Immigration and Overstay Issues

Some people enjoy living in the edge. Others have no idea that they are illegal after 30 days on a tourist card.

With so little consequence thus far for not having residency and just overstaying illegally and paying the exit fee,  the motivation is not great for people to go through the residency process. 

I live here. It is the only way I can get a driver's license and more, so I have to be "legal".

Oh no lennox....!!!!!!!!!

Logic you're trying to apply ????
Ludicrous.....

hahaha

Exactly right.... like seeing a shark....a harmless one
People fear the unknown....
residency is one of those fears
The assumption is it's too difficult a process....and too $$$

Windy -
like you... my plan always was to live here - Official Residence #1

I flew in on a weekend and had a Monday AM appointment at Guzman.

No house - no property---NADA
But I got residency

All the rest followed....

Can't say as I'd do it differently today
But my case was different.... I needed a country... a legal residency

In case people don't know it -
Being a Citizen of the World doesn't actually work

I tried it... and my friend tried it

NO GO JOE!!!

As I pointed our earlier... La Rep Dom is one of the easier countries to visit & break the law
Others are more punishing and $$$

Steverino
If you ever get tired of Cdn taxation......
you now know where the exit door is...

Red sign above -- written in Latin.... EXIT

One can see from the statistics available on current residency issue, that  foreigners from countries that are being picked up in the daily round ups such as Chinese, Asians, East Europeans, Central and South Americans and Cubans are now getting residency in larger numbers relative to their presence here.

https://www.migracion.gob.do/Trans/Archives/4582

There is also a steady flow of Europeans and North Americans getting/renewing their residency.

Other Europeans and North Americans coming here as tourists and overstaying have become complacent but they would also react in a rush if/when the focus turns to them as well, now that all the modern immigrations controls are in place.

Overstay is apparently still available beyond 60 days without repercussions for North Americans and Europeans, so enjoy it, but be aware of potential risks if the landscape changes.

Thank you for that detailed information Lennoxnev. I know I would not want to invest or get residency in the D.R. . I work in Canada each year for 6 months and go to the D.R. for 6 months each year. No complications, no forms to fill out, no lawyers (abagados) to deal with and no government officials to wait for or get the run around from.

At this time, If access remains as it is, I am happy to follow this path and keep things simple.....

Yet you work here the 6 months you are here?  Illegally?

planner wrote:

Yet you work here the 6 months you are here?  Illegally?

He actually never said he works in the DR. He said he works 6 months in Canada and then goes to the DR for six months. At least that’s how I understand it :-).
Besides plenty of models of earning money while being in the DR without a residency or work permit are possible. Maybe you have a scalable business running or you let your money work for you in the form of dividends, rental income etc... That wouldn’t be illegal.
But if someone really comes to the DR to physically work, without a residency, well, that would sound illegal .

Steverino
with respect

you might be doing this backwards

do 6 months less a day in Canada.. pay 15% withholding tax
PERIOD
and do the rest in RD.... no tax on foreign income

Please don't explain the health insurance aspect -
there are cheaper options globally

Get out your calculator and see if it's worthwhile

Free advice.... worth nothing !!!
haha

I have a temporary work visa arranged by and thru a Dominican company. Thank you for the info. WillieWeb. I will give it some thought.....

You have a work visa?  Well that can be converted into residency honey.   How do you get that every year honey?  Private message me as I  have other clients who would love to do the same!

Frequent traveler. My comment was based on my knowledge of many  other posts by Severino thus my questions honey.

I wonder.... A ship on the high seas (in international waters) is considered to be the territory of the country in which it is registered.

As I understand it the territorial waters of the DR extend 12 nautical miles offshore.

Makes me wonder if there is not a business opportunity for some cruise line to set up a little day cruise to pick you up in the DR, take you into international waters, stamp your visa in and out....  might be cheaper than a RT flying off the island?

oops

There are rules and that may not qualify just like going to Haiti doesnt.

Firing up a cruise ship ain't cheap.....

jaycreynolds wrote:

I wonder.... A ship on the high seas (in international waters) is considered to be the territory of the country in which it is registered.

As I understand it the territorial waters of the DR extend 12 nautical miles offshore.

Makes me wonder if there is not a business opportunity for some cruise line to set up a little day cruise to pick you up in the DR, take you into international waters, stamp your visa in and out....  might be cheaper than a RT flying off the island?

