Immigration and Overstay Issues

And Scott get into an accident here as an "illegal" expat and watch what happens!  ALL the laws come into play.

I personally know of  3 individuals who have had serious accidents here and  were forced to run - get out of country any way they could - as they were to blame for accidents due to their illegal status.  Fact!

It lacks objectivity to suggest to potential new expats that what has happened in the past is going to happen in the future.

The dialogue is consistent in relation to all undocumented foreigners and other nationalities other than Haitian are specifically mentioned in this interview posted on the DGM website....

https://migracion.gob.do/en/dgm-director-migration-must-become-a-ministry-of-migration-and-foreigners/

.........However, the Director of Migration specified that any foreigner who is in the country must comply with the requirements established by Law 285-04, its application regulations and the Dominican Constitution.

He reported that of the migrants that the country receives, 87 percent are Haitians, followed by Venezuelans, Americans, Chinese and Italians, among other nationalities, but warned, however, that “migration has the responsibility that foreigners are regulate and legally in the country, and remove the illegal and undocumented “.........

The truth is --- we know not what the future holds

BUT

We feel strongly 'The Times They Are A'Changin''

From all the reports and warnings from the new authorities

Personally..... I see it as a tourist is a 120 day or less visitor
Any longer and they become an Outlier

Getting residency is not that difficult or expensive...if you have the right help! Personally, we wouldn't even begin clearing our land for construction until after we got residency. There was no way we would have invested more than just the cost of the land until we knew we would be able to legally live in this beautiful country.

I don't understand why people are so averse to doing what is required by law and continue to rely on loopholes and lack of enforcement.

Most gringos dont buy land, dont do business.

Check w/ the troops Colonel..... you may be misinformed

As for residency -
It reminds of the old MasterCard commercial...

The last line of which is - Priceless

oh come on enough with the fear mongering I have all the correct insurance and dont drive like an a*****e , if I were to get in an accident I would be fine.  I know how to handle myself.  I would not have to run out of the country lol

I remember when they said you had to have a covid test showing negative it was a joke I walked past everyone at the airport to the front of the line and gave my passport nobody said a word they dont care

Me too recently. We are their cash cow.

How many millions every year, and you really think most buy land and do business?

Scott18684 wrote:

oh come on enough with the fear mongering I have all the correct insurance and dont drive like an a*****e , if I were to get in an accident I would be fine.  I know how to handle myself.  I would not have to run out of the country lol

You are not insured if you overstay.

https://drlawyer.com/espanol/ventajas-del-permiso-de-residencia-en-republica-dominicana/

The resident foreigner can obtain a Dominican driver's license, as well as car insurance; The non-resident foreigner can drive with the license of their country of origin, as well as obtain insurance, but only for the period of their legal stay in the Dominican Republic.

lennox

Some people innately understand  that a kick in the crotch hurts -

Others have to experience it to believe it

thecolonel wrote:

How many millions every year, and you really think most buy land and do business?

I doubt there are millions of legal foreign residents.... let alone 'Outliers'

As for business..... even harder to skirt the rules

Or......some know that its mostly a gringo thing to fuss over supposed 'laws'.......

Scott18684 wrote:

I remember when they said you had to have a covid test showing negative it was a joke I walked past everyone at the airport to the front of the line and gave my passport nobody said a word they dont care

The first month they did check tests and made people without them get tested.

ddmcghee wrote:

Getting residency is not that difficult or expensive...if you have the right help! Personally, we wouldn't even begin clearing our land for construction until after we got residency. There was no way we would have invested more than just the cost of the land until we knew we would be able to legally live in this beautiful country.

I don't understand why people are so averse to doing what is required by law and continue to rely on loopholes and lack of enforcement.

Not as easy as you say and many factors as I have seen myself.

I used a lawyer myself who would not recommend mainly to avoid much of the leg work needed for the original work. The biggest hassle in my eyes depends on country's consulate you come from.

I have a feeling the new government will focus more on the overstay after Covid resolution. It may not be a high priority at the moment but does not mean it won't be eventually.

You mean like ......'mañana'?  The definition is........"an indeterminate time in the future, or possibly never".    And ever year i make a bet it will be the same the next year, and ive always been right.

All good things come to an end Colonel....

Vamos a ver.....

One thing for sure (IMO).... the past is dying....
what the future holds remains to be seen....

and we all wait.... well.... you all wait.....I'm done...
hopped the fence - crossed the line - changed teams

I dont have to wait for anything. If they make it more onerous for gringos,   like many, ill just spent my money in a competing country. And the government knows that.

as has been said before....

the numbers you refer to... overstayers... is so infinitesimal
that they don't know you exist

Those 1-2 week All Incl people drive the bus.....
and give no problems

The truth is - the smallest group gives the most grief....
and most resistance to change/legislation

on that note-
did you ever consider they are quietly forcing to decide.... or to leave??
Submit to the rules or walk

Suits your attitude perfectly, from what I read

Well said Willie.

The only thing they are forced to do is pay the shakedown at the airport....a cash cow for the government...they love it.

