US or the EU for a Dominican someone can start traveling first internationally to other places. I did that with my ex. I was really gutted together with her when she was rejected a US visa at first for a trip we where planning. Later she got a 10 year visitors visa which I was happy I could contribute to happening. I am certain it helped that they could see she had travelled to Colombia, Panama and Brazil. Places we went together. I believe she just renewed her 10 year US and last year got a 5 year Schengen and in this case with the EU it was an organised group travel thing which has also been recommended in this thread.

I agree with this as well. I would strongly advise anyone looking to get into the EU / UK to use an immigration attorney. I used one to get a visa for my kid, the lady was the most professional lawyer I've ever worked with, she completely nailed the application and we're now onto the third visa which was issued for 5 years. Immigration is an absolute nightmare in Europe, it's never out of the newspapers and there is an incredibly strong public feeling about it, so it will only get harder and harder.

 

[Fulano2]

Manuel. When they are acknowledged as refugees they are not illegal. When there status is refused, then they are and will no longer be supported.

 

[drpesson]

I agree with this as well. I would strongly advise anyone looking to get into the EU / UK to use an immigration attorney. I used one to get a visa for my kid, the lady was the most professional lawyer I've ever worked with, she completely nailed the application and we're now onto the third visa which was issued for 5 years. Immigration is an absolute nightmare in Europe, it's never out of the newspapers and there is an incredibly strong public feeling about it, so it will only get harder and harder.

For spain I understand /ojr e xperience was that unless you use a lawyer you wont get a visa,

 

[josh2203]

Manuel. When they are acknowledged as refugees they are not illegal. When there status is refused, then they are and will no longer be supported.

Correct, and an important point is that you cannot just appear from any country in the world and apply for asylum, as each country, as far as I know, has an evaluation of other countries in the sense that where is the situation dangerous enough that the asylum seeker is in danger if they go back. These evaluations are carried out constantly and can also change. For example: when the very unfortunate Ukraine attack began, the only requirement for Ukrainians to stay legally in Germany was to have a Ukrainian passport with them. No questions asked at that time.

Manuel is also right, the status of an asylum application might not change for years in the worst case scenario and then you might get declined, at which point you indeed become an illegal and need to leave the country immediately, I think? So for asylum seekers their status might change even a long time after entering the respective country, whereas that is obviously not the case if you apply for a normal residency. Once you get it, you will have it for the period of time it was given for unless you start committing enough crimes to warrant to be deported.

 

[josh2203]

For spain I understand /ojr e xperience was that unless you use a lawyer you wont get a visa,

I'm curious, why is this? What does the lawyer do that a "normal person" cannot do? Is it that people submit incomplete applications or? I'm asking as Spain is obviously a Schengen country, so how come it's much easier to get a visa to another state in the same territory?

 

[Notengo]

I'm curious, why is this? What does the lawyer do that a "normal person" cannot do? Is it that people submit incomplete applications or? I'm asking as Spain is obviously a Schengen country, so how come it's much easier to get a visa to another state in the same territory?

The rejection rate of Spain isn’t extraordinary, but since Spain takes up more than 60% of all EU visa requests from the DR the absolute numbers are high and so is the absolute amount of rejections.
Another factor that “may” play a role is that many Dominicans have family who work and have residency in Spain so it is easier to (over)stay longer with them.

The reasons for a lawyer may be similar to the residency process expats face in the DR..

 

[drpesson]

I'm curious, why is this? What does the lawyer do that a "normal person" cannot do? Is it that people submit incomplete applications or? I'm asking as Spain is obviously a Schengen country, so how come it's much easier to get a visa to another state in the same territory?

We won (along with about 80 other people) a european cruise as a reward for working with a big insurance company here. Most got the Schengen visa, but needed a visa for spain as thats where the flight landed.
The Spanish visa was impossible to get.The NEVER answer tel calls.The interview times were like a couple of hours a few times a week.We had to leave a 5 am to be able to make appts before they closed. One minute late. too bad.
they rejected everyone with a fom letter, and we dont think they ever even looked at the applications.a few people did get the visas but they all used a lawyer. Apparently this is the only way you get it.

It was a horrible degrading experience for us.Profundly disapointing to miss out an a European cruise as a result of the Spanish embassy's subhuman treatment of us.
, except some people w

 

[RDKNIGHT]

No Thanks

 

[keepcoming]

My SIL is in Barcelona for a medical conference. She said that it is crazy busy with tourists, getting through the airport was the worst she has ever seen. She and her husband travel to Spain once a year. Seems a lot of her medical conferences are in Spain. I do know that they used a lawyer to get their visas as that is what was recommended.