Submitted 10th January 2026
I recently travelled to the US embassy in Barbados for the purposes of renewing my US Visa application.
For those of you who are wondering why I would even bother to do that, my appointment had been booked and paid for before the Trump administration’s recent visa restrictions and bond requirements had been announced.
My ticket was non-refundable and decided I would take the trip to garner what I could from it and bear witness to the experience.
Note that this was a visa renewal not a first time visa as I had travelled to the USA several times before, stayed for much less than the legal limit and returned home or to the country I departed from each time.
In 2025 in-person interviews were made a requirement for many countries including Dominica.
Prior to this it was possible to receive a waiver where you only submit your application online and then mail your passport to the US Embassy and have it returned to facilitate visa approval.
This was very convenient and practical for those seeking a renewal who had shown they had very little risk of overstaying or harming the US or violating their laws based on the applicants personal record.
Fast forward to January where Dominica is now one of a number of countries many of them with CBI programmes that have been slapped with visa restrictions and mandatory travel bonds.
In the case of Dominica this mandatory bond would take effect on 21st January 2026.
I prepared for my interview by researching the requirements and responses looking up information provided by ex-visa officers and experts in the field on how to approach and respond to interview question to ensure a more positive response.
With this in mind I took my interview that I guess was about 3 minutes (they do not typically allow electronic devices or time pieces into the interview).
I was asked standard questions that showed my history, that there was no risk of overstaying, having visited and left the US several times and intending to do the same again.
At the end I was given two yellow slips stating that this was the reason according to current law why your visa was (not) approved.
Throughout the interview I repeatedly had to ask the interviewer to repeat what they were saying as her voice was low (there was a glass cage between us) and even when she used the intercom words got regularly cut off including the “not” part of your visa was (not) approved.
Which means I actually heard that your visa was approved and only understood what the officer actually meant after reading the two yellow slips.
Even with that, all things considered, the outcome was not that surprising but the manner in which it took place was unexpected and abrupt. She did not ask for my job letter or bank statements, which I came prepared with, or any supporting documentation; things that might validate my visa request based on their requirements.
I offer my experience to inform and warn people of the current visa situation for countries facing visa restrictions. Notably there was hardly anyone at the embassy.
I saw one or two people exit or leave but there was not a single person in the queue when I entered the building. This is the very first time I have experienced this at the Embassy having gone to renew my visa previously.
Speaking to a Grenadian who was successful in his application (Grenada is not currently on any list) , he said that they (The Embassy) were treating St. Lucians and Dominicans very badly.
In my case, the officer just gave me the slips and walked away and could not even look me in the eye.
My sense was it was not something she wanted to do but she (and presumably the other visa officers) were likely told behind the scenes to outright deny visas from these countries despite the slightly more nuanced public communication on the matter.
Below are the documents I received from the Visa officer.
Despite the wording inviting applications to try again it is ultimately a waste of time and money. I was unable to get a refund for my ticket to Barbados, but for those planning to apply for or renew their visa, it appears that they are turning away everyone who is on their list of restricted countries.
But I find allu welll out of place
Is not allu damn country if they doh want you there is there business . You alll did the same thing to Haitians now u guys want to come and complain
Is the man place. Let the man do what he want with his country
Allu damn out of place wanting to tell the man who he can have in his place
Allu to entitles them days I find
My advice to my fellow Dominicans…Why worry about this..there are many more countries that would welcome you money…Panama, Canada, the Netherlands(Shegen Visa)..
The US is the last place I need to visit at this time..
Panama really??
This is poor reasoning, There are many other countries in the world, but many people have Family in the states, want to go shop, have fun, medicals etc the US is the biggest closest place to us. Now you say…go to Panana, Let’s say I want to go Panama for a scan, how many of us have family or friends there that we can take a little sleep by? So now we have to pay hotel. How many Dominicans can speak Spanish? Go Canada, I got a ticket to state once like 500 US, Canada is no where that price AND I have no family in Canada. So people who dreamt of going X university in the states cant go BECAUSE of the poor decisions of politicians whose children wont be affected by this but your answer is to go somewhere else. You say “Us is the last place I”, like you, I’m fed up of US but what about people who unlike us never been? That’s fair to them? Now none of us can go and only one set enjoyed the Passport Money.
A lot of people support this man cause of his celebrity, harsh nature. However there is nothing to admire about this man. He is the evil.
I would advise that people should not waste time and money to go for a visa right now………….wait until another announcement is given and read through properly.
My children always come to visit me ………..right now I have no interest to visit.
I spent quite a while there…….studied and worked then came back home with my experience to get a highly paid job. People still jealous of my accomplishments. I will return through my children’s efforts when I choose to.
Trump acts like he doesn’t need us.
Skerrit acts like he doesn’t need non dlp.
What can Skerrit do to help nuh? Can he influence Trump at all?
Can money help? Diplomacy isn’t doing much.
This is a sad situation for Dominicans, and regardless of political affiliations, this will affect every Dominican, but we must realize that when things happen, things have been brewing for some time, and eventually the reality will hit .