Cash Cow !!???

count'em Clolonel,,,, the all Incl people

6M or so ?

$10 in - $20 out = $30 per person....

Let's go low--- 5M........... $150,000,000

How big a cow is that...... A FAT FAT ONE !!
That's why the little group is meaningless in the general scheme of things

As they say in Texas about people like that -

Big hat --- No cattle

I pay 4000 every time.  They love it.

I know when I'm beaten
Outsmarted by a higher intellect

He who runs away shall live to fight another day

Add your 4000DOP to the $150,000,000 US money bag
I bet you get the VIP treatment...

Peggy Lee likes you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM9nZKfcQf8

DGM will love much more those who choose to pay 4000rd and use the very easy online legal 120 day extension now available.

And so they will have a bunch less illegal overstayers to deal with going forward applying the Immigration Law in full as they have so clearly stated since coming into office.

WillieWeb wrote:

I know when I'm beaten
Outsmarted by a higher intellect

He who runs away shall live to fight another day

Add your 4000DOP to the $150,000,000 US money bag
I bet you get the VIP treatment...

Peggy Lee likes you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM9nZKfcQf8

Never argue with a fool - They will drag you down to their level, Then beat you with experience!!

In my opinion as an investor in this country you have to simply do some long range planning. Whether you are a property owner or simply driving on a regular basis you benefit greatly from having some sort of legal standing. For us getting our Residency was a no brainer. If the Immigration law is applied or not the implications of being denied entry would be catastrophic, being sued because of no valid insurance on our vehicle, very costly. I suppose that for some, keeping a low profile and flying under the radar works well, for us it isn’t an option.

We are just leaving Santo Domingo today after picking up our Residency and Cedula. My compliments and gratitude to Lily Baez for guiding us through the process. Money well spent and certainly worth the effort.

Good to hear Mmr!    She is a jewel for sure.   

And well said.

Or, its big of him to concede ive been right all these years on this supposed ''confirmed one.....that wasnt.  But no problem of you want to bet against me for the future.

Something new coming next week to think about:

RD applies electronic forms of Migration and Customs for travelers

https://www.arecoa.com/aeropuertos/2020 … -viajeros/

Starting next November 25, those who are going to travel through the airports of the Dominican Republic will receive an electronic ticket to declare before the offices of the General Directorate of Migration ( DGM ) and General Customs Directorate ( DGA ).

With this novelty, which was informed this Thursday by several authorities of the tourism sector, the printed forms that used to be delivered before people when leaving or when entering the DR will no longer be given.

The Minister of Tourism, David Collado , assured that the digital form will require all the information from the Ministry of Public Health , Migration and Customs and that it can be filled out from homes.

On his side, the Director of Migration, Enrique García , said that with the elimination of the physical forms for the entry and exit of passengers from the country, this institution will save hundreds of thousands of pesos.

He indicated that the entity has a warehouse full of papers and that it is difficult for them to find any particular information about a traveler.

In addition, he pointed out that they simplified the new form, with really necessary questions, according to Listín Diario.

“This work is very important and had a series of obstacles that we are facing today. It is a digital form to eliminate that paperwork that was uncomfortable for travelers and that in this time of COVID represents a transfer ”, said the Director General of Customs, Eduardo Sanz Lovatón .

The signing of an agreement between the entities to facilitate free transit through airports was held at the El Embajador hotel with the presence of Paola Rainieri , president of the Association of Hotels and Tourism ( Asonahores ), among others.

Yes, and glad they followed my advice, ive been saying for years that those forms were useless. Hope they really drop them.

Yes, we all dislike those forms.

Pre vetting those flying is better allowing the regular flyer to clear customs and immigration quicker whilst those needing more scrutiny are identified and questioned more. Or not allowed to fly in the first place. Like USA and EU.

I look forward to see how they handle. Last time in Punta Cana airport they had set up kiosk machines so perhaps for this. Many won't be prepared before flying.

That is my question too.

Apparently it is starting with flights to SDQ initially but an online form was mentioned too.

I thought much of it would come from airlines and passport data too.

What does this mean in terms of extending ones total stay online to 120 days as I did earlier this year.

I notice several islands and countries are offering inducing packages to come to their country such as 1 year free visas etc. -designed for long term tourists and potential property buyers.

Nobody knows, but even if this electronic system is actually imlemented, in reality, you will likely still be able to pay the exit shakedown fee at the airport when leaving.

Yes - definitely you will be able to pay on exit

The looming question is whether they will identify those who chronically overstay
and give them a penalty - a la USA
Break the US rule visit rules  - you get banned for 5 yrs.....yes, you do !!

And don't start w/ the cash cow 4,000DOP

That is a pittance in the tourism game....

The gov't could care less....
The outliers are literally more trouble than they're worth

Read the public statements about enforcement.....

Poco a poco.... they creep forward, the new rules

You said overstayers are more trouble than they are worth, but didnt say how. Each one probably spends at lest $1000/ month here, plus pay the shakedown when leaving.   So what troubñe are they?