Check the official site before you travel. imptmanhattan.com is a hotel and travel site; it does not issue visas or ESTAs and this is not legal advice. Rules change: confirm on esta.cbp.dhs.gov and travel.state.gov.
| Status | Visitor visas suspended |
|---|---|
| Visa or authorization | Partial suspension: B-1/B-2 visitor visas included |
| Where to apply | Check the State Department notice first |
| Fees and processing | Set by the US government: check the official site |
| Arrival | Inspection by US Customs and Border Protection at the airport |
Under Presidential Proclamation 10998, in force since January 1, 2026, the issuance of new B-1/B-2 visitor visas to Dominican (Dominica) nationals is suspended (the partial suspension covers B-1/B-2 visitor visas), with limited exceptions. Visas issued before the proclamation remain valid. An ESTA is not available. Check the State Department's announcement on travel.state.gov before planning a trip to Manhattan or paying for anything. Consular officers decide each case, and the rules can change.
What the suspension means
Presidential Proclamation 10998, in force since January 1, 2026, partially suspends the issuance of new visitor visas to Dominican (Dominica) nationals. A B-1/B-2 application for tourism or business travel to Manhattan is therefore unlikely to be approved unless an exception applies. Visas issued before the proclamation were not revoked, so a valid visa already in a passport can still be used.
An ESTA is not available to Dominican (Dominica) citizens, so the Visa Waiver Program is not a route around the suspension. Limited exceptions exist, for example for certain dual nationals who travel on another country's passport. Whether one fits a case is decided by consular officers, not by the traveler. Read the State Department's announcement on travel.state.gov and treat the trip as unconfirmed until the position is clear.
Before you fly and on arrival
Book nothing that cannot be canceled until the visa position is settled. If a valid visa is already in the passport, check that the passport and the visa are both in order, and confirm the spelling of the name across both documents. The State Department's announcement on travel.state.gov is the page to follow, since exceptions and country lists can change.
Flights land at John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia or Newark Liberty, and Customs and Border Protection inspects every arriving traveler at the first US airport. Expect questions about the purpose of the visit, the length of the stay and where you will sleep. Answer plainly and carry printed confirmations. Officers decide admission on the day, and a visa alone does not guarantee entry.
Staying in Manhattan
Hotels in Manhattan ask for a passport at check-in and usually a card for incidentals. Carry a printed reservation with the street address, since entrances at larger buildings sit on side streets or inside arcades. A return or onward ticket and a clear plan for the days in the city help at the border and at the front desk.
From the airports, trains and buses run into Manhattan, and staffed ground transport desks sit in the terminals. Journey times vary with traffic and the hour. A hotel confirmation showing the address, plus the dates of the stay, answers most questions at check-in. Keep the return booking to hand for the whole trip. Midtown blocks are short and walkable once bags are dropped.
Work, study and longer stays
Visitor visas cover tourism, family visits and short business meetings, not employment or enrollment. Work, study, exchange programs and stays that stretch over months each need a different category, with its own application and supporting documents from the employer or school. The suspension described applies to new visitor visas; other categories follow their own rules and should be checked separately.
Anyone planning study or a job in New York should start with the institution or employer, then confirm the correct category on travel.state.gov before paying for anything. Rules and exceptions change, so the official site is the only reliable source. A US embassy or consulate answers questions about a particular case, and the published announcement is the page to follow.
Step by step
- Read the State Department's announcement on travel.state.gov and see how Presidential Proclamation 10998 applies to Dominican (Dominica) passports.
- Check whether an exception fits, for example dual nationality with travel on another country's passport, or a visa issued before the proclamation.
- Contact the nearest US embassy or consulate with the case, since consular officers decide applications.
- Keep any existing visa in a valid passport and check the name spelling on both documents.
- Hold off on non-refundable flights, hotel deposits and event tickets until the visa position is clear.
- Recheck the official pages close to the travel date, because the proclamation and its exceptions can change.
Documents to carry
- A valid Dominican (Dominica) passport, plus any second passport held
- An existing US visa, if one was issued before the proclamation
- Printed hotel confirmation with the Manhattan address and stay dates
- Return or onward ticket and a short printed outline of daily plans
- Evidence of funds for the stay and travel insurance details
Dominican (Dominica) citizens: questions
Can Dominican (Dominica) citizens get a US visitor visa for Manhattan now?
Under Presidential Proclamation 10998, new B-1/B-2 visitor visas for Dominican (Dominica) nationals are suspended (the partial suspension covers B-1/B-2 visitor visas), so approval is unlikely unless an exception applies. Visas issued before the proclamation were not revoked and can still be used. Check travel.state.gov for the current position before paying for any trip.
Do Dominican (Dominica) citizens need an ESTA for a short US trip?
No. An ESTA is not available to Dominican (Dominica) citizens, so a visa is the usual route. Under the current proclamation, new visitor visas are suspended (the partial suspension covers B-1/B-2 visitor visas) with limited exceptions. Confirm the rules on esta.cbp.dhs.gov and travel.state.gov before booking anything.
Can Dominican (Dominica) citizens with an existing US visa still visit Manhattan?
Yes. Visas issued before Presidential Proclamation 10998 were not revoked, so a valid visitor visa in a current passport remains usable for a trip to Manhattan. Travelers still pass through Customs and Border Protection at the airport, where an officer decides admission. Carry a hotel confirmation, a return ticket and proof of funds.
Which exceptions apply to Dominican (Dominica) citizens under the proclamation?
The exceptions are limited, and one example concerns certain dual nationals who travel to the United States on another country's passport. A visa issued before the proclamation also remains valid. Consular officers, and the State Department's published announcement, are the sources for how the rules apply in a particular case.
Where will you stay in Manhattan?
Midtown for a first visit, SoHo or the West Village for character, the Upper West Side for the park. Live prices for your dates open in the IMPT app.
Photo credits: Pexels.