Immigration and Overstay Issues

I think/hope that asking about issues online directly to the DGM might open their eyes to some issues people worry about.

If enough pester them for this extension or a 6 mo permit -
perhaps they'll see the light...

might be wishful thinking - but really can't hurt

planner wrote:

And does not include right to work in the country.

Working without being a legal resident now puts a target on your back and the employers back as well.  That is in the news this week about the government enforcing those laws with fines and deportations.

Perhaps the PRM can come up with a snowbird visa, but I am not hopeful on that.  The number of snowbirds is insignificant in the scheme of getting AI resort visitors back during the COVIDIC period. Getting AI tourism back is a huge fish to fry compared to the sardine of snowbirds.

Snowbird visa does not  have right to work either.

Is there a maximum length of time a person can vacation in DR without having a visa?

The other issue is expats working "remotely" thinking none of the laws apply.  They do. The law is territorial here.

David -  the  tourist card is 30 days. The extension takes you to  120 days TOTAL. that is the current maximum.

planner wrote:

Snowbird visa does not  have right to work either.

True. One can only work legally if  you are a DR citizen,  are a legal DR resident, or have a special work visa.   Anyone working illegally in a public location has a big target on them right now and so does their employer as well as who they rent from.

Interesting new post on the DGM Forum from the Canadian couple who asked about extending beyond the first 120 days.

I wonder if you need to submit a medical report and proof of solvency for another 60 days?

https://migracion.gob.do/foro/Debate/st … #postid-59

Cudos to this couple for asking DGM.

It seems like the DGM is trying to work w/ them--

Furthermore, there seems to be 2nd application, more rigorous perhaps,
but a second application nonetheless

Its confusing as hell and looks to me like the  person answering may not actually understand.   How do you request another  extension when the system thinks  its an extension from the  original  30 days tourist card????

I am not buying any of this.  Lets  see.

planner wrote:

Its confusing as hell and looks to me like the  person answering may not actually understand.   How do you request another  extension when the system thinks  its an extension from the  original  30 days tourist card????

I am not buying any of this.  Lets  see.

And then there is the detail of already showing a flight out within the first 120 days for the first extension. (not that you could not change flights and overstay)

The devil is in the details.

Absolutely!

windeguy wrote:

planner wrote:

Snowbird visa does not  have right to work either.

True. One can only work legally if  you are a DR citizen,  are a legal DR resident, or have a special work visa.   Anyone working illegally in a public location has a big target on them right now and so does their employer as well as who they rent from.

Do all DR residents have the right to work? I didn't think the right to work came with the Investor/Rentista/Pensioner paths to residency.

Yes it does honey.  Residency gives you the right to work.

I just received this from a friend in the DR.


RESIDENCE AND DOMINICAN C ÉDULA: WHO CAN GET IT AND HOW
The procedure begins with submitting the request for a RESIDENCE VIEW to the Dominican Consulate of the country of origin (for example, Italy). After obtaining the residence visa, you will have to return to the Dominican Republic to formalize the practices of the request for residence in the Dominican Immigration Office.
As lawyers we offer a specialized professional consultancy service for visa application, and then we follow all the residence practice in the Dominican Republic, we work for you whether you are in the Dominican Republic, and Italy, and we coordinate everything necessary with the relevant bodies .. We are professionals specializing in migratory and consular practices, and we offer a FREE first evaluation to study the feasibility of practice in the individual case, followed by a clear estimate of any costs to be incurred, ensuring competitive and honest tariffs.
WE PROPOND A GRAN VALUE SOLUTION TO REDURE MANAGEMENT TIMES TO THE MINIMUM, TO AVOID PRODURING UNUTILE DOCUMENTATION AND TO AVOID INCONVENIENTS WITH DOCUMENTATION EVEN IN THE SUCCESSFUL PROSEQUENT OF RESIDENCE PRACTICE in Dominican Republic.
- REMEMBER THAT: -
Currently, in general terms, the process for the request for Dominican residence (and cédula) residence, can be started ONLY AND ONLY if at least one of the following requirements, which in turn deserve a further detailed and detailed follow-up:
1.- FAMILY REQUIREMENT: Being married to a (a) Dominican citizen (a) or a) foreigner (a) legally resident.
2.- REVENUE HOLDERS: Receiving a stable monthly income, foreign source, minimum $ 2000 monthly, for at least 5 years.
3.- THINKS: Receive a pension of at least $ 1500 monthly.
4.- INVESTORS: Having invested minimum $ 200000 IN A Dominican TRADE SOCIETY (as capital injection or equity).
5.- JOB REASONS: It can be obtained from foreigners receiving a formal job proposal and then contract as employees from a Dominican company. It's not enough to be formally negotiated, the company must also demonstrate that it has certain requirements that, generally speaking, only medium-sized / large companies have. In particular, the company must be suitable for the assessment carried out by the Ministry of Labour in these cases, mainly demonstrating that it complies with labour standards for the maximum number of foreigners employed and other tax and tax requirements.
We are fully available for insights and professional assistance in this respect.

