Bringing My Stepdaughter+Son to US to VISIT - While we wait on Adjustment

[DRKALEMAR 11]

HI Everyone,

 

I have a random question concerning my step kids. My husband is still waiting for his adjustment of status since December 2016.

Unfortunately, I don't see us receiving it any time too soon. In the meantime we're desperate to see the kids!

 

I've been to Dominican Republic several times but it would make my husband super happy to see them himself as well.

 

What should we do so they can come to visit for the summer? Would they really need to go through the whole visa process as well???

 

THANK YOU!

[TBoneTX 45,284]

Thread is moved from Off Topic to the Tourist Visas forum.

[Coco8 1,042]

I'm confused, are you asking about visitor visas? They would just go to the consulate and apply. 

[DRKALEMAR 11]

I guess that's what i"m asking. Do they need a visitor's visa just to come to the US for a month? On summer vacation?

[Roel 7,192]

4 minutes ago, DRKALEMAR said:

I guess that's what i"m asking. Do they need a visitor's visa just to come to the US for a month? On summer vacation?

Yes.

How else would they enter the country?

Also your husband's AOS should be about done now or soon...  I assume you're USC.

[Sunnyland 639]

Can your husband go to DR and see the kids? Does he have the AP already? 

[DRKALEMAR 11]

Yes he's USC and we filed in New York so things seem to be going extremely slowly.

Therefore, he can't travel until his adjustment of status is approved.

 

I was hoping to avoid having to apply for a visitor's visa since the infrastructure in Dominican Republic is awful. 

Ha! 

[Coco8 1,042]

3 hours ago, DRKALEMAR said:

Yes he's USC and we filed in New York so things seem to be going extremely slowly.

Therefore, he can't travel until his adjustment of status is approved.

 

I was hoping to avoid having to apply for a visitor's visa since the infrastructure in Dominican Republic is awful. 

Ha! 

 

If he is waiting for AOS to be approved then he is not a USC (US citizen). 

 

The kids could try to get a visitor visa and come during the summer on holidays. You should find out how would that work if the mother has custody of them. 

 

I don't know what the "the infrastructure in Dominican Republic" has to do with applying for a visitor visa to visit the US. They have to go to the US consulate which is part of the US government. And if they live in the Dominican Republic they are used to living there anyways.

 

[Boiler 45,486]

All a bit confusing, does he have AP?

[Unlockable 7,314]

16 hours ago, DRKALEMAR said:

Yes he's USC and we filed in New York so things seem to be going extremely slowly.

Therefore, he can't travel until his adjustment of status is approved.

 

I was hoping to avoid having to apply for a visitor's visa since the infrastructure in Dominican Republic is awful. 

Ha! 

How would you avoid something like that? It is literally a requirement for everyone from the DR wanting to visit.

 

It is a simply and straight forward process, nothing to worry about. If they are minors, an adult can accompany them to the interview. However, don't be too surprised if they are denied. It is tough to get a visitor visa to the US from the DR due to previous visa users abusing it.

[DRKALEMAR 11]

2 hours ago, NuestraUnion said:

How would you avoid something like that? It is literally a requirement for everyone from the DR wanting to visit.

 

It is a simply and straight forward process, nothing to worry about. If they are minors, an adult can accompany them to the interview. However, don't be too surprised if they are denied. It is tough to get a visitor visa to the US from the DR due to previous visa users abusing it.

Thanks for the advice! I really don't know the process. I'm learning as I go. When I go on vacation, I don't always need to get a visa beforehand. So I wasn't sure if we would really need to do the visa process just for them to visit us for a month. This is actually pretty sad. I don't know what I would do if they get denied. Thanks again.

[DRKALEMAR 11]

9 hours ago, Boiler said:

All a bit confusing, does he have AP?

No way, no AP. We're just sitting tight until he receives his approval for adjustment of status.

[DRKALEMAR 11]

15 hours ago, Coco8 said:

 

If he is waiting for AOS to be approved then he is not a USC (US citizen). 

 

The kids could try to get a visitor visa and come during the summer on holidays. You should find out how would that work if the mother has custody of them. 

 

I don't know what the "the infrastructure in Dominican Republic" has to do with applying for a visitor visa to visit the US. They have to go to the US consulate which is part of the US government. And if they live in the Dominican Republic they are used to living there anyways.

 

Ok thanks for clarifying. I'm super confused by all the abbreviations and USC is something I always see on our notifications.

 

I'm a native New Yorker and my experience with my husband receiving his K1 was very frustrating. Everything is just overall slower in the Dominican Republic. We've had papers lost and returned to us and we waited almost 7 months for his k1 visa. That's what I mean about the the infrastructure. Folks in his family do not easily has access to the basics like a printer. So having go through the visa process over again for the kids would mean, they mother will need to bring them to the consulate, take them to do their biometrics. All we want to do with see our kids for the summer. I guess that's my frustration. I clearly lack knowledge in the process and i'm spoiled with just being able to pick up and leave to visit another country.

 

Thank you for your advice! I really appreciate any little bit of insight I can get. 

[Unlockable 7,314]

9 minutes ago, DRKALEMAR said:

Thanks for the advice! I really don't know the process. I'm learning as I go. When I go on vacation, I don't always need to get a visa beforehand. So I wasn't sure if we would really need to do the visa process just for them to visit us for a month. This is actually pretty sad. I don't know what I would do if they get denied. Thanks again.

No worries.

 

Yes, a US citizen with an American passport has a lot more freedom to travel to other countries than many other foreigners. There are a limited amount of countries that Dominicans can travel to visa free but, unfortunately, the US is not one of them. Since you are still learning the process, feel free to continue to ask questions and use the tools and guides on here to help educate yourself further.

 

Good luck to you.

[Boiler 45,486]

Are they old enough to fly independently?