Tourist visa from Dominican Republic to USA for 3 months while I-130 is being processed

[Alondino 2]

Hello everyone, thanks for reading. My husband and I are looking into getting him a tourist visa for 3 months (I think that is the maximum) from Dominican Republic to the US. I take lots of trips there but it is very expensive and hard to be off work for long periods of time. Our i130 was received in June 30 2020 and I haven’t heard anything since ☹️ So what I’m asking is will our paperwork be jeopardized if we got him a tourist visa while we wait? I have heard of people trying to beat the system and just come and stay on a tourist visa and never leave. That obviously isn’t what we would be doing but I’m wondering if they will think that because of our situation? Also if he is able to come on a tourist visa, after the 3 months when he has to leave, are we able to get it renewed or something along that line? Or can he come again after returning to Dominican Republic for a week or so? Anything like that? Also are other people having similar wait times? I’m not sure what to expect with the offices being delayed by COVID and this being our first time going through this process. If anyone has any insight on our timing, tourist visa info, or anything related to this please comment I appreciate it greatly!!! 

[Boiler 45,282]

6 months is the max for a tourist visa, however they are not currently progressing regular tourist visas and it seems unlikely that will change soon.

 

What does he do that allows him to be off work for so long?

[Downloader 197]

Your biggest battle would not be renewing the visa but to get it in first place. 
2 Obstacles

 

1-Embassy Closed for Tourist Visa processing

2- Slim to none chances of approval due to Dominican Republic being a high fraud country and a pending petition. 
 

These immigration processes are hard because of waiting times and separation but it is what it is. 

[Nikki Longone 12]

I am currently going through the K1 visa process which pre-pandemic would have taken us up to about 9 months to get through the entire process. We are now 9 months into the process and our petition still has not been officially approved. We have consulted with an attorney previously and were told that requesting a tourist visa would void our current process and we would have to start our whole process over again.

 

Also, referencing Downloader's comment, the Embassy is not processing tourist visas at the moment and will surely be a while before they start again. I do disagree that the tourist visas are very difficult to get approved on as my fiancé and I have many friends whom have tourist visas and it was not a difficult process for them. of course there are certain requirements, one being that you have to have a verifiable employer and money in the bank. They would have to come as close as they could to approving people whom are financially stable and able to afford travel and also assured they will be coming back to their employer.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

9 minutes ago, Nikki Longone said:

We have consulted with an attorney previously and were told that requesting a tourist visa would void our current process

That’s just nonsense. I hope you are not using this attorney for anything else.

[Nikki Longone 12]

3 minutes ago, SusieQQQ said:

That’s just nonsense. I hope you are not using this attorney for anything else.

We do not need an attorney not have we hired an attorney to handle our case as it is just not a complex case. We simply had a couple of pending questions and the tourist visa while going through this particular process came up and were recommended not to pursue. It isn't even something anyone can attempt to  attempt to purse at this time even if they wanted to as the Embassy is not open in Santo Domingo for tourist visas.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

22 minutes ago, Nikki Longone said:

We do not need an attorney not have we hired an attorney to handle our case as it is just not a complex case. We simply had a couple of pending questions and the tourist visa while going through this particular process came up and were recommended not to pursue. It isn't even something anyone can attempt to  attempt to purse at this time even if they wanted to as the Embassy is not open in Santo Domingo for tourist visas.

Being told something would void a process (your wording in the previous post) is a world of difference from “recommended” not to pursue. (Though even that much milder recommendation is questionable, seeing as the worst thing that can happen is you are out $160 for a denied tourist visa application. Absolutely zero impact on your K1)

Emphasizing  this point for others who may read this thread later when embassies reopen. 

 

 

Edited February 15, 2021 by SusieQQQ

[Nikki Longone 12]

8 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

Being told something would void a process (your wording in the previous post) is a world of difference from “recommended” not to pursue. (Though even that much milder recommendation is questionable, seeing as the worst thing that can happen is you are out $160 for a denied tourist visa application. Absolutely zero impact on your K1)

Emphasizing  this point for others who may read this thread later when embassies reopen. 

 

 

"Recommended" not to pursue because this can result in your current process being voided. I have also spoke to many people going through the same K1 visa process and they were also told the same thing. Anyone may chose to consult with an attorney when doubts arise and clarification is needed. Again, the DR Embassy is not processing tourist visas and this could very well be the situation throughout the 2021 year, unfortunately.  

 

To anyone that is reading this post, these are such difficult times and the process is so tedious at the moment. My humble advise is to just hang in there because we are all in this together. I have also provided information on my fiancé and I's process, specifically in the Dominican Republic and am open to creating a circle of support for us DR K1 visas!

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

16 minutes ago, Nikki Longone said:

Recommended" not to pursue because this can result in your current process being voided.

Again, nonsense. Please find one example for me where anyone applying for a tourist visa had their K process voided. It just doesn’t happen. 

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

Here is 155 pages of people on visajourney making tourist visits to the US during their K1 process. it is totally allowed. And there is absoluteiy no way that applying for a tourist visa has any negative effect at all on a K process regardless whether or not it’s denied, even people with tourist visas who get denied entry for a tourist visit for lack of ties don’t have any negative effect on the K process.  I don’t understand this unnecessary fearmongering.
 

 

Edited February 15, 2021 by SusieQQQ

[Boiler 45,282]

How on earth has it any impact on a K1?  One of those urban myths. Well a new one.

[millefleur 5,045]

**Thread locked due to bickering. Traveling on a tourist visa with a pending K-1 or spouse visa petition is allowed, but obtaining a B visa during that process is the hard part. OP has received a sufficient answer, thus thread is not to be restarted.**

 

VJ Moderation

Edited February 15, 2021 by millefleur