so disappointed

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[lajefe]

My SO's tia went for a tourist visa interview today and was denied.  She has everything going for her, but still got the boot (same job for 27 year, house, land, kids, money in the bank).....

We are very disappointed as she was his only family that even had a chance at getting a visa, and now that is gone. knowing her personality, she will never apply again.    sometimes i wish i could just call and beg, but know it wont do any good.

[MayelinKP]

Sorry to hear that, maybe it happend for a reason.  You never know, maybe one day she can try it again and won't be denied.  Try to encourage her to try it again. 

[Enriquillo]

  Sorry to hear this. Tourist visas are very hard to obtain.

[Mayimbe007]

Sorry for the denial.  The vast majority of applications for tourist visa's are denied.  Did they at least tell her why she was denied?

[lajefe]

no reason for the denial, just plain 'ol denied.  What does it take to get one these days?

I would say she is a god fearing christian woman that loves her family and her job.  she just wanted to come visit for a bit.  she is an elementary school teacher, and with a job that difficult, i would hope that she could be rewarded for 27 YEARS of service and savings. 

boo.

[brlukath]

One is VERY rarely told why s/he is denied for a tourist visa.  They hand you a form that says (1) you don't meet the requirements and (2) don't come back until you do.

It sucks, it is unjust, it is not reasoned/logical, and there is nothing to be done about it.

[twincactus]

One is VERY rarely told why s/he is denied for a tourist visa.  They hand you a form that says (1) you don't meet the requirements and (2) don't come back until you do.

It sucks, it is unjust, it is not reasoned/logical, and there is nothing to be done about it.

Exactly. Primary reason: the DR is the number three country in terms of visa fraud. More than half of the tourist visas they do issue never return, so why issue even more?

-Tim

[brlukath]

More than half of the tourist visas they do issue never return, so why issue even more?

Crazy part is, 99% of Dominicans will still tell you that "if they give me that tourist visa, I'm never coming back!"  Neither they nor the US government understands that the problem is cyclical.  It's so hard (and expensive) to get a visa, that once you get it you stay.  So many people stay, making it harder and harder to get a visa. So... once a person gets one, they stay... etc.

(Not actually sure the government is so ignorant... we must remember the not-so-secret agenda of corporate America to have illegal labor so that they can keep proclaiming Made in America at Made in DR prices... but that is another story.)

[lajefe]

the reason you should issue them is that there ARE people that simply want to visit family or friends...and the more you deny, and the harder you make it for someone to get one, the more likely people are to stay for that exact reason.  There will always be visa fraud, so why should the people with good intentions suffer. 

the policy on who qualifies for a tourist visa a who doesn't should be revisited.  Why is it that drug dealers and shady buisnessmen can get one without incident, but some 50year old woman that wants to take a 2 week vacation is denied.    Its so illogical it makes me mad.

Also, about the denial, they told her that she didn't meet the qualifications and to come back in 6 months.  As tia said, "if i don't meet them now, i'm surely not going to meet them in 6 months."  I am whole-heartedly convinced that before they open the doors each day they predetermine that applicants number 1, 7, 27, etc., for example, will recieve a visa.  there is no rhyme or reason to it. 

maybe i should work there to give me some new perspective

[mexicana]

no reason for the denial, just plain 'ol denied.  What does it take to get one these days?

I would say she is a god fearing christian woman that loves her family and her job.  she just wanted to come visit for a bit.  she is an elementary school teacher, and with a job that difficult, i would hope that she could be rewarded for 27 YEARS of service and savings. 

boo.

Sorry about the denial. I had dozens of friends rejected and their parents as well. Some of the parents kept attempting to get their tourist visa and some were finally granted.

As far as her being a God fearing Christian, that is besides the point to these people. I'm sure your aunt is a good woman, but do you realize how many people play the religious card to get a religious visa or a tourist visa? I personally know an old friend who got a tourist visa because she was a missionary and she was a teacher as well. She ended up abusing the visa, married her sister's boyfriend so that she could get her papers straight, and pulled the fraud card. Now she is in the process of bringing her kids over from the DR. You really think someones faith is gonna save them in this?

[lajefe]

haven't checked this thread in awhile

I didn't mean to characterize my statement as "because my aunt is christian she should get a visa."  In fact, I would never agree with that statement...ever.  I just was trying to put a commonly held stereotype to describe her personality and nothing more.  Her religion has nothing to do with her visa.  I guess i should have stated she is very nice woman that would never say shit if her mouth was full of it.

you make a good point too mexi that just because someone appears one way does not predict what their underlying motives may or may not be.

either way, still disappointing.

[Ricky]

Could it be that the DR has some unique characteristics, such as

A very large DR immigrant community in the states, the Dominicans here tell tall tales to those back home...
Of the 3 largest islands in the Caribbean its citizens are not welcome
Its economy is very poor and the Haitians even poorer... they are not welcome either....
The unfair subsidy given to US sugar producers to keep Dominican Sugar off the US market which keeps the whole island's economy depressed and increasing poverty.
Fraud is high because the number of people applying is very high
You have a snowballs chance in hell of getting a visa tourist or other wise

[josiee225]

sorry to hear that..but the hardest visa to get are the tourist visa

[Colombiano]

I went to a lawyer in DR once who explained the process. He told me it works like this: Let's say 300 people are applying for a visa on any given day and there are say 3 officers doing the interviews - 100 each. Officer one will deny 99 of the 100 applicants. Officer 2 will give 10 visas and Officer 3 denies everyone. Of the ones they are planning to grant a Visa you have to be perfect. Every requirement they want times 10. If you are part of the group 1 you have 1% chance to get a visa and need to be flawless. Group 2 you are even luckier and need to be flawless. Group 3 you are screwed. Doesn't matter how flawless you are.

[twincactus]

I went to a lawyer in DR once

This is why this whole story is just that - a story. More to the point, crap.

Scott and I met the head of the tourist visa section when we toured the embassy, and I can tell you it is not done randomly, however some qualified applicants may not get them because they only issue what they are allowed to issue.

-Tim

[Frank the Tank]

I went to a lawyer in DR once

This is why this whole story is just that - a story. More to the point, crap.

Scott and I met the head of the tourist visa section when we toured the embassy, and I can tell you it is not done randomly, however some qualified applicants may not get them because they only issue what they are allowed to issue.

-Tim

So there is a quota in other words??

[twincactus]

Frank I cannot say for sure but just that IMHO there is.

-Tim

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