The newly arrived US Consul General in the Dominican William D. Swaney gave a press conference to announce he is back since July 2025. This is his third appointment to the country.
During the press conference on 27 August 2025, Swaney mentioned that the US Consulate in Santo Domingo is second in volume of visas processed to Mexico. He said around 200,000 visas were processed, including around 50,000 migrant visas in 2024.
He urged people to use the digital channels and to correctly fill out the forms. He also urged people to strictly comply with the terms of the visas.
In an interview with Diario Libre, Swaney highlighted that the maximum stay on a tourist visa is 90 to 180 days. He said that those who have exceeded their permitted stay, or use the tourist visa for seasonal work, or have been stopped for drunk driving are subject to having their visas revoked.
He said that any person who needs to extend their stay should submit an official request, arguing why they need the extension.
He also expressed his pleasure in being back and that he is looking forward to continuing to explore the country. He requested that people send him suggestions of new places to go.
He has held two prior assignments based in Santo Domingo. The Dominican Republic was his first appointment in the US Foreign Service. He had just completed his masters in international affairs at the George Washington University in 1996 when in 1997 he was appointed vice consul based in Santo Domingo.
He returned as general consul in 2018 and was in the DR for the Covid-19 crisis.
The US ambassadors during his first term were Donna Hrinak and Manuel Rocha, and Robin S. Bernstein, during his second term.
At the time of his most recent appointment to the DR, Swaney had been serving in Tijuana, Mexico. He is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service with 28 years’ experience in both domestic and overseas assignments.
His prior experience includes jobs in the domestic passport directorate as well as in the consular sections of Paris, France, Yaounde, Cameroon and two prior assignments in Santo Domingo. Swaney also served as on a provincial reconstruction team in Afghanistan and served in the Netherlands. He has held domestic positions with the International Organizations Bureau and the State Department Operations Center.
Swaney has a degree in Political Science from Bates College.
The Trump administration has nominated Leah F. Campos as US ambassador to the Dominican Republic but the US Embassy continues to be managed by Patricia Aguilera, as charge d’affaires.
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28 August 2025