Passage no visa

[Jamme]

Originally Posted by RobD527

I’m going to do it anyway so not **** out of luck. I just prefer a legal way.

There is no legal way to do what you stated you want to do — so, don’t do it. From https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Artic...language=en_US — “All operators of a non-commercial small vessel/pleasure boat must report immediately to the nearest U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Port of Entry upon arriving in the United States from a foreign port or place.”

I hope you will discuss this with your girlfriend and will be fully transparent with her in telling her this is illegal.

Fair winds (towards legal destinations).

[AKA-None]

Two words
Human
Trafficking

[Uncle Bob]

However if some unforeseen circumstance required an unplanned stop would there be a serious problem?

[Flying Monkey]

Word!

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Soooo, you're not really asking for advice...

Seems clear this is an illegal action, and may put your girlfriend, and perhaps you and your boat, in jeopardy. If you were going to do it anyway, why broadcast your illegal plans? Better to do it quietly.

[Ballsnall]

Just leave her floating in the dingy 12.5nm offshore whilst you get the fuel.

[Drek4]

Originally Posted by Ballsnall

Just leave her floating in the dingy 12.5nm offshore whilst you get the fuel.

I'm sure she would be thrilled by that idea.

[redneckrob]

Have you looked into a transit visa? The wait time for "other non immigrant visas", which this would fall into, is only a few days at the Bogeta embassy. The State Department FAQ on them isn't great but it does at one point state "A crewmember on a private yacht sailing out of a foreign port which will be cruising in U.S. waters for more than 29 days is generally required to have a visitor (B) visa." which would seem to imply that the transit visa is OK for 29 days or less. Have you called the embassy or an immigration attorney in Bogeta?

Alternately, the wait time isn't based on her being Colombian, it is based on the Bogeta Embassy being backed up. You are supposed to apply for a tourist visa at the embassy in the country in which you reside. If you're going to hang out in a other country before going to Puerto Rico you might be able to go through the embassy there?

[goboatingnow]

Transit visas are not made available to non commercial travellers.

[RobD527]

Originally Posted by redneckrob

Have you looked into a transit visa? The wait time for "other non immigrant visas", which this would fall into, is only a few days at the Bogeta embassy. The State Department FAQ on them isn't great but it does at one point state "A crewmember on a private yacht sailing out of a foreign port which will be cruising in U.S. waters for more than 29 days is generally required to have a visitor (B) visa." which would seem to imply that the transit visa is OK for 29 days or less. Have you called the embassy or an immigration attorney in Bogeta?

Alternately, the wait time isn't based on her being Colombian, it is based on the Bogeta Embassy being backed up. You are supposed to apply for a tourist visa at the embassy in the country in which you reside. If you're going to hang out in a other country before going to Puerto Rico you might be able to go through the embassy there?

We are going to try the embassy in the Bahamas for the tourist visa. Yes we know all about the Bogota embassy

[RobD527]

Originally Posted by Westcliffe01

2 years for a tourist visa ??? My South African passport is equally unwelcome in most places.. I remember that getting my original tourist visa required me to fly from Germany, where I was working, to ZA where I went to the consulate in Cape Town (with an appointment that was only a few weeks out) and got the visa within a couple of days and its duration was 10 years. That was longer than my passport which was only valid for 5 years... Silly system.



Anyway, the international flight via Windhoek was about $1200 and the fees associated with the visa was probably another $250. The Americans could care less what an effort is it to get or renew visas. They only need a visa for a few places and generally those places are likely not where most tourists are going anyway. Whereas I need a visa for pretty much any place I want to go except Switzerland, and in almost all cases in the last 10 years the visa would only be for a duration of 3 months overlapping the stated itinerary, so I need a new visa for pretty much every trip. A very expensive and time consuming proposition.


I see that the wait time in Cape Town is currently 163 days and Johannesburg is 60 days. So perhaps a shorter wait time depending on which consulate one applies at ? Sometimes they have rules relating to a specific consulate being assigned based on where one lives.....

