Immigration and Overstay Issues

Thank you for this. I was told, however, at immigration at PUJ that I could not apply for an extension if I had already passed the 30 days.  I am afraid that, if this is the case, and I try to apply online, I will be sending up a red flag.

It's sounds as though these new procedures are also a deterrent for people like me who come over for 3-4 months.  There are plenty of other islands offering betters terms i.e. pay as you go, which is simple and convenient.  Pity as we love DR but perhaps it's time we explored other islands close by.

We have never had any intention of of settling nor buying any property in DR or any in any other island.  The housing market in the UK is far more attractive and the stock market produces far better returns over the medium term-we just want a pleasant country like DR where the people are great, but without these new procedures.  Time will tell.

WillieWeb wrote:

The Kentucky Colonel --- Sanders

Know the story?

He had a thriving roadside chicken joint
until
a new superhighway bypassed him....

Business suffered
He struck out to franchise his recipe......

rest is history

As a boy, I believe I ate at that original restaurant while traveling with my salesman Dad.  This was in the mid-, maybe late 1960s , IIRC.  It wasn't much of a place by then -- Interstate 75 did indeed route traffic around his excellent roadside location.  It closed a few years later, I believe. 

I believe Colonel Sanders didn't wait for the Interstate to be built...he acted on the announcement of plans and corridors.  Unfortunately, most businesses didn't take that route and died.  The area has recovered economically now, but it took a couple of decades.

Jim

Ducketts:

What other island(s) would you recommend for the relaxed immigration/visiting rules?

Alextrucking wrote:

I don’t believe the government of the DR will enforce this rules with tourists from wealthy countries. It just doesn’t make sense DR is a third world country and needs the money.  This law is intended for emigrants from poorest  countries.

So enforcing the law against a poor person would be fine, but not against one with "enough" money?
Would that not be profiling and blatant discrimination?  Would that not be viewed in a very negative light on the world stage and cause problems for the DR government?

ducketts wrote:

It's sounds as though these new procedures are also a deterrent for people like me who come over for 3-4 months.  There are plenty of other islands offering betters terms i.e. pay as you go, which is simple and convenient.  Pity as we love DR but perhaps it's time we explored other islands close by.

We have never had any intention of of settling nor buying any property in DR or any in any other island.  The housing market in the UK is far more attractive and the stock market produces far better returns over the medium term-we just want a pleasant country like DR where the people are great, but without these new procedures.  Time will tell.

Correct, only time will tell if the PRD government equally enforces the laws they wrote many years ago that the PLD ignored like the PRD said they would when they recently took over the DR government. Recent news articles provide a clue to the government intent,  follow through is another story.

For now, Migracion has a way to stay as a tourist for up to 120 days (even that extended amount of time past 30 days is not according to the laws of DR immigration).

If I lived here illegally I would be concerned.  If I were illegal and working or simply owned property that was my main residence, I would be VERY concerned. Likewise if I employed,  housed or transported illegals.

If Migracion publishes a new "Overstay Chart" then the government needs to pass new laws that enable it to have such a chart. Not to mention that would be hypocrisy.

There is no justification based in DR laws for the previous overstay chart.  The PRD has stated numerous time they will enforce the laws they wrote back in 2003.  The PLD just made that up the overstay chart outside the laws and  on their own and used it from 2004 until 2019..

thecolonel wrote:

Sure, and ill stick by my bet......that they'll still be fine with getting free money from gringos.  And I'll let you know about my friends welcome too next week, under a new government .

I am not a betting man.  But I do expect that over the next year you would lose that bet. Something about the promises made by the new PRD government and what they have stated in the news recently
like this:

https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2 … arta-cabal

JayBeeTee wrote:

Thank you for this. I was told, however, at immigration at PUJ that I could not apply for an extension if I had already passed the 30 days.  I am afraid that, if this is the case, and I try to apply online, I will be sending up a red flag.

Immigration imo, are not so concerned about people who wish to have a tourist stay of 3 to 4 months and this government publicized the procedure to extend such says to 120 days soon after they came into office. It takes time for the message to get out that such a process exists which is easy and online.....ask 'ducketts' who posted his experience here in this forum.

See attached link and you can ask via the Migracion forum if you have doubts. wanting to have a legal status is not a red flag...on the contrary.

https://migracion.gob.do/en/servicio/stay-extension/https://migracion.gob.do/foro/

It was an administrative work around.

I was advised to check with you about the extension policy. I am hoping you can help. 😊 I have already overstayed the 30 days and am wondering if I can still do the online extension. I am a bit leery of being here as I am based on this new push by government. Any insights would be greatly appreciated.

Yes, I tend to agree with you Alextrucking.

windeguy wrote:

Alextrucking wrote:

I don’t believe the government of the DR will enforce this rules with tourists from wealthy countries. It just doesn’t make sense DR is a third world country and needs the money.  This law is intended for emigrants from poorest  countries.

So enforcing the law against a poor person would be fine, but not against one with "enough" money?
Would that not be profiling and blatant discrimination?  Would that not be viewed in a very negative light on the world stage and cause problems for the DR government?

I never said it’s fine. Unfortunately I have been in the other side and I know how things work. It’s not the same a person who came to spend money than a person who came to compete with locals for jobs.
Please realize an investor residency is being offered your answer is there. Business is business my man.

