DR among countries with the highest US visa rejection rates

Dominican Republic is among the five nations in Latin America with the highest percentage of rejection in B-type visa applications (tourism and business) to the United States, according to a 2024 report from the US Department of State. According to the report, the country registered a denial rate of 43.38%, being surpassed only by Nicaragua (58.71%), Cuba (53.35%), El Salvador (52.65%) and Haiti (47.35%). Meanwhile, other nations in the region such as Honduras (42.61%), Venezuela (37.40%), Ecuador (36.99%) and Guatemala (30.84%) also present high figures, while countries of the Southern Cone maintain significantly lower rates: Uruguay (2.63%), Argentina (8.9%) and Brazil (15.48%).

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In addition to this, a new measure implemented by the Donald Trump administration since October 1, 2025, imposes an additional mandatory fee of US$250 to the cost of temporary visas —including those for tourism, study, and business— as part of a policy to “discourage prolonged stays” and ensure compliance with immigration conditions. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will be in charge of applying the charge at the time of issuing the visa. Applicants will be able to recover the amount if they comply with the visa regulations, such as not accepting employment, not exceeding the length of stay, or having an official extension. However, the exact procedure for the refund has not yet been detailed. The measure, which will begin to adjust annually according to inflation from 2026, seeks to reinforce immigration control and ensure that temporary visitors comply with the terms of their permit. In case of non-compliance, the U.S. government will retain the deposit, which will be considered an automatic penalty for violating the conditions established in the visa.