Banco Popular Services for Visas - Page 2

macocael · #11 03-13-2006, 08:54 PM

Howmar is correct about BP. This is just set up to facilitate the lines at the consulate. They do not ensure that your papers are in order, though you will be told what to bring. I fyou do not have the items I indicated above: proof of ownership of property, bank account, job, etc, you are unlikely to be given a tourist visa to the US. I dont know about Canada, but I imagine the scenario is similar.

El_Gallo · #12 03-12-2008, 05:48 PM

First timer:

I had been waiting (patiently) for the last 2 1/2 years for a K1 (Fiance) visa, only to find out that they gave me a date last year (2007). Not only did I not know or receive any information, but no one even attempted to contact me or my fiance to this fact. So after finding out that they didn't deliver the papers with my appointment, I calmly called the number that costs $7.00 (US) each time you call (and it's charged to your credit card) where I was told that they would have to do an investigation. Almost 4 months later, nothing... So I figure, to help expedite things, let me pay for her visa through Banco Popular.

So I go to their website in the US and figure that this should be a no brainer... I can open an account in the US and give my fiance a ATM card to access the account and she can pay for things over in DR. Well, after getting no response from my email inquiries, I call the main number in the US only to be told that each branch is separate and not affilliated with the other.

In other words the Banco Popular in DR is Banco Popular Dominicano, the Banco Popular in Puerto Rico is Banco Popular Puerto Rico and the Banco Popular in the US is Banco Popular. I have never heard of such a stupid setup in my life!!! So now I have to wait until the next time that I go back to DR to open an account at Banco Popular in DR. Any money transfers are just that, they are similar to a wire transfer between different banking systems. Which of course is not free...

Unfortunately, for a country that is making great strides to becoming both a business and tourism based economy, this is such a negative toward that effort..