Immigrant Visas
Follow-To-Join Procedures
If you are a Principal Applicant, have already been issued your immigrant visa (categories F1, F2A, F2B, F3, F4, FX, K1 or K3) and have children who you would like to join you in the U.S., please do the following:
1. Contact the Visa Information Center: Persons in the Dominican Republic must purchase a personal identification number (PIN) at any Banco Popular branch (either the equivalent of US$5.25 in Dominican pesos for five minutes of access, or the equivalent of US$16.00 in Dominican pesos for 15 minutes). The PIN will become active 24 hours after you purchase it. Then call 1-809-200-3232. Persons in the United States must call 1-877-804-5402, and the call will be charged to their credit card. The operator will collect information from you, explain procedures, answer questions, and communicate your request for an appointment to the Immigrant Visa (IV) Unit.
Important note: the cutoff date for issuance of a K-2 visa is one year from the date of the issuance of the K-1 visa to the principal alien.
2. Mail the following documents to our office:
- A one page letter stating your full name, your date of birth, your SDO case number (from when you applied at the IV Unit for your immigrant visa), the original petitioner's full name and Social Security Number, and list the names of all children you would like to apply for. Also include the full, complete and correct address for where an appointment should be mailed in the Dominican Republic as well as in the U.S. Also include a working phone number in the Dominican Republic where the children can be reached.
- A legible copy of both sides of your valid Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) card. We must be able to see clearly your photo and information on your LPR card such as visa category, date of birth, etc. For K visa derivatives (K2s, K4s), please send a copy of your issued visa and stamp that shows you were admitted as a K1 or K3.
- Birth certificates for all children who be joining you. The birth certificates must be the in extensa, legalized versions - we do not accept extracts.
- To send us documents from the Dominican Republic, you must use INPOSDOM. The mailing address if you use INPOSDOM is:
Embajada de los Estados Unidos de América
César Nicolás Penson 85A esq. Leopoldo Navarro
Apartado Postal 11302
Santo Domingo, República Dominicana
To send us documents from the United States, you must use either the United States Postal Service or a private delivery service (e.g., FedEx, DHL or UPS). The mailing address if you use the United States Postal Service is:
IV
Unit 3470, Box 531
APO AA 34041-0531
The mailing address if you use a private delivery service is:
Embassy of the United States of America
César Nicolás Penson 85A esq. Leopoldo Navarro
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
3. The appointment letter will arrive by mail. When it arrives you need to be aware of the following for the interview:
- Follow-to-join children must be under 21.
- The Principal Applicant should be present with the children at the interview.
- All children will need to have a medical exam prior to the day of the appointment.
- You must be prepared to pay the non-refundable application fee of US$400.00 or the equivalent in Dominican pesos per child. This fee must be paid at window 12 once you are inside the consular section building. We can only accept payment in one currency (i.e., you must pay the total entirely in U.S. dollars or entirely in Dominican pesos). We accept cash and several international credit cards. Note that this fee does not apply to K2 and K4 derivative children.
- There must be an Affidavit of Support (form I-864, www.uscis.gov) from the petitioner (even if he is unemployed). You must ensure that all children applying to join the Principal Applicant in the U.S. are included in the form. In addition to the form, he/she needs to submit the last declaration of tax (1040), and a copy of the LPR. The petitioner is the person who filed papers for the Principal Applicant to receive his/her visa. Note that K2 and K4 derivative children do not need an affidavit of support.
- If the petitioner does not meet Poverty Income Guidelines (visit www.travel.state.gov), does not work, or receives Social Security payments, you will need a joint sponsor to fill out form I-864. In addition to the form, he/she needs to submit the most recent U.S. tax declaration (IRS 1040 form), and a copy of the LPR card. Note that all children must be included in the form.
- Each child age 18 and older must pay the Dominican peso equivalent of $13 USD at Banco Popular; bring your receipt to your interview with you.
- Each child age 18 and older must bring a police certificate to the interview.
- If the follow-to-join children are the beneficiaries of a K1 or K3 petition then you must bring a copy of the petitioner and bio-parent's marriage certificate.
- Each K1 and K3 derivative child must pay the non-refundable application fee of $131 USD at Banco Popular.
Specific instructions on the above will be included in the appointment package. Please follow all instructions carefully in order to avoid repeat trips to the IV Unit.