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Bad experience with the Dominican republic visa requirements
Hi everybody,
I'm willing to share my experience with the Dominican Republic visa regulation which has prevented my holiday to Punta Cana with a not bad loss of money. Firstly the facts : I am a Bulgarian passport holder, living in UK since 2002, with leave to remain until 11.2006 as a self-employed running own business. After 11.2006 I am allowed to apply for indefinite leave to remain in UK. April 2003 I went on holiday in Dominican Republic as I checked in many internet sites for the visa requirements. So I saw I did not need a visa as I can travel just on touristic card and passport. I went there without any troubles at all and I had a great time. Nobody asked me neither at the UK border nor at the Dominican border for visa. On the way back to the airport I met two other Bulgarians, also living in UK with the same status as mine one in UK and they told me that the consulate of Dominican republic in London made them to obtain visa for each, costing £120 per person !!! We were wondering then where the truth was. My thoughts were that should have been misunderstanding of the consulate in London. They told me they had checked in a lot of internet sites for Dominican Republic and they saw as well as myself that they do not need a visa. This year – 2004 March me and a friend of mine booked good late deal for 14 nights AI in Punta Cana. I was planning to celebrate my 30 birthday. So we bought the packet and a few days after went to Gatwick airport in London at 7.30 am. Suddenly at the check-in at Gatwick, the agent told us there is a problem and we need a visa to get on the plane. We complained about that and I told him and showed him the stamps that I was there an year ago without a visa. He spoke to his supervisor and at the end they told us, showing off an internal brochure that they cannot reach by the telex machine anyone of the Dominican immigration officer(due to the time difference which is – 5 Hours GMT) and they cannot allow us to board! Shock! Now the interesting part is coming up. We were waiting for an answer of the Dominican side, but no answer from them. The plane gone and we remained at the airport. The holiday was booked from one of the biggest UK tour operators Airtours (member of Mytravel group) by phone and the airline was Mytravel Airways. When we complained to the costumer service of the tour operator we were told it is our responsibility to check and obtain all necessary documents and visas. We were not told about that or anything related when we booked the packet. After several calls to them we found out there is still no chance to get full or even partial refund. We spoke to the Dominican Republic embassy in London after that and they confirmed we need a visa. In the most Internet sites Bulgaria is still among the countries with no need of visa for the Dominican Republic. www.dominicanrepublic.com http://www.dominicanrep.info/residency.html http://www.dominicanrepublic.com/Tou...egulations.htm http://www.domrep.org/visas.htm http://www.drembassy.org/english/ On the official sites of the Dominican embassy in New York And Canada is written "The legal residents in UK, USA,Canada …and other are also eligible for tourist card) Our status as resident in UK does not help out, as the embassy interpret "LEGAL RESIDENCY" as indefinite leave to remain, not a temporary residence. So confusing. I spoke to the embassies of the Dominican Republic in New York, Miami, Toronto and all of them were confused to declare definite whether we need a visa or not, at least nothing in written. The first answer every time was just straight " You need a visa". When I asked them for more exact attention all they got confused. Strange ! As a final we understood that probably Bulgaria was removed that list of countries eligible for tourist card but I do not trust the clerks this embassies. The travel insurance policy does not cover such cases so no money from them either. Now I'm thinking to sue the travel company but it will cost a lot of nerves. Sorry for the long story it is difficult to explain the matter just with a few sentences. Any ideas and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I hope the story will be helpful for anyone who is not citizen of UK, Canada, USA or EU . |
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Bad experience with the Dominican republic visa requirements
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Bad experience with the Dominican republic visa requirements
ilko wrote:
We spoke to the Dominican Republic embassy in London after that and they confirmed we need a visa. That's all there is to it. It doesn't matter what random web sites say. Why would you sue the travel agency? They told you that it was your responsibility to ensure you had your visa lined up. miguel -- Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu |
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Bad experience with the Dominican republic visa requirements Re Miguel
I was told about that at the airport. During the booking process the
agent should have told me about this requirements, as well as this is a part of the British ABTA, where the company is member.At the other hand the holiday and the flight was provided by the same company so the agent should have got the same information as the check-in staff. |
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Bad experience with the Dominican republic visa requirements
Miguel Cruz wrote in message ...