Yes we are going to try the Bahamas Embassy because the wait time might be less

[Montanan]

Hi Rob:

As to the USA, for your girlfriend entry by private vessel will require the issuance of a B1 or a B2 category of visa issued by the USA embassy or consulate in Columbia prior to her departure from Columbia. There is no alternative, such as an ESTA / visa free waiver program. Presently there is a VERY long waiting list to obtain an appointment for an interview and there is no assurance that a B1/B2 visa will be issued. The long waiting list applies to almost every USA consulate or embassy in the world, often well over a year to obtain an interview appointment and then there can be considerable time to process the visa, if one is allowed to be issued. Compelling emergency purposes [e.g., pending death of a family member] or asylum seekers can often obtain more rapid interviewing appointment scheduling and processing.

Sounds like a grand vision for an extended voyage for you two, but there is that niggling issue of requiring visas for entry into each and every country, for which in particular Columbians will not be permitted visa free entry.

Obviously, there will be restrictions as to visa free entry to any and all Columbians into the territories and aligned nations of the USA, the UK, and the EU.

There will also be restrictions as to issuances of visa to a Columbian for most every island in the Caribbean.

Unfortunately for your girlfriend, the Columbian passport is amongst the most least favored as to ease of international travel.

I perceive that you will need to make alternate plans for journeying together, there being a very short list of countries that Columbians can visit without a visa and Columbians have great challenges and waiting periods as to pursuing the issuance of any and all visas; just the reality of her citizenship.

You have indicated the Dominican Republic as being one of your prospective visitations, perhaps your planned starting place to transit to. The DR will require your girlfriend to apply for a tourist visa. If you are a resident of the USA, Canada or the EU you can gain entry to the DR with visa free admission. But not so for your Columbian girlfriend.

I [we on the CruisersForum] know that this is not what you hoped for, but it is the reality. Your Columbian girlfriend will find many challenges as to requiring visas and that involves many months of planning and processing and is by no means assured as to a visa being granted to her, [actually often unlikely to be issued].

By way of example, one can evaluate the visa processes she will require for just obtaining entry to the Dominican Republic, [comparable rules will apply to the other islands]. NOTE THAT COLUMBIA IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE LIST OF NATIONS THAT CAN GAIN VISA FREE ENTRY TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.


Embassy of the Dominican Republic, in the United States


Dominican Republic Tourist Card

The Tourist Card is an entry fee charged by the Dominican Republic for those who visit the country for tourism purposes only. It can be obtained online at https://www.dgii.gov.do/Tturistaweb/ or directly at the airport upon arrival in the Dominican Republic and payed for in US Dollars. Some Tour Operators include the Tourist Card in their travel packages. You must also present a valid passport when entering the Dominican Republic.

Who can enter the Dominican Republic with ONLY a tourist card for tourist purposes only?


Any person who can legally travel or reside in the United States, Canada and the European Union (including Great Britain) does not need a visa to visit the Dominican Republic for tourist purposes and can enter the Dominican Republic with a Tourist Card and a valid passport.



Andorra
Antigua and Barbuda
Aruba
Australia (including Cocos Islands, Christmas Island, Heard and McDonald Islands, and Norfolk Island)
Austria
Bahamas
Bahrain
Barbados
Belgium
Belice
Bolivia
Botswana
Brazil
Brunei
Bulgaria
Canada
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark (including Greenland and the Faroe Islands)
Dominica
El Salvador
Estonia
Fiji
Finland
France (including overseas departments and territories: Guadeloupe, French Guyana, Wallis and Futuna Islands, Martinique, Mayotte, New Caledonia, French Polynesia and Reunion)
Germany
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
Guyana
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Jamaica
Kazakhstan
Kiribati
Kuwait
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macao
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritius
Mexico
Micronesia
Monaco
Namibia
Nauru
Netherlands (including Holland, special municipalities in the Caribbean, Curacao and St. Maarten)
New Zealand (including Cook Island, Niue and Tokelau)
Nicaragua
Norway (including Svalbard and Jan Mayen)
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russia
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
San Marino
Serbia
Seychelles
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Suriname
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Turkey
Tuvalu
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (and overseas territories: Anguilla, Bermuda, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Pitcairn Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, British Virgin Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, St. Helena Island, British Antarctic Territory and British Territory in the Indian Ocean)
United States (including overseas territories: Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and Virgin Islands - St John, St. Croix, St. Thomas - American Samoa, and Puerto Rico)
Vanuatu
Vatican City (Holy See)
Venezuela