Well here are a few, most of which allow you stay up to 6 months without a visa:

St Lucia, Barbados, Antigua & most of the British islands

The French Caribbean islands like Martinique up to 3 months unless you have French residency (which I have) then unlimited stay including members of the EU

Belize up to 6 months-cost 25$ per month.
Costa Rica up to 3 months application to stay can be made to stay up to 6 months


All the above and probably other islands have a much more user friendly immigration systems for tourists.

And the stay in most of those islands is much much higher in cost!

Sorry Planner I disagree, you just need to know where to look.  The French Caribbean islands are considerably cheaper especially food & drink  Accommodation, less choice yes.  But then one is going for the climate and the beauty of the islands.  As I said I love DR but the immigration system needs improving and is sufficient for me look elsewhere once this wretched virus has gone- in other words another 2 years at least regardless of vaccinations

ducketts
I really don't understand your the resistance you have to legal residency.

No obligations and in a country you seem to prefer.

If it's a monetary decision - Ok , understood
If not.... ???

I dont understand it either.   But then again he is the guy who complained loudly and often when he was here.

I have a question in regards to the extension.
If I understand correctly it's max 120 days, is that above your initial 30 days? And is that 120 days renewable again without leaving the country?
Thanks

No it's a total of 120 days and then you need to leave.  The extension won't be approved if you don't have a flight reservation to leave within that 120 days

What happens if you have a child going to school?

No bearing on the issue as I see it
Just a bigger problem for that person

Why?
Under those circumstances would that person risk this ??

Seems odd to me.... children - school - illegal.... non sequitor

WillieWeb wrote:

No bearing on the issue as I see it
Just a bigger problem for that person

Why?
Under those circumstances would that person risk this ??

Seems odd to me.... children - school - illegal.... non sequitor

That's why I was asking. Preparing in advance lol. He's still just 18months but.... Gotta plan what we will do for school if we can't stay legally beyond 4months

WillieWeb wrote:

ducketts
I really don't understand your the resistance you have to legal residency.

No obligations and in a country you seem to prefer.

If it's a monetary decision - Ok , understood
If not.... ???

I don't think everyone can get legal residency (criminal records) or cost

https://listindiario.com/la-republica/2 … s-ilegales

Jd-b&b wrote:

I have a question in regards to the extension.
If I understand correctly it's max 120 days, is that above your initial 30 days? And is that 120 days renewable again without leaving the country?
Thanks

It is 120 days total from entry date and not renewable.

jd & amp...

if I were you---- I'd look into it....Lishali.... use my name

My simple objection is as follows:

1.  Too old to get involved with residency application
2.  I never had any intentions of buying property
3.  I only want to come to the Caribbean for 3-6 months of the year
4.  Health issues-I'm much more comfortable being treated in France as & when I need to & it's free.

I believe these are sensible reasons in to answer your question.

No the 120 days includes the original 30 days

Never too old.....

Jd-b&b wrote:

WillieWeb wrote:

No bearing on the issue as I see it
Just a bigger problem for that person

Why?
Under those circumstances would that person risk this ??

Seems odd to me.... children - school - illegal.... non sequitor

That's why I was asking. Preparing in advance lol. He's still just 18months but.... Gotta plan what we will do for school if we can't stay legally beyond 4months

Perhaps consider being legally in the country? 

Just a thought.

"I don't think everyone can get legal residency (criminal records) or cost"


Being a criminal or not having sufficient money to be able to live without turning into a burden make perfect sense for denial of granting legal residency (in ANY country)  when you think about it.

Spend a little bit of time online and you will find out USA is the country who put  more citizens in jail in the world. Why? Because in USA  is very important for the judges and prosecutors to keep a high rate of convictions to asure they will be re elected. No matter if you are a real criminal or not.   plus it’s a great source of income. So yes for some people it’s easier to overstay the tourist visa.

I wish!

Alextrucking wrote:

Spend a little bit of time online and you will find out USA is the country who put  more citizens in jail in the world. Why? Because in USA  is very important for the judges and prosecutors to keep a high rate of convictions to asure they will be re elected. No matter if you are a real criminal or not.   plus it’s a great source of income. So yes for some people it’s easier to overstay the tourist visa.

Overstaying a 30 day tourist card has always been easier than becoming a legal resident in the DR.

I think you miss the basic point.  There are thousands who don't want residency, they just want to come over and spend (in most cases) 3-6 months.  Most of the competing islands provide for that option and I would be good to see DR doing something similar.  I am fully aware if the issues of Haiti but with proper controls these objectives can be managed.  Finally this would be good for the economy.  Asking people in their 70s to apply for residency when they don't wish to buy a property is ridiculous.

We have been over this before....

The group you talk about is such a small part of the tourism puzzle it isn't worth the gov't's time to focus on it.

In normal tourist times, there are 6-7,000,000 visitors.... mostly All-In crowd.
$10 on arrival and $20 on departure is the tax.....$20M US

Add to that their charges at the hotel and you have a good sized number.

The 'free range' visitor is fractional in comparison

I am probably not looking to stay over 3-9 months at a time but the process is tedious from the start of the original country. I am just looking to do the right thing by getting it.

WE now have a process to  stay legally or semi legally  for  120 days. Be grateful as this is longer than before and is fairly straight forward.

Right now this gov't doesnt give a darn about the relatively small group of  expats who are overstaying their  tourism card.   

No matter how much you all whine it isn't going to make any difference right now.  Lets see what the future holds.

I am a bit confused , does this mean the 30 day to 120 day extension is no longer an option?