U.S. Introduces Supplementary Non-Immigrant Visa Application

18 January 2002

U.S. Introduces Supplementary Non-Immigrant Visa Application

SANTO DOMINGO – As part of the plan to prevent the entrance of terrorists into United States territory, the U. S. Government, around the world, has implemented a new requirement for applications of non-immigrant or tourist visas. The requirement consists of having all male applicants between the ages of 16 and 45, who request a tourist visa, to fill out, apart from the normal application, another supplementary document. The announcement was made by the Consular Section of the United States in this country today through a press release.

The Consular Section explained that this supplementary document must be completed no matter what the nationality of the applicant, where the latter requests the visa or if he has been issued visas previously. It will require addiitonal biographical information such as names and telephones of former employers – which can be difficult to supply at the moment of applying for the visa.

The note also details the fact that the new provision will take effect immediately, and will be in effect for an indefinite period of time.

The Consular Section also announces that the document, together with the normal application, is already available in the Consular Section and will soon be distributed to the offices of the Banco Popular around the country. For applicants with access to the Internet, it will be possible to access and print the new application on the web page of the United States Embassy: http://www.usemb.gov.do.

Also it warns that the additional document will be required of every male non-immigrant visa applicant between the ages of 16 and 45, who apply for a renewal of a non-immigrant visa. The Consular Section hopes that the Dominican people will understand the need to take these additional measures after the terrorist attack of September 11, which has resulted in stricter security measures around the world. Also, the Consular Section will do everything possible to facilitate assistance to those applicants who are affected. The applicant who comes to an interview without this document filled out will not be allowed to apply for the visa.

To conclude, the note encourages all those applicants who have questions to call 1-976-1000 at a cost of RD$20 pesos per call.