How January 2026 Visa Restrictions Affect Dominican Business Owners

The Crisis No One Saw Coming—And How Smart Entrepreneurs Are Responding

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Sharlene Carnegie

5 min read

On January 1, 2026, something changed for Dominican entrepreneurs that will reshape the island's business landscape for years to come.

At 12:01 AM Eastern Standard Time, Presidential Proclamation 10998 went into effect, suspending the issuance of tourist (B-1/B-2), student (F, M), and exchange (J) visas for Dominican nationals. The reason cited: concerns about Dominica's Citizenship by Investment program and its potential security implications. For most Dominicans, this was a bureaucratic headline in the news. But for business owners trying to export products to the United States—the world's largest consumer market—this was an earthquake.

Let me be direct: if you're a Dominican entrepreneur trying to sell products in the US, January 1, 2026 just became the most important date in your business life. The US Department of State added Dominica to a list of countries facing "partial visa restrictions”.

Here's what that means in practice:

Visas You CAN NO LONGER Get:

  • ❌ Business visitor visa (B-1) – for business meetings, conferences, negotiations

  • ❌ Combined B-1/B-2 – the most common visa for business travel

Visas That Are Still Available (But Harder to Get):

  • ✅ Work visas (H-1B, L-1) – but with reduced validity periods

  • ✅ Diplomatic visas

  • ✅ Special immigrant visas (limited categories)

Here's the one piece of good news: if you received a US visa before January 1, 2026, it remains valid until expiration. The proclamation explicitly states that no previously issued visas will be revoked. But here's the problem: most business owners don't have existing visas. And even if you do, once it expires, you're stuck.

Let me paint you a picture of what this means in practice. You run a natural beauty products company. Your handmade soaps and essential oils are selling well in Dominica—maybe XCD $300,000 in annual revenue. You've heard that Caribbean products are popular with the diaspora in New York, and you know Whole Foods has a "global beauty" section. So you apply for a B-1 business visa and get this response:

"Visa issuance suspended pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 10998. Your application cannot be processed at this time."

You can't meet with Whole Foods buyers. You can't visit stores. You can't attend trade shows. You try cold-emailing Whole Foods. No response. You ship samples. They get lost in the pile. Your competitor in Jamaica—who CAN get a US visa—flies to NYC, meets the buyers, closes the deal. Your products never make it to US shelves. Same business. Same products. Different outcome. That's the new reality.

Let me be blunt about what this means for the future of Dominican businesses; Small businesses will struggle the most. Large companies with existing US distributors and relationships can weather this. But if you're a $300K-$800K revenue business trying to break into the US market? You're facing a nearly insurmountable barrier.  The US market isn't optional. With less than 75,000 people, Dominica's local market is too small for most businesses to achieve meaningful scale. The 150,000-200,000 Dominicans in the US diaspora represent a market 2-3x the size of the entire island. Add the broader Caribbean-American population (4+ million), and you're talking about a market 50x larger than Dominica. If you can't access that market, your growth is capped. Period.

But There IS a Solution (And It's Legal). Here's what most people don't know: work visas are still being issued. Specifically, L-1 intracompany transfer visas remain available to Dominican nationals, even under the current restrictions.

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Ready to discuss your business?

Published on
9 February 2026

Why This Matters for Dominican Businesses

The Harsh Truth: This Could Destroy Your US Export Dreams

A Final Thought

Cargo ship named Geest Line with containers, docked near a hillside with residential buildings.

An L-1 visa allows companies with operations in both the US and a foreign country to transfer employees between locations. Here's the key insight: if your Dominican business has a US affiliate or parent company, you can be "transferred" to the US location for business development purposes. This is 100% legal, legitimate, and explicitly allowed under current US immigration law—even with the January 2026 restrictions.

Let's say a US-based company (we'll call it Company A) has an ownership stake in your Dominican business (Company B). Company A can file an L-1 petition to transfer you—the founder or key employee—to the US for a period of 1-3 years to:

  • Develop the US market

  • Meet with distributors and buyers

  • Attend trade shows

  • Establish business relationships

  • Set up US operations

You get a valid work visa. You can travel to the US freely for business. You can meet Whole Foods buyers, tour Caribbean grocery stores, and attend trade shows. While your competitors are stuck in Dominica, you're closing deals in New York.

Here's Our Model:

1. We Invest in Your Business

We provide growth capital for 15-30% equity in established, profitable Dominican businesses. This capital helps you scale production, obtain certifications, and prepare for US market entry.

2. We Build Your Technology Infrastructure

Within 30 days, we build a professional e-commerce platform, integrate you into major marketplaces (Amazon, Etsy, Facebook, Instagram), and set up inventory management systems. No more selling only on Facebook. You're now competing with professional brands.

3. We Sponsor Your L-1 Work Visa

This is the game-changer. As a US-based entity (Laramy Group LLC) with an ownership stake in your Dominican business, we can sponsor your L-1 visa.  We handle:

  • Visa petition preparation and filing

  • Immigration attorney fees (we pay)

  • All documentation and requirements

  • Premium processing for fast approval

4. We Pay for Your US Travel

We don't just get you a visa and wish you luck. We fund your business development trips.

5. We Make Personal Introductions

This is where it gets really powerful. We don't just drop you in the U.S. and hope for the best. We personally introduce you to:

  • Whole Foods buyers (NYC regional office)

  • Caribbean grocery distributors (C-Town, Compare Foods, Met Foods in NYC metro)

  • Specialty retailers (Credo Beauty, The Detox Market)

  • Other relevant buyers based on your product

These are warm introductions, not cold emails. Our credibility opens doors that would otherwise remain closed.

6. We Provide a US Business Address

Your business now has a U.S. presence:

  • Business address (can be used on all marketing materials)

  • Mail forwarding service

  • Credibility as a US-connected company

Red exotic flower in a lush green garden.

The January 2026 visa restrictions changed everything for Dominican businesses. But change creates opportunity. While most entrepreneurs are paralyzed by this new reality, smart ones are finding solutions. They're partnering with entities that can sponsor their visas, fund their travel, and open doors to US buyers.  The US market isn't going away. The diaspora isn't shrinking. The opportunity is still there. The question is, are you going to let a visa restriction stop you, or are you going to find a way around it?

We built Laramy Group specifically to answer that question. While your competitors are stuck, you can be in New York City shaking hands with Whole Foods buyers. That's not just an investment pitch. It's the difference between thriving and watching others take your opportunities.