Immigration and Overstay Issues

Scott,  that's a different situation altogether.

jwj938924 wrote:

Scott,  that's a different situation altogether.

How is that different?

It's different in that that the dr and puerto Rico are different countries.   Different countries usually have different immigration policies.

Yeah...obviously different countries, but what Scott was saying is that visiting PR and coming back to DR resets the clock in DR.

I am looking to go to the DR (Punta Cana/Bavaro area) in December. I will be starting out at an all-inclusive, but will be looking to rent an apartment and stay for 6 months (and maybe longer.) Will I be able to rent a long-term apartment on a tourist visa?

I am sure they will rent to you long-term that's not the problem I'm not sure if you're going to be able to stay. There are two different issues the owner of the property doesn't care if you even have a Visa he will rent 1 to you. But how long you can stay is a completely different question.

yes you can stay without any issue, you will have to pay an exit tax to leave the country, i believe it's around 100$~ for 3-9 months over stay

do yourself a favor and do not worry about it NOBODY cares.  Are you American>? You can do whatever the hell you want.  I go to DR all the time people overstay for years their covid tests at airport they just say go ahead lol its all a joke go have fun man ignore anyone that says anything different this is an old topic for so many years nothing ever happens even with pandemic they dont care its dominican republic!

yes there are laws on paper but nobody cares thats not how it is in real life they are not eforced.  Unless your a haitian lol or need a visa to get in

He can stay for however long he likes

Mike - welcome to the forums. 

Renting for several months is not an issue. The above answers are correct, landlords do not care.

Overstaying a tourist visa is often down and requires you to pay an overstay fine.  Currently there are few problems with this.  That may or may not change in the future.

Once you arrive on a 30 day tourist card you can extend the stay online easily up to 120 days.  Some leave and come back to reset their tourist visa. Some do not.  Up to you.

Ok, thanks for the responses! And, yes, I am American. My main concern was whether a landlord/realtor would ask to see a temp residence visa before renting.

Also, is it common practice to pay for 6 months/1 year rent upfront?

No - it is not common to pay upfront! First month's rent and deposit when you sign the lease, then pay monthly.

We paid for 5 months upfront for our current place, but negotiated a decent discount in exchange. We knew the owners were making some upgrades before we moved in that would benefit us during our stay, so when they broached the subject of paying all at once, I said we could for a discount on the rent.

Also, while others will say that its fine to disregard the laws of this country and overstay your visitor visa, I believe in doing the right thing and respecting the country where I've chosen to be a guest. Extend for 120 days, take a ferry ride over to Puerto Rico to reset your status and do some shopping, then stay for up to 120 days again!

You are doing DR a favor overstaying your visa and paying exit fee at the end.

I've never heard of nobody doing what you say, 99% simply pay the overstay fee and everybody is happy, including DR. If it didn't benefit them don't you think they would do something about it?

What's the best way to go about finding an apartment to rent in the Punta Cana/Bavaro area? Contact a real estate agency?

you can look on those websites : Corotos, mercado libre, google : alquiler apartamento en bavaro and do your research from there.

Facebook marketplace possibly as well.

Hello

We live in a nice furnished apartment with a pool, security, parking, near the beach, grocery, restaurants.  Some nice Dominican families also live here in our apartment complex (in Bavaro).  The water does not smell (watch out for that in this area).   We paid 1 month rent, and 2 months security deposit, which is returned at the end of the lease if there is no damages.

We used Fien Kindt PC Rentals (Punta Cana) to find our apartment. You can call her or talk on whatsapp.
1 (829) 355-9558

Fien speaks English as well as Spanish and I think she is Dutch.   
She understand customer service and goes out of her way to help you.

Karin and Carlos

Mike, I will send you a private message.

Cheers.

You're allowed to have to go on the website and extend your tourist visa but you have to have a ticket returning to the US within 3 months but you can do it up to three times so nine months. I've done it twice the money is coming out of my account and they give me a printout so if I leave I just show it at the airport and it's already paid for it's at the same website to go to when you come here and fill out your initial tourist Visa online now. I know it works for the US people not sure about everyone else but I've done it a couple of times now since he initiated back January 1st

"STAYING EXTENSION : DIRECCIÓN GENERAL DE MIGRACIÓN" https://migracion.gob.do/en/servicio/stay-extension/

Yes it is an old thread and frankly nothing has changed much yet for overstay visitors with payment of the tariff on exit. Not surprising with covid19 and less visitors.

But behind the scenes, Enrique Garcia the head of DGM has been transforming Migracion big time.

Think about it:

- a clean sweep of long serving staff at DGM offices and airports. A new younger newly trained personnel.
- on line entry forms
- new website and imroved communications
- cost management with cash received from services including overstay fees increasing dramatically despite covid19 - elimination of corruptions at airports.
- tougher border controls with Haiti
- harsh penalties for those transporting and housing illegal immigrants
- regularization of Venezuelans
- review of the regularization of foreigners that took place in 2014 -2016
- visas for border workers using a part of the law never used before
- discussions with construction and hotel sectors to regularize workers in those sectors
- agreements recently between Migracion and National Police to train and work in unison on immigration matters.
- unifying digital information sharing between ministries
- one stop for lawyers using the DGM

It is all takes time for DR to develop better immigration management from the dark ages of the past. It will take time and hopefully readers will move towards following the procedures in place to stay here legally and avoid expensive surprises in the future.