There is a ferry running 3 days a week from Santo Domingo to San Juan, they usually have cheap prices without a cabin, takes 12 hrs as they want you spend money during the travel time in disco, casino and restaurants, tht could be a good option as flying to PR has usually same fares to fly Florida or New York.

planner wrote:

Frequent traveler. My comment was based on my knowledge of many  other posts by Severino thus my questions honey.

I already see, you know pretty much everything about the DR.
I wonder about one thing, I read you are qualified for residency if you own real estate worth 200K.
What if the property is held by a Dominican holding company (like it’s pretty common) and you own a share of it, which is worth those 200K. Could you apply for residency then?

Yes honey that qualifies. And thank you, I know a lot but definately not everything!  I learn something new every single day!

FrequentTraveler92 wrote:

planner wrote:

Frequent traveler. My comment was based on my knowledge of many  other posts by Severino thus my questions honey.

I already see, you know pretty much everything about the DR.
I wonder about one thing, I read you are qualified for residency if you own real estate worth 200K.
What if the property is held by a Dominican holding company (like it’s pretty common) and you own a share of it, which is worth those 200K. Could you apply for residency then?

200K US qualifies for an investor visa:

Google translation:

DIRECT INVESTORS:  COMPANIES ESTABLISHED IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC THAT HAVE RECEIVED A CONTRIBUTION TO THEIR CAPITAL, COMING FROM ABROAD, FOR A MINIMUM AMOUNT OF US $ 200,000.00, OR ITS EQUIVALENT IN NATIONAL CURRENCY. THIS CONTRIBUTION MAY BE MADE IN CURRENCY, NATURE, FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS OR TECHNOLOGY, UNDER THE FORMS ESTABLISHED IN LAW 16-95 OF FOREIGN INVESTMENT. SAID INVESTMENT MUST HAVE BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE CENTER FOR EXPORT AND INVESTMENT OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (CEI-RD), OR ELSE IT IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REGISTERED.
Original source here:
https://www.migracion.gob.do/Menu/SubList/44

planner wrote:

Yes honey that qualifies. And thank you, I know a lot but definately not everything!  I learn something new every single day!

Wow, thanks for replying. This forum is easily the best I have ever read on the web and your contributions are amazing.

windeguy wrote:

FrequentTraveler92 wrote:

planner wrote:

Frequent traveler. My comment was based on my knowledge of many  other posts by Severino thus my questions honey.

I already see, you know pretty much everything about the DR.
I wonder about one thing, I read you are qualified for residency if you own real estate worth 200K.
What if the property is held by a Dominican holding company (like it’s pretty common) and you own a share of it, which is worth those 200K. Could you apply for residency then?

200K US qualifies for an investor visa:

Google translation:

DIRECT INVESTORS:  COMPANIES ESTABLISHED IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC THAT HAVE RECEIVED A CONTRIBUTION TO THEIR CAPITAL, COMING FROM ABROAD, FOR A MINIMUM AMOUNT OF US $ 200,000.00, OR ITS EQUIVALENT IN NATIONAL CURRENCY. THIS CONTRIBUTION MAY BE MADE IN CURRENCY, NATURE, FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS OR TECHNOLOGY, UNDER THE FORMS ESTABLISHED IN LAW 16-95 OF FOREIGN INVESTMENT. SAID INVESTMENT MUST HAVE BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE CENTER FOR EXPORT AND INVESTMENT OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (CEI-RD), OR ELSE IT IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REGISTERED.
Original source here:
https://www.migracion.gob.do/Menu/SubList/44

I guess that‘s also a yes, although the text above doesn‘t mention real estate property and it sounds more like an investment in a general company not a real estate holding company.

While the document at 

https://www.migracion.gob.do/Menu/SubList/44

Is the bottom line,  I think you would qualify given the proper paperwork was done regarding your investment.  An immigration lawyer can confirm this for you.

Not denigrate anything here....

but checking with a lawyer is the better solution.

Get tips here - get facts at the lawyer.....

The Investment post read to me --- the initial investment (not current value) --
needs to be $200,000

WillieWeb wrote:

Not denigrate anything here....

but checking with a lawyer is the better solution.

Get tips here - get facts at the lawyer.....

The Investment post read to me --- the initial investment (not current value) --
needs to be $200,000

Absolutely, thanks for your reply!

I absolutely agree with Willie and for a number of reasons. 

Things here change often and quickly. Many of us try to stay up to date but it's difficult!