ilko wrote: We spoke to the Dominican Republic embassy in London after that and they confirmed we need a visa. That's all there is to it. It doesn't matter what random web sites say. Why would you sue the travel agency? They told you that it was your responsibility to ensure you had your visa lined up. miguel Please have a look at this (not) RANDOM web site: http://dominicanrepublic.embassyhome..._london_uk.htm It's official site and follow the link for the entry requirements. Then find Bulgaria in the list. Secondly if you have read the message carefully you should have found that NOBODY from the travel agency neither made as aware nor guided for this obviously new visa requirements. The agent should have the same information booklet as the staff at the airport check-in as they are from the same company. From: Cruising Chrissy ) Subject: Bad experience with the Dominican republic visa requirements On 11 Mar 2004 19:38:53 -0800, (ilko) wrote: Now I'm thinking to sue the travel company but it will cost a lot of nerves. You're delirious. Sorry for the long story it is difficult to explain the matter just with a few sentences. Write a book. I don't know anybody who would not be delirious in such a situation. Have you ever been in a similar situation, dear Cruising Chrissy ? And how would you feel or react ? About the book - nobody made you to read the whole post - it's your choice and if only these two sentences ring the bell in your mind... What can I say For information: Question 22: Must I tell the consumer anything before he buys his holiday? Answer: Yes. Before a contract is concluded the consumer must be provided in writing or in some other appropriate form (which could include communication over the telephone or projection on a visual display unit) the following information: general information about passport and visa requirements which apply to the nationals of the member State(s) concerned who purchase the package in question, including information about the length of time it is likely to take to obtain the appropriate passports and visas; information about health formalities required for the journey and the stay; and the arrangements for security for the money paid over and (where applicable) for the repatriation of the consumer in the event of insolvency. (See regulation 7.) http://www2.dti.gov.uk/ccp/topics1/guide/packtravel.htm (Department of Trade and Industry in UK) And just a few words from ABTA ( The Association of British Travel Agents ) which member is MyTravel. ABTA CODE OF CONDUCT: ....... 1.6 Passports, Visa and Health Requirements (i) ..... (ii) Before a contract is made, Members shall advise their Clients of passport and visa requirements for the journey to be undertaken where it is reasonably practicable for the Members to obtain this information. In other cases, Members shall offer Clients reasonable assistance in obtaining such information. (iii) ..... |
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Bad experience with the Dominican republic visa requirements
ilko wrote:
Miguel Cruz wroteL ilko wrote: We spoke to the Dominican Republic embassy in London after that and they confirmed we need a visa. That's all there is to it. It doesn't matter what random web sites say. Why would you sue the travel agency? They told you that it was your responsibility to ensure you had your visa lined up. Please have a look at this (not) RANDOM web site: http://dominicanrepublic.embassyhome..._london_uk.htm It's official site and follow the link for the entry requirements. My friend, that is NOT an official site by any stretch of the imagination. Putting the word "official" on the top doesn't mean anything. You need to become a more sophisticated internet consumer before you get yourself in any more trouble. They clearly list who can enter without a visa he http://www.serex.gov.do/espanol/sin_visa.htm miguel -- Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu |
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Bad experience with the Dominican republic visa requirements
Originally posted by Ilko www.dominicanrepublic.com http://www.dominicanrep.i- nfo/residency.htmlhttp://www.dominicanrep.info/residency.html http://www.dominicanrepublic.com/Tou...velguide/visa- _regulations.htm"]http://www.dominicanrepublic.com/Tourism/english/trav- elguide/visa_regulations.htm[/url] http://www.domrep.org/visas.- htmhttp://www.domrep.org/visas.htm http://www.drembassy- org/english/http://www.drembassy.org/english/ Why do you want to go back? Arnego2 -- Posted via http://britishexpats.com |
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Bad experience with the Dominican republic visa requirements
arnego2 wrote in message Why
do you want to go back? Arnego2 What do you exactly mean? |
#10
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Bad experience with the Dominican republic visa requirements
Yep Miguel,
I saw it's unofficial either,just after i posted the message. Try to use Google and find official ones if you can. When you see 5 or 10 (random or unofficial) sites stating the same, will you keep on searching? Further more - the official sites of the Dominican republic embassy in Pakistan and Italy are still stating Bulgarians need not a visa. Total after long hours searching in internet I have found the following informatin about visas. Sites confirming Bulgarian citizens DO NOT need a visa: http://www.cons-dom.fi.it/turismo/index.html - official http://www.serex.gov.do/ is not aviable in English http://www.dominicanconsulate.org.pk/tourismframe.htm - official and many other unofficial (random in your words)which I already posted. I have found ONLY 2 (3) official sites confirming Bulgarian citizens DO need a visa: www.domrep.org www.drembassy.org/english plus www.serex.gov.do where its english section is under construction. Which one(s) are accredited or with an actual information? How can you be sure of that? Miguel, my point is that information about the Dominican republic visa requirements is confusing and hard to be gathered from official sources in english in internet.It is not neither my job nor a hobby to do so deep search. As an average user a several sites, giving general tourist information usually are enough. I did that search an year ago, found that I don't need a visa and went there with no troubles. At the same time, as I wrote in the original post, two other bulgarians I met there were told by the Dominican embassy in London to obtain a visa costed £120(~US $216) each. Confusing isn't it? In other hand the post it's not only about the visa requirements is it? |
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