Dominican Republic Tourist Visa

Download Visa Application Form in English, to fill by hand:

http://consuladord.com/en/Formulario...do_english.pdf

DESCRIPTION

Tourist visas are issued for tourist and cultural trips and for attendance to conferences or conventions. They are valid for one or multiple entries within 60 days of issue. Beneficiaries can not perform lucrative activities in Dominican territory.

REQUIREMENTS

Visa Form filled and completed in type or clearly printed.
One (1) frontal picture size 2 x 2 inches, with a white background.
Original passport valid for at least the duration of the requested visa or longer.
In the case of minors, permission of the parents or guardian when the applicant is not the mother or the father. This document must be notarized, translated into Spanish and both the original and the translation Apostilled. Alternatively, once the original document is Apostilled it can be sent for translation by the Consular Section (see translation services).
Documents showing the applicant's financial solvency (Letter of Bank, Letter of employment, titles of property). If a document is issued in the Dominican Republic, must be certified by a notary public and legalized by the Attorney General's Office (Procuradoría General de la República).
Legible photocopy of National Identity Document of the country of nationality and legible photocopy of the Residence Card if residing in a second country.
Legible photocopy of hotel reservation.
Legible photocopy of booked flight. Entry and departure by private vessel adds considerably greater challenges to obtaining visas, for example in the USA, one has to obtain a B1 or B2 visa to enter the USA by private vessel, whereas for many citizens they could fly into the USA by commercial carrier with an ESTA; just saying voyaging is more difficult than arrival by airline.
Legible photocopy of former Dominican visas or residence card (if renewing or have previously traveled to the Dominican Republic).
Criminal Record Certificate issued by the appropriate authorities of the country in which the person resides at the time of application. This document must be notarized, translated into Spanish and both the original and the translation Apostilled. Alternatively, once the original document is Apostilled it can be sent for translation by the Consular Section (see translation services).
Visa application letter from the beneficiary addressed to the Consular Section containing name, nationality, place of residence and occupation, as well as purpose of traveling to the Dominican Republic.

PROCESSING TIME

Minimum between 10 and 15 working days depending on date of travel, prior requests and staff availability. No assurances of one being granted

PROCESING FEE

US$95.00

COMMENTS

Multiple entries are provided for tourists from cruises or those that require to enter and exit the country more than once during the period of the visa.



Best regards.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by RobD527

Yes we are going to try the Bahamas Embassy because the wait time might be less

I really hope it all works out for you and yours Rob. All this bureaucracy is a real PITA, but I've learned not to mess around with border crossings. You basically have no rights, and are at the mercy of the guard. Most are great, some are dycks, and some just take their job's way too seriously.

Good luck .

[RobD527]

Originally Posted by Fortytwo

You say you have no intentions on bring her to the US, but you are and you posted it online.

So what

[Montanan]

Originally Posted by RobD527

Yes we are going to try the Bahamas Embassy because the wait time might be less

Rob:

Your Columbian girlfriend will be required to apply for a B1/B2 category of visa at the USA embassy or consulate in the country of her present permanent residence. The USA generally does not allow for "consulate shopping". Embassies and consulates typically will not issue a visa to a third country national, they process visa to nationals of the country that the office is located.

