Hi Chip,
I can't answer all your questions with complete accuracy, but can help with some of the info you requested.
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Originally Posted by Chip
1. Has anybody had the experience of a Dominican who is married to an American citizen being given a tourist visa?
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Yes
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Originally Posted by Chip
The #2 question is on behalf of a friend whose fiance is Dominican who are thinking about living here in the Dr but visiting the US with the possibility of using the tourist visa(if obtained) to change the status at some point in the future.
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you actually give up your tourist visa status if your intention is to stay permanently in the USA. once you obtain citizenship in the USA you can travel back to the DR being a US citizen, this can take YEARS!
if you have a tourist visa and you travel 2-3 times a year between the DR>>USA then you would fit into the usual 6 month maximum time aloud in the USA and could keep it that way if you desire.
my situation was that I got married in the DR and lived there for 2 years before petitioniong for a visa. i was able to get my wife the tourist visa as we traveled frequently back and forth. the most important thing is to prove that your dominican spouse WILL return from their trip! this should include cash in the bank and other assests that the tourist would not want to lose or not have access to.
after some time we moved to puerto rico and this is when my wife gave up the tourist visa and stayed past her 6 month visitor visa status and filed for residency.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chip
3. What is the amount of consective time that one must stay in the US to keep a permanent residency visa status current?
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Not 100% sure but it will take years rather than months.
usually until you obtain citizenship.
sometimes ins won't even review your application for 1+ years.
https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/jsps/ptimes.jsp
Hope this helps,
Juan