Help- My Visa Is Late!!

[LSimone]

Please help- I applied for a visa to go to DR for a year and it's late! The consulate keeps telling me to wait but I leave this weekend. I have a gut feeling that it will not be ready (by the way I applied over 2 weeks ago!)

WHAT CAN/SHOULD I DO???? I need it because I purchasd a one way ticket!!! And I purchased a one-way ticket because I need to return to the U.S. June 25, 2005 and most airlines don't book that far! HELP HELP HELP!!! Can I do anything to expedite this process?

[Adrian Bye]

1. Get your passport back with, or without the visa
2. See if the USA will let you fly on a 1-way ticket. They may not care.
3. Have $20-$50 in USD for when you enter the DR, in case there is an issue. They may not care either.

The worst you have to do is change your ticket from one way to return. Probably the cost is not that different.

[LSimone]

Originally Posted by adrianb

1. Get your passport back with, or without the visa
2. See if the USA will let you fly on a 1-way ticket. They may not care.
3. Have $20-$50 in USD for when you enter the DR, in case there is an issue. They may not care either.

The worst you have to do is change your ticket from one way to return. Probably the cost is not that different.

thank u so much for replying- the issue is the I am flying with american airlines and they say that they will refuse to let me board the plane if I do not have my visa.

and won't i get in trouble if i stay there for a year and work/study without a visa?

[ricktoronto]

Originally Posted by LSimone

thank u so much for replying- the issue is the I am flying with american airlines and they say that they will refuse to let me board the plane if I do not have my visa.

and won't i get in trouble if i stay there for a year and work/study without a visa?

If you go on a tourist visa and overstay **5** years the fine is RD$1000 or about $40. I think a year or so is about $5 to $8 US. Maybe the visa can arrive while you are there and you can have someone FedEx it. You will have to buy a round trip ticket , it doesn't have to be June 2005 return of course, since they won't know how long you plan to stay when you arrive and won't ask to see the ticket either - only AA will.

[anonymous1960]

Not a problem.

GET YOUR PASSPORT BACK. Consulate employees are monkeys.
Airline won't let you on the plane without a return ticket.
The very same day you leave, go to the AA counter and buy a Santo Domingo-San Juan ticket (get it refundable, about 100US$).

When you get your residency, reimburse it.

[Dolores]

What country are you from? Maybe you do not need a visa, but a tourist card. Many times people confuse the two.

[LSimone]

Originally Posted by Dolores

What country are you from? Maybe you do not need a visa, but a tourist card. Many times people confuse the two.

I'm from the U.S. I will be working and studying in the DR. So far this is what I gather:

1) Buy a return ticket to the U.S.
2) Get a tourist card when I am in DR
3) Get a refund on my reurn ticket

***The Consulate says I can also apply for a visa while in the DR. The problem is that they are waiting to hear back from ppl in the DR.

But here is ym question- if I get a tourist card, knowing that I WILL study and work (this is an educational fellowship where I am creating and implementing a project)...will I get fined...isn't that a violation for 'tourists' to work?
Will I have trouble if I get a tourist card and then attempt to get a visa later?

[chuckuindy]

I have purchased many one way tickets to and from the DR and never had a problem, or have ever been even questioned by American Airlines. The reason for me purchasing a one way ticket was that I would either arrive or depart the DR on my bosses Gulfstream Jet and then take a commercial flight home to Indianapolis or wherever my destination was. In fact I have on several occasions I have flown from London to La Romana on a one way ticket.

As Rick pointed out, if you stay longer than 15 days in the DR they will charge you $10 for an extended visa, whether you stay 16 days or 2 years. This is collected at the airport by DR customs officials when you leave the country. In my 40 or so trips to the DR the only thing that I have ever presented to any airlines or customs official in either the DR or US has been my passport. Any additional forms you will need will be supplied by the airlines while in-flight or by US and DR customs at the arrival sites.

Good luck and get your passport back NOW.
Charlie

[Dolores]

Originally Posted by LSimone

I'm from the U.S. I will be working and studying in the DR. So far this is what I gather:

1) Buy a return ticket to the U.S.
2) Get a tourist card when I am in DR
3) Get a refund on my reurn ticket

***The Consulate says I can also apply for a visa while in the DR. The problem is that they are waiting to hear back from ppl in the DR.

But here is ym question- if I get a tourist card, knowing that I WILL study and work (this is an educational fellowship where I am creating and implementing a project)...will I get fined...isn't that a violation for 'tourists' to work?
Will I have trouble if I get a tourist card and then attempt to get a visa later?

You don't have a problem, other than getting back your passport from the Consulate. Just come on down on and purchase a tourist card at the airport upon entrance. Just enter as a tourist coming for a vacation and then if the people you are working with see it necessary, apply for the student-work visa. This may not be necessary.

[LSimone]

Thanks guys!

Chuck you are so lucky. I actually called American Airlines and the reason I am all worked up is because they told me that they would refuse to let me board the plane if I do not have a visa since my ticket is one-way. Soooo...I guess i'll purchase a refundable return ticket just in case...arrrrggggghhhhh.