Ask the Consul
I would like to take my domestic employee to the United States. What are the requirements for a B-1 (business travel) visa specifically for domestic employees?
The requirements for a visa for a domestic employee are very clear and precise. The employer must either be temporarily traveling to the U.S. or a U.S. citizen with a primary residence in the Dominican Republic or abroad. Legal Permanent Residents of the U.S. cannot bring their domestic workers to the U.S. on a B-1 visa. Additionally, the employer should provide proof of their economic solvency (e.g. original bank statements) as evidence that they can afford to travel with a domestic.
At the interview, the employer and employee will need to present a signed contract, which is available at the consular section or on the webpage santodomingo.usembassy.gov. The contract includes the wage being paid in the Dominican Republic, the wage to be paid in the United States, and the length of time the employee has worked for the employer.
Although the employee's responses about their employment history and their relationship with the family support the B-1 visa application, it is still the responsibility of the domestic employee to demonstrate his/her intention of returning to the Dominican Republic. The consular officer must be convinced that the domestic employee has strong family, social, economic or other ties to the Dominican Republic to ensure that their projected stay in the United States will be temporary.
The employer must comply with the terms of the contract, including minimum wage and over-time pay. If it is discovered that the employer is not paying the minimum wage indicated in the signed contract, this can adversely affect future domestic applications from the employer. As well, if the domestic employee is no longer working for the family, the employer needs to bring the visa in to be cancelled