America here we come!
VulcanSpirit
Richard & Alison Brunstrom
Fri 13 May 2011 02:46
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Our main purpose in coming here to the Dominican
Republic was to obtain US Visas. This is normally done in one's
country of origin, but when we left the UK we did not intend to visit the USA.
Having changed our plans we had to find a place that would consider us for a
visa. The main US Embassy in the Caribbean is at Barbados but by the time we'd
decided that was 400 miles upwind of us. You can't go to Bermuda or the Bahamas
because they only process locals - so we were left with the DR about which we
knew little and had heard bad things.
Here is Alison looking very smart en route to the
US Consulate for a recce. Note the use of an umbrella to keep cool - a common
device here.
 We did the recce successfully and duly turned up
for our appointment to be interviewed in good order at 1030hrs on Monday
with a large bundle of paperwork, having filled in the lengthy application form
online. US law assumes that every person seeking to enter the country is trying
to immigrate, so for a non-immigrant visa we are required to show that we are
tourists with substantial ties outside the US to which we intend to return (ie a
house) and that we have sufficient funds for our trip and repatriation.
We were expected (most impressed!) and let into to
the visa section. It was like an ant heap. Hundreds & hundreds of
people trying to get to the States; presumably it's like this every working day.
We joined a long queue, but miracle of miracles we found ourselves at the head
of it just before 1100hrs. As soon as they found out that we were on a
yacht all was simple. Fingerprints were taken and we were out on the street
again at 1110hrs having been asked not a single question nor asked for any
evidence of anything.
Our visas were ready the next day. Alison went into
town (2 hour trip by bus & taxi) and in exchange for her receipts was given
five passports - mine, our two friends Robin & Jenny, and two belonging to
two black men from South America. But not hers. She pointed out that two
of these were not hers, but was assured that they must be because they had
her receipt number on them (which they did). It was not until she demonstrated
that the photos inside were not of her, but rather two black guys, that they
relented and took back the two wrong passports. Alison's passport worryingly
could not be located. A sleepless night ensued. So much for US passport
security.
Anyway, to cut short the story it turned
up the next day, so another hot trip to the embassy was required. Passport has
now been safely recovered with visa and we're all set for the good ol' USA (I'm
not sure, in light of George Dubya Bush, Iraq, and the Tea Party, that that
epithet any longer applies). We hope to leave on
Saturday.
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