The basis is that the USA is seeking assurances that the person who is applying for a short-term visa to enter the USA will return to the place of their permanent residency and that is a matter of determination for the local consulate or embassy personnel to make. The USA embassy in the Bahamas will process visa for permanent residents of the Bahamas and will likely decline to process visas for non-residents of the Bahamas or the Turks and Caicos. Presumably, your girlfriend does not have long term, established connection to The Bahamas or Turks and Caicos Islands. Besides she would need to obtain a visa to enter the Bahamas and that could be challenging in its own right.

For a resident of Colombia, the USA embassy in Bogota is where the visa will need to be applied for and from which it will be issued.

Reference links:
https://bs.usembassy.gov/visas/nonimmigrant-visas/

The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Nassau is responsible for providing visa services to those seeking to enter the United States for a temporary period and for those wishing to take up indefinite or permanent residence in the United States.


https://bs.usembassy.gov/visas/nonimmigrant-visas/

Applicants are encouraged to read this in entirety before scheduling your visa interview at Embassy Nassau.

Third country nationals are applicants who do not hold Bahamian or Turks and Caicos Islander nationality.

Embassy Nassau ONLY accepts interview applications from TCNs for the following visa categories:

Renewals for petition-based F1, H1B, J1, L1, M1, O1, P1, P2, P3, and R1 only when initial adjudication was conducted in applicant’s home country
Renewals for petition-based F2, H4, L2, M2, O2, O3, P4, and R2 only when the main applicant is renewing with the family member and the initial adjudication was conducted in main applicant’s home country
B1/B2 – first time and renewals
E3 – renewals only
Embassy Nassau will NOT accept interview applications from third country nationals for the following visa categories and cases:

Initial (first time) petition-based applications
Treaty-Trader Visas (E1 & E2) [Note: Embassy Nassau does not process E1 & E2 applications for any nationality.]
Applicants who entered the U.S. with a visa issued in their home country and changed status with the Department of Homeland Security in the U.S., i.e., seek a new visa in the new visa category
Applicants who entered the U.S. in one visa category and are seeking to re-enter the U.S. in a different visa category
Applicants who have been out of status in the U.S. having violated the terms of their visas or having overstayed the validity indicated on their I-94s

Tips for Third Country Visa Applicants

It is a grave error for an applicant or an attorney to believe that applying for a visa in The Bahamas will be simpler or easier than applying in the applicant’s home country. If you hold a passport from a country besides The Bahamas or Turks and Caicos Islands be sure to check the website of the U.S. Embassy in that country for visa information specific to your nationality. A full list of U.S. Embassy websites can be found at https://www.usembassy.gov/. If you have no long-term status in The Bahamas or Turks and Caicos Islands (e.g. you are a visitor and not an immigrant, refugee, student or worker), the best place to apply for a visa is in your home country. U.S. visa law is the same around the world and we give applicants without a long term, established connection to The Bahamas or Turks and Caicos Islands extra scrutiny. Emphasis added!

A visa application or appointment does not equal visa eligibility.

Occasionally, applicants require additional, lengthy review, which may significantly delay travel to the United States by days, weeks or even months and would require the applicant to seek permission from the Government of The Bahamas to remain in the country while processing occurs. Some applicants may simply be ineligible. The applicant bears all responsibility for qualifying for a visa. There is no prescreening, interim visa or expedited processing. By seeking a visa in The Bahamas you confirm that you understand and accept full and sole responsibility for the outcome of your visa application. Successful applicants for work related visas should expect that it will take at least 7 to 10 business days for a visa to be issued, depending on processing time required. None of these times are guaranteed and all applicants should expect delays. Ineligible applicants cannot travel to the United States, even if they came from the United States and hold a still-valid Arrival and Departure Record (I-94).

Should you be approved for a visa , U.S. Embassy Nassau is not responsible for courier distribution outside the Consular Jurisdictions of The Bahamas and The Turks & Caicos Islands.

[RobD527]

Originally Posted by PaulCrawhorn

If y'all are caught, it's unlikely you will just get off with fines.

If she claims you abused her then you stay inside and she gets a green card.

If I need legal advice I will call an attorney