Massachusetts has the fourth-largest population of immigrants from the Dominican Republic in the United States. Many Dominican-Americans chose to live right here in Boston, including in Jamaica Plain, Roxbury, Dorchester, Roslindale, and in other communities. If you choose to start your new life in America here in the Boston area, you’ll be in good company. There is even an annual Dominican festival and parade in downtown Boston.
If you’re hoping to find better economic opportunities here than you can find back in the DR, you’re looking at the right state. Certain job vacancies in Boston are high, and we have some exceptional employers looking for employees.
If you need help immigrating to MA from the Dominican Republic, contact Boston immigration attorney Giselle M. Rodriguez. Giselle helps clients with the full range of immigration challenges, from visas to citizenship. She is bilingual (English & Spanish), and works with clients throughout Greater Boston and Massachusetts. Contact Giselle today to discuss your case, read these case results from some of my Dominican clients, or read on to find out more about protecting your immigration status in the United States.
Pursuing an Education
More than 30 colleges and universities call Massachusetts home, including Harvard, MIT, and other prestigious schools. I can help you get the student visa that will help you pursue almost any course of study here that you want.
That will mean applying for an F-visa for most colleges and universities here, though there are also M-visas for those who wish to pursue vocational training.
Finding Employment
The Boston area has almost too many job opportunities to name. As a coastal city, the foremost “college town,” the capital of Massachusetts, and the largest city in New England, immigrants from the DR (and anywhere else) can always find a job – whether that’s in the ever-expanding suburbs, in Dorchester (our largest neighborhood), in the rapidly developing Seaport district, or anywhere else.
Though you need to find a job and an employer-sponsor before you can get an employment-based visa, the market is wide open.
Starting a Business
For a large city, Boston is relatively business-friendly, and Dominicans have started a wide variety of businesses here. 3% of Dominicans in Boston are business owners.
If you plan to start a business here, you can pursue an O-1 entrepreneur visa, which will let you remain in the United States as long as you are operating the business, or an EB-1 if you can demonstrate extraordinary ability in business. The EB-5 Entrepreneur Visa is available to individuals who can invest at least $1.8 million in their business.
The Consulate
You’ll have access to the Consulate here: The Consulate General of the Dominican Republic in Boston is located at 20 Park Plaza #601, Boston, MA. Its phone number is (617) 482-0066.
You can go to the Consulate for help getting marriage and divorce certificates, birth certificates, passports, and other important identifying documents.
Additional Resources
The Dominican Development Center offers ESOL classes, citizenship classes, technology classes, and leadership classes. The DDC is also working on programs such as a Bill of Rights for Domestic Workers, an anti-domestic violence program, and more.
Processing Times in Boston
You can expect our local USCIS office to take 7 months to 21.5 months to process your visa, depending on the visa type.
The best way to speed up your processing time is to do three things:
- Fill out the best visa application for your circumstances.
- Make sure your visa application is filled out correctly the first time.
- Submit sufficient evidence with your visa application.
When you work with me, you get the peace of mind that comes from knowing your immigration to Massachusetts will be as smooth as possible. We’ll set up an initial appointment, go over your unique situation, and determine what your next steps should be. Contact my office here in Boston to get help today.