Ask the Consul
Ask the Consul is a collection of articles prepared by the Consular Section that cover a variety of subjects of interest for those who want to visit or live in the United States and for U.S. citizens in the Dominican Republic.
If you have a general consular question, please send it to us by e-mail. Then check this page every week; we select one question per week and post the answer in the below space. The same questions and answers are also published in the Zona de Contacto section of Listín Diario every Monday. Or you can listen to the radio (106.5 FM in Santo Domingo, 92.1 FM or 1010 AM in Santiago, 94.7 FM in La Romana, and 88.5 FM in Samana) to hear the questions and answers on the radio. The articles from previous years are accessible via the links on the left side of this page.
Important Note: Other than the questions we select to answer in Listín Diario, we DO NOT respond to questions sent to Ask the Consul. Please contact the American Citizens Services Unit, the Immigrant Visa Unit or the Nonimmigrant Visa Unit directly (using the links on the left) and follow the instructions on that unit’s web page in order to ask a question.
- Human Smuggling is Against U.S. Immigration Law, November 12
- I plan to travel over the holidays – when should I renew my expired US passport?, November 5
- Completing the DS-160: Be Accurate, Be Honest, October 29
- Should I take my children with me or have them travel later?, October 22
- Be Careful with Swindlers, October 15
- I'm an American Citizen but live in the Dominican Republic, can I vote in the upcoming elections?, October 1
- I’m a university student and I want to go visit my relatives in New York during the holidays. Will I qualify for a visa?, September 24
- I did my medical exam late and Consultorios de Visas told me that it will not be ready in time for my immigrant visa appointment. Should I still attend my scheduled interview appointment?, September 17
- Applying for a Non Immigrant Visa as a Group, September 10
- As an American citizen, can I transmit U.S. citizenship to my child born in the Dominican Republic?, September 3
- I have been told I need a Joint Sponsor for the petition I am filing. What does this mean?, August 20
- How can I avoid scams?, August 13
- I want to renew my child’s U.S. passport. What is required?, August 6
- How do I know if I am being scammed?, July 30
- Changing the way we communicate, the new way to contact American Citizens Services, July 16
- With a False Marriage, You Will Never Be Able to Immigrate!, July 9
- Visa renewal has been extended to cover multiple entries visas expired for four years, July 2
- Temporary Closing of Consulate Santo Domingo July 2-6, 2012, June 25, 2012
- Why Couldn't my Visa Interview be Completed?, June 18
- Be Careful with Swindlers, June 11
- I'm an American Citizen but live in the Dominican Republic, can I vote in the upcoming elections?, June 4
- New Non-Immigrant Visa Internet Appointment System, May 28
- Can my children be petitioned by my spouse to immigrate to the US?, May 21
- Does the petitioner have to be present at the Immigrant Visa Interview?, May 14
- Do I need an invitation from an American citizen or someone in the US in order to qualify for a tourist visa?, May 7
- The consul asked for genetic tests for all three of my children, although I have birth certificates. Why?, April 30
- Medical Exam for U.S. Immigrant Visa, April 23
- What can the Embassy do to help a sick or injured U.S. citizen in the Dominican Republic?, April 16
- Changes in visa application fees, April 9
- What type of visa do I need to transit the United States while traveling to another foreign country?, April 2
- How long do I have to travel to the U.S. once I have received my immigrant visa and packet?, March 26
- U.S. Tax Season is Here, March 19
- I submitted an application for a U.S. passport, and was given a list of additional documents I must provide. How long do I have to provide this information?, March 12
- What happens if I go to my immigrant visa interview without all the required materials?, March 5
- The U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo announces significant changes to nonimmigrant visa processing rules, effective immediately, February 27
- Expedited appointment system for U.S. passport renewals, February 20
- Why was I denied a visa under 214(b)?, February 13
- DNA Testing at Consulate Santo Domingo, February 6
- Earthquake Preparedness, January 30
- I have my visa, What do I need to think about before I travel?, January 23
- The consular officer suggested that I get a DNA test for my IV case. What should I do?, January 16
- I am a U.S. citizen living in the Dominican Republic. Am I required to pay U.S. income tax?, January 9
- What is required in order to bring my children’s nanny or other domestic employee with us to the United States? What should I do if my domestic employee overstays her visa?, January 2
- Ask the Consul - 2009
- Ask the Consul - 2010
- Ask the Consul - 2011