You should confirm info with a lawyer. Many have been recommended here!

Steverino7777 wrote:

I have a temporary work visa arranged by and thru a Dominican company. Thank you for the info. WillieWeb. I will give it some thought.....

Steverino-

I've been thinking...........

If you have a work visa - why are you paying the exit fee ?

Good question!

Everything that has been 'confirmed'....has been debunked....over and over again.  I'll bet this latest 'confirmation' will be too.

Colonel do you have to work at being so negative about everything or is it natural?

It's 'realism', not negativity, and I keep getting confirmed as correct.  Often gringos like to think they're still in 'Kansas', but they're really not.  It behooves us all to be cognizant of what really goes on, instead of what we think is, or should be.  You yourself have often corroborated my messages.

Often you are correct.  My point is you're ALWAYS negative.  I am a realist but I see both sides of things as much as possible.

OK, I'll try to phrase things in a positive way, for example;  ''I think it's wonderfully charming that nothing can ever be confirmed in the dr.''

thecolonel wrote:

OK, I'll try to phrase things in a positive way, for example;  ''I think it's wonderfully charming that nothing can ever be confirmed in the dr.''

well my friend, is confirmed that the turist card is for 30 days, and its been confirmed that inmigration is writting in your stamp 30 days.

As international rule for travelers when inmigration write a numer next or in your stamp thats mean are the days that you have allowed to stay legal in the country, as far as I know, maybe Im wrong,

Okay lets move on please....

It's a wonderful thing that they really stamp 30 days, and don't really mean it.  We love it that when you then stay 100 days, they just shake you down for some money when you leave, and no problem.  I'm pleased and honored to confrim that, for the 1001st time.

And shake down implies they are doing something illegal!  Illegal is if they put it in their jeans which is happening less and less due to  controls.

Reality - there is a well documented, published list of OVERSTAY FINES. That removes it from the shakedown  pile my friend.

So,  yes expats pay to OVERSTAY when they exceed their  tourism visa.  Get over it.

Agree. We all know the cost of overstaying, so not a shakedown.

As I stated earlier --

RD is one of the easiest countries for overstayers.
Really - not much to complain about

Unless people expect a free ride -- whereby they come & go when they please...
Like the tail wagging the dog......IMO

Nice try at......sophistry.

Ooops
you're breaking your promise.....

and there is nothing false in that statement
the use of clever but false arguments, especially with the intention of deceiving.

I used a post from expat.com to start a thread on DR1.com 
It was the post about a person being denied re-entry to the DR because of previous overstays and no other obvious reason.  Just a denial based upon previous overstays.  Of course, there are many who don't believe it ever happened.Very well.. Don't believe it. BUT and this a BUT as big as any , well you know:

There is a poster on DR1 with the handle PICHARDO.  He is directly connected with the DR government and has posted information about things that have happened well before they were ever announced in any news outlet.  He had information years ago about a METRO being built in Santo Domingo.  We ALL laughed at that announcement and now there is a METRO in Santo Domingo and he laughs at us.

PICHARDO posted this today in my thread on DR1 in response to a post by lifeisgreat:

"Quote Originally Posted by lifeisgreat View Post
Once they start denying overstayers Facebook will lite up like Xmas tree and dr1 will Break post per day records." 

.
"The number is 82 so far in 2019 (just this last quarter) and count will surely go up...

Already in effect. Just warnings here and there, those red flagged by the system on entry are put on the same flight back (if possible).

The system is on test mode, flagging only based on last 2 calendar years.
If a notice was issued on last exit, the system automatically voids the entry and issues a penalty ban entry based on a scale to ratio of overstay.

They are provided information on how to proceed to obtain a residency visa if they want to reside in the country or proper action to extensions.

The exit penalty fee will be terminated once the extension program goes online.

It will be a slow roll out process, much due to significant challenges on intranet security at checkpoints.

"

https://dr1.com/forums/showthread.php/1 … ost1962226

I read your comments with great interest.

I've been coming for 5 years, each overstay by 2-3 months including my 30 day tourist card.

Are you saying if I come over next year I could be refused entry?  I'm retired and frail and have recently suffered from cancer.  The thought of arriving in DR and being disallowed entry terrifies me.

If this is that serious I'll go to another island like Costa Rica where these problems don't exist.

What on earth are these people playing at?  I fully understand"controlling immigration" but this actually would do the opposite, turn people away.

Ducketts