Jean Chris....exactly.   And this tread runs year after year...claiming changes, yet nothing has.

Chris...yes.  Some guys here seem sort that they wasted so much time and trouble and money, when they didnt need to.  For the average gringo tourist, snowbird  you dont need it. This gets CONFIRMED, year after year.

Lennox, " expensive surprises in the future". Nobody can foretell the future, but we sure have a lot of actual history to go by, and some of us indeed keep confirming it.

Pretty big challenge to predict what will happen in this country....

I would err on the safe side.....

Yes, and the "safe side", keeps getting confirmed year after year........pay the airport shakedown on leaving...4000 pesos for most.

Those who make choices will deal with the consequences,whatever they are, whenever they are.  Simple.

You refuse to see the changes at your own risk. Residency is still easy and cheap here.

You are probably one of those that said the E ticket or on line staying extension would never happen. They have and as such their(DGM) knowledge of those who deliberately break the law grows.

I have listed some of the immigration changes introduced in the last year above. Take time and ask is this what has happened 'year on year' in the past.

To be fair to posters who ask advice you need to tell them the whole story and let them make up their minds. Half a story based on past history means little and will taste bitter when modernization comes.

History is just that --- History

Rarely dictates the future......IMO

Like driving a car using the rear view mirror to navigate

Lennox, You just ignored all the testimony, year after year, that we see about residency NOT being cheap, fast or easy.   Or, you have subjective definitions for those terms. So to you, perhaps years and thousands of dollars and many trips to consulates is cheap fast and easy.

Willie, you just gave a false analogy. Or does anybody in this group see predicting the future analogous to car driving?

To help resolve this issue I suggest that all people who return, who have previously been serial over-stayers, report if theyve even been questioned on it. Also, all overstayers who leave, please report if they did anything other than just make you pay the fine. Let's start this experiment today: go.

Good idea.....!

Have been living in DR for 12 years, overstayed my visa probably about 30 to 40 times and never got ask a single question or ever felt this was an issue.

I think most against it are overthinking it, DR is happy to have gringos overstaying there visa,it's bringing them money and the flow of tourists keep going.

extending your visa online is the same as paying the fee at the exit

Steverino, thank you for praising my sensible experiment.

Jean Chris, thanks for corroborating what almost everybody knows.   Indeed, I myself have also been reporting in every year on the very same.  The only difference I've reported that it's now computerized, so you dont even have to fill in how many days you stayed.  They see it, and just tell you to pay the fine to the girl in the booth.   They dont even scold you for overstaying.   In fact I liked it better before, when we could often just slip the guy 2k , instead of the 4k .   So everybody, please keep up with this experiment.

A permanent resident pays less in renewal fees on an annual basis than an overstayer who has two overstays of 90 days. A citizen pays nothing. And they get many benefits such as being legally able to drive with insurance cover beyond 30 days.

Someone who gets a staying extension can legally drive with valid insurance for 90 days on their foreign license.

An overstayer negates many of their legal rights here. In the days of bribery that may have been manageable.

It is a no brainer frankly. I have told you how DGM has been changing over the past 12 months to strengthen immigration management and in relation to some sectors who overstay and putting you right on the cost and benefits of legal status and there is nothing more to add. Do what you want but please don't mislead others by giving part narratives.

And the idea of posting current( not historic) overstay reality is the reason for this thread so carry on. People will need to know when change begins.

I appreciate all the great topics in this forum and although I usually do not post, I read as many as possible and have learned much. 
I think we ALL know- or at least a big majority of us know that we can get away with overstaying, but is that what is best?  What is the need?  So you can maybe pay later or show how you ca stiff Dominicans?   I for one KNOW that I can get away. I have been coming to this country since I was a little girl.  I have family who are Dominicans, therefore; I know how easy it is to get away with rules.     I also know that I have freedom of choice, I choose to follow the laws of this beautiful country who we all call either vacation, 2nd home, or permanent homes. Why do we need to be one of a bunch-  is no so hard to follow what is right.  And yes, I have broken a few, I’m not perfect, I’m a working progress who appreciates this country for what it is. I try my best to act as if I were in my own country or how I would behave when I visiting someone else’s home.

You are right about driving/insurance.

Having said this the only time I had a car accident(im insured with Humano) and when it was time to claimback they never asked me anything about this and i was overstaying for easily 9 months.

Same thing when I got arrested a few time by police/amet... but you are right about that part wich honestly i dont value as much as not having to do permanent residency.

If they made it easier I would probably do it but unless something change I'll keep riding the overstay visa and give some extra $ anually to RD!

I do not see how we are breaking the rules sorry.

I feel its like having two different options

1) you pay more and save headaches

2) you pay less and go through paperwork and headaches.

I honestly doubt that they are not happy with how the system is , it brings them extra money every year... why are you saying we are robbing dominicans i dont get it?