I expect many of us can guess the source of this advice - the lawyer

May I suggest the lawyer represented here - expat.com

Lishali Baez Mejia....... reliable & trustworthy

Emetz thank you for that,  however it is  covered early in this thread.  Its a good reminder of the requirements.

Looks like some translation issues but otherwise fairly accurate. Just be careful of what any lawyer says they can promise you.

I think one clarification to that info would be in point 2 - Revenue holder - for this method of residency qualification, the $2000 monthly income has to be passive income - rent, dividends, etc. rather than earned income.  So you can't just come here and work your foreign job remotely.

Absolutely correct.  It needs to meet the test of unearned, stable and long term. For example child support does not qualify.

I ended up looking here for other reasons...and found this thread.
Just got back yesterday , the 29th of January 2021.
Last year went for the first time to  DR (Cayo Levantado) for one week to an all inclusive.
With lockdowns and so I decided to go again for two weeks this year but on my own.
So I left on the 21st of December 2020 with a return date of 4th of January 2021.  Long Story Short, my flight got cancelled three times and ended with a flight yesterday the 29th of January 2021 from POP,  instead of AZS.
I get to the customs and they ask me "how long did you stay " and I said 5 weeks. So the lady tells me to go see "that lady"
Now I start remembering seeing on the stamp when you arrive that it says the date and " valid for 30 days."  So I'm like damn...really?  But immediately I calm down and say , I have all the emails with the cancelled flights...and my original return ticket , plus the new ticket that I had to buy , no way they can say something to me.
So the lady takes my passport and she counts the days. She goes , it's 2500 ( I speak fluently Spanish, so this conversation is in Spanish ).  And I smile...and I got what for ?
So she goes: when you stay more than 30 days have to pay late fees. And she shows me the chart with all the fess ( i still remember the first 4-5 lines if somebody wants the amounts).  I'm shocked...laughing and at the same time frustrated. SO I tell her : look these are all my flights...got cancelled, had to spend money to stay more, spent more money on food, on car rentals, on hotel ,etc. She says I can't do anything. I asked for a supervisor. He came, had a chat with him and he said "you have to pay it ".
Meanwhile ( had this question on my mind anyhow for  my curiosity )...I go to him : So if I want to stay here for 5 years, all I have to do is pay the late fee ( 20 000 DOP) when I leave and that's all ? So he goes yes.
Just thought I would tell my experience.

Thanks for posting that because you confirm the 2016 overstay fee chart still exists and is being used by Immigration - it can be found via DGII if you google and is posted on Punta Cana airport website.

The simple fact is that you still can pay on exit and that is what the officers know now.

The new administration is saying it will implement the immigration law as written. It is focused as always first on the Haitian problem and seems pretty determined having repatriated over 20k from the border provinces alone this month (double any month maximum of past governments nationwide). It has eased the Venezuelan situation too granting acceptance of irregular status subject to conditions.

What happens when it gets sufficiently in control of the main two overstayer nations  is the next question?

You must have enjoyed extra time at Cayo Levantado - hope it eas a package deal and didnt cost more.

lennoxnev wrote:

Thanks for posting that because you confirm the 2016 overstay fee chart still exists - it can be found via DGII if you google.

The simple fact is that you still can pay on exit and that is what the officers know now.

The new administration is saying it will implement the immigration law as written. It is focused as always first on the Haitian problem and seems pretty determined having repatriated over 20k from the border provinces alone this month (double any month maximum of past governments nationwide). It has eased the Venezuelan situation too granting acceptance of irregular status subject to conditions.

What happens when it gets sufficiently in control of the main two overstayer nations  is the next question?

You must have enjoyed extra time at Cayo Levantado - hope it eas a package deal and didnt cost more.

I remember this n the chart they showed me : 
30 days – 90 days --  2,500
90 – 270   -- 4,000
270 – 360  5,000

I was in CL last year to the only hotel ( that is an all inclusive) .Npow  Just got back from Samana...and I moved freely all around for like 30 days out of the total trip. Car rental was the best decision. Lovely place.

You have been discovering a lovely part of DR.

We commoners, when whale seeking get the commercial end of Cayo Levantado on the way home and not the 'Bicardi beach' end.

I hope you found time to visit the gem of Samana - Parque los Haitises.

lennoxnev wrote:

You have been discovering a lovely part of DR.

We commoners, when whale seeking get the commercial end of Cayo Levantado on the way home and not the 'Bicardi beach' end.

