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.
- How can I ensure that I am prepared for my Immigrant Visa interview?, November 09
- My U.S. passport has expired and I’m planning to travel over the holidays. When should I renew my passport?, November 2
- How do I transmit U.S. citizenship to my child born in the Dominican Republic?, October 26
- How long can I stay in the U.S. on my tourist visa?, October 19
- Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, October 12
- If my U.S. passport is lost or stolen, what should I do?, October 5
- How do I request an emergency appointment, and how fast can I get it?, September 28
- I am married to a U.S. citizen (or a legal permanent resident) who is petitioning for my son (or daughter) for a residency visa and I will soon take my child for the interview at the Consular Section. How should I prepare?, September 21
- I heard the consular section is going to require online applications for passports. Is that true?, September 14
- What fees do I have to pay for consular services at the Consular Section of the Embassy, and how do I pay them?, September 7
- Who is considered a child for immigration purposes?, August 31
- Prepare Yourself for Hurricane Season, August 24
- What are some important things to keep in mind when applying for a visa?, August 17
- Can I add my children to my immigrant visa petition on the day of my interview? If so, is there a difference between biological children and children that I have raised?, August 10
- My spouse and I both have visas. Can we take our grandchild with us to visit the United States?, August 3
- American Citizen Services August 5 Outreach Visit to Santiago, July 27
- Is an email from the National Visa Center a valid appointment letter? Can I use the email to schedule a medical evaluation? How can I share my email address with the National Visas Center?, July 20
- Is it best to tell the consular officer the truth or should I try to tell them what I think they want to hear?, July 13
- How to be prepared for stepchild case interviews, July 6
- Can I make an online appointment to get a U.S. passport?, June 29
- 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?, June 22
- I am applying for an immigrant visa and need to go for my medical examination. What should I expect at the medical examination? Can I have my personal doctor perform the medical exam?, June 15
- What is a PIN number?, June 8
- What is the difference between a CR1/IR1 and K3? Which is better for my spouse and I?, June 1st.
- American Citizen Services June 3 Outreach Visit to Santiago, May 25
- What is a passport card and how do I get one?, May 18
- U.S. Consular Section provides Services to U.S. Citizens in Jarabacoa, May 11
- I’m a travel agent. How can I help a solvent client get approved? The interview was so short the consul didn’t have time to look his documents, May 4
- My immigrant visa application has not come through and my child will turn 21 years old soon. What do I do?, April 27
- American Citizens Services to visit Bavaro and Jarabacoa, April 20
- What forms do I need to fill out to apply for a Non-immigrant visa?, April 13
- Can I travel to the U.S. on my tourist visa to receive medical treatment?, April 6
- Why did the consular officer request a DNA test?, March 30
- American Citizen Services to Expand Outreach Services in the Dominican Republic, March 23
- Can I have more than one non-immigrant visa at a time? If I apply for a student visa, do I have to cancel my B1/B2 visa?, March 16
- Review the validity period of your visa upon receipt, March 9
- I just received my tourist visa in the mail, and it has an error. What should I do?, March 2
- Are There Volunteer Positions Available at the U.S. Embassy?, February 23
- How can I prove to the consular officer that I have a real marriage?, February 16
- How do I contact the U.S. Embassy in an emergency?, February 9
- I am vacationing in New York, and my passport with my visa is lost or stolen! What do I do now?, February 2
- I am an American citizen. Do I have to wait in long lines for citizen services?, January 26
- Medical exam fee increases, January 19
- Visa in hand equals travel plans, January 12
- Is there a daily limit on how many visas a consul can approve or deny?, January 5
- Ask the Consul - 2008
- Ask the Consul - 2007