Dominicans have to rise above this , and ask themselves why ?
for people to respect you, and your country you have to respect yourselves first , and showcase your country in a positive light , and it is our responsibly to do that , in the best way possible . The Govt have a responsibility and so does its citizens.
. We all need to do better , we have been showcasing too many negative things and we all need to do better.
Why are so many young men and women poorly dressed, and poorly groomed , and showcase a gangstar , attitude ? Poor hygiene , poor taste and don’t care attitude.
Why is the country having so much violence, and all the other negative attributes.
Why are we so arrogant and loud, so we need to blame ourselves…
Poin, if am not mistaken. Dominica was almost no.1 the EU, Canad and Great Britain placed visa restrictions on .. now the USA is completing the noose around Dominicans neck..
Check the bakeries where the Dominican passports were sold as hot bread and butter.
Ask Skerro about the deals that are going with China.. those are some of the warnings…
@ brain damage, please publish the information about hot bread Dominica passport sales and Skero deals with China, I am always happy be educated.
What Trump is doing is really wrong though…he is really abusing his power, breaching both international and human rights laws.
is the man country . international law cannot force any country to take in migrants or allow illegals to stay . its those people country let them do what they want with there country
when we in dominica did exactly the same thing to hatians everybody thought it was a good idea so now is the time for you to shut up
while I don’t like what is going on, he is not breaching human rights laws as no human has a right to be in any country other than his/her own. entry into any foreign territory is a privilege.
Wjat Trump is doing is really wrong though…he is really abusing his power, breaching both international and human rights laws
This is extremely sad. There are other countries we can travel to, study at and so on but Canada, England and the European union are all making it difficult on Dominicans. Seriously, does anyone really want to go vacation in China?
The fact is that the United States and it’s allies are the most pleasant, free and dynamic nations in the world to do business with. For decades we have benefited from the relationship; now we are shut out of it due to our short-sightedness and stupidity.
My heart aches for Dominica.
why not? come and enjoy your vacation in China
Thanks, for this information. We are so afraid of speaking the truth, we move on as if everything is OK. I read the presidential proclamation and this was my exact interpretation and understanding. What is wrong with the government advising its citizens that they should not make applications for US visas be it new applications or renewals until further notice. In this case the individual had made the appointment before the proclamation so he proceeded. However this is clearly fraudulent as the US embassy is collecting fees from applicants they know that will be denied. So instead of the government talking about accepting rejected refugees from America they should be advising the citizens to refrain from applying for american visas.
“What is wrong with the government advising its citizens that they should not make applications for US visas be it new applications or renewals until further notice.” Do you know for certain that the government has not done so? There have been at least three releases on the subject, each spelling out in clear detail for Dominicans the significance of the proclamation, including exceptions.
@Putin, I have not heard any advisory from our government advising citizens not to apply for US visas. I have seen press releases explaining what the situation is that’s all. if I missed it I apologize. You can also tell me where such an advisory can be found.
Feel your pain bro..and disappointment.
When those that are in authority have been warned.. they are oppressing those who do not agree with their bad deals.
Now, every Dominican will be paying for that.
@brain damage, warned about what? What has Dominica done to be warned about? Has Dominica committed acts of terrorism against America?
@Point
Man some of you stubborn Dcans just don’t get it. We have given and continue to give rouges and vagabonds our passports which they used to enter the USA and are now becoming a headache. We joined with Chavez, Maduro, China, Russia, Cuba and others in the demonization of the USA even going as far as having the largest Chinese Spy base in the western hemisphere at Morne Daniel. Annually we behave like sheep and join the bad boys calling for lifting of Cuban sanctions. We continue to suppress free and fair elections and behave like China by jailing/ harassing opposition. We continue to overstay visitors visas and file for others even when we are on welfare in the USA.
Need I say more? And yes, instead of removing our corrupt leaders from office by any means necessary, we are on social media bashing the USA. Have you noticed how the red-ants are now on DNO voting down anything negative about Chichi? Uncle Sam is watching bro and the punishment is collective.
that’s why he is called brain damage.
They should have stuck with Taiwan and should not have thrown their lot with China.
Another comedian has joined the circus! Go back and hide, garsan. Sotte!
From what I can tell its not about dominica itself. It is because the possibility of non natural Dominican citizens that have purchased citizenship by investment and could just be passing through Dominica to commit terrorist acts. There are most likely a high amount of cbi’s awarded to people from elevated risk or tension countries of the U.S. And yes it seems fine logically a person coming and going for short terms would seem ideal. But that could also raise red flags from a security stand point of that person needing to check in with handlers from a terrorist point of view. Or from a drug operation as a mule. Trump has based his whole platform on securing America’s borders. So his behavior fits that profile. Its the possibility of what could be. Especially with so many cbi receivers not actually living or staying in country. Why would a person need to be a citizen of Dominica if they had no plans on living here? And He is thinking better safe than sorry.