I hope you found time to visit the gem of Samana - Parque los Haitises.

Oh nooo! I did not. Next time.
Can't even find it. Where is it ?


Funny story : I saw wales from El Valle . They were far, quite far,  but locals that have the restaurants on the beach were astonished and starring like they have never seen whales before.

So the reason they did not wave the overstay is because you travelled after the start of the pandemic.  In the first wave overstay fines were waved if you could prove flight cancellations. 

You have a great attitude and it was definately worth a try!  Glad you liked the visit and I assume you will be back soon!

All of it just makes you wonder why the Gov't doesn't just say, "Hey, pay us half of what your RT airfare would be to get your passport stamped and we'll make some money, less jet fuel would be burned and you won't be on a COVID tube in the sky."

Hello Everyone i am new to this and i can see the post are realy old. Last time we were in the DR we met with our lawer and he told us its easier to just pay the fine for overstaying, our home should be finished end off February 2021, we are only using this home for the winter months at the longest 4 month. Do i need to get a  new Attorney LOL.

If I were you I would call Lily she is a lawyer that I use but I will be moving there at some point but she's a real nice lady and an immigration lawyer.
18098601231 cell and Whatsapp

Pete & Susan wrote:

Hello Everyone i am new to this and i can see the post are realy old. Last time we were in the DR we met with our lawer and he told us its easier to just pay the fine for overstaying, our home should be finished end off February 2021, we are only using this home for the winter months at the longest 4 month. Do i need to get a  new Attorney LOL.

I'm not a lawyer.
But for 4 months / year...I would definitely pay the "fine".

Posts are not that old unless one month is old for you.

A tourist card is good for 30 days.  That can be  extended up to a total of 120 days.   In your specific case pay the fee and extend and do so legally!

Hello everyone, do you guys know the place or the site to apply for 120 days extension? thank you

STAYING EXTENSION

SERVICE DESCRIPTION
Authorize foreigners interested in prolonging their stay in the Dominican Republic for more than 30, through an extension that can be extended up to 120 days.

TO WHOM THIS SERVICE IS INTENDED
To all foreigners who wish to extend their stay in the Dom. Rep. For more than 30 days established for tourists.

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

Click on the URL in the link and you arrive at 'Prórroga De Estadía Para Turistas' and you can apply online this way...change the language to English

Thank you

lennoxnev wrote:

Thanks for posting that because you confirm the 2016 overstay fee chart still exists and is being used by Immigration - it can be found via DGII if you google and is posted on Punta Cana airport website.

The simple fact is that you still can pay on exit and that is what the officers know now.

The new administration is saying it will implement the immigration law as written. It is focused as always first on the Haitian problem and seems pretty determined having repatriated over 20k from the border provinces alone this month (double any month maximum of past governments nationwide). It has eased the Venezuelan situation too granting acceptance of irregular status subject to conditions.

What happens when it gets sufficiently in control of the main two overstayer nations  is the next question?

You must have enjoyed extra time at Cayo Levantado - hope it eas a package deal and didnt cost more.

Please show me the URL at Migracion official web site that has the old Overstay Fee Chart. 

It was removed months ago and replaced with the up to 120 day overstay fee regulations.

Old tattered copies are still being used at airports.  They have to use something....

https://dgii.gov.do/sobreTarjetaTurista … p;e=z6ectd

lennoxnev wrote:

https://dgii.gov.do/sobreTarjetaTurista/Otros%20documentos/Requisitos-para-estadia-o-prorroga-de-permanencia.pdf?csf=1&e=z6ectd

Thanks for that. 

Interesting it has these requirements:

Artículo 40 de la ley 285-04 sobre migración y el artículo 81 del Reglamento 631-
11 de aplicación de la ley.
a) Formulario debidamente llenado y firmado
b) Copia del Boleto Aéreo o Ticket de Embarque.
c) Presentar Pasaporte original
d) 2 Copia de la carita del pasaporte donde están los datos personales.
e) 2 Copia de la última entrada al país.

I can confirm what has been the reality for years.  If you overstay and then leave, it's now automated, at checkout they just tell you to go to a cashier and pay your overstay fine, then  stamp your passport. No problem, I just did it a few weeks ago.....again.   You don't even have to fill in how many days you've been there anymore, they calculate by computer now.

planner wrote:

A tourist card is good for 30 days.  That can be  extended up to a total of 120 days.   In your specific case pay the fee and extend and do so legally!

How long do you have to leave the country for? For instance, can you take a weekend trip to PR and return to the RD resetting the 30-120 tourist visa? TIA

I live in Puerto Rico also and do this and yes it resets it

Yes a trip to Puerto Rico will reset the tourist card