Immigration and Overstay Issues

@Guest493583 I am a black American here and my Spanish is not the best yet. When I was going to ride the Teleférico with my husband, I stopped to ask a police officer at the station in Gualey about using the ATM. He interrupted my broken Spanish to ask if I spoke Creole. I told him no, I speak English. I continued the conversation and he asked me at least three more times if I spoke Creole. I told him no and went on. That was the most racism I experienced personally so far but I have heard terrible stories. Please bring your passport with you everywhere, at the very least. Stay safe.

- @Amanda Parkins

@Amanda Parkins

Hi Amanda   

Very sorry to hear this happened to you.   I hope you still were able to have a a good visit despite this.  I always locked up my passport as soon as I arrived but then I soon found out its best to carry it with you at all times because they often want to see it and then there is no doubt about your citizenship.  Also with the passport, you have no issues trying to get service, such as opening accounts or making certain purchases.   I find it strange when you are in the bank, and you want to withdraw money from your account or even deposit it, they want to see the passport.    This has also happened to me in Mexico so its not just DR. @Karin1

@windeguy Correct, the Cédula must go with you wherever you go.

Here is what Lishali (Lily) Baez  sent me:

There is a new resolution April 2022, RT2 through RT9 will now have a cedula, it’s approved but not happening yet because the Immigration Department needs to upgrade their system to implement cedula number along with the residency number.  RT-2 are workers in a DR company registered as investors with a lower investment, RT-7 dependent of RT-3 which is a Work permit.  RT 9 is ordinary temporary residency. RT4 is for religious person.   Not sure who receives RT5 and RT6, I’m asking.  All of the above had permits from the Immigration Department, but did not have cedulas, which makes their local activities a nightmare because everyone wants/needs a cedula, now they are all having a cedula

RT5 political asylum and RT6 refugees  -  on the list but currently not being used.

- @planner

Here is what Lishali (Lily) Baez sent me:
There is a new resolution April 2022, RT2 through RT9 will now have a cedula, it’s approved but not happening yet because the Immigration Department needs to upgrade their system to implement cedula number along with the residency number.  RT-2 are workers in a DR company registered as investors with a lower investment, RT-7 dependent of RT-3 which is a Work permit. RT 9 is ordinary temporary residency. RT4 is for religious person.  Not sure who receives RT5 and RT6, I’m asking. All of the above had permits from the Immigration Department, but did not have cedulas, which makes their local activities a nightmare because everyone wants/needs a cedula, now they are all having a cedula
RT5 political asylum and RT6 refugees - on the list but currently not being used.
- @planner

I suspect the above information explains why some Haitians and Venezuelans are having problems with the current moto registration and licensing scheme because DGM is not up to date - and they don't have cedulas.



-@Guest2022

No cedula , no motorcycle registration of motorcycle possible and no DR motorcycle driving license possible no matter what country you come from. Haitian or otherwise. Those illegally in the DR will not be able to register and license a motorcycle or any other vehicle that falls under the same class of licensing.

On DR1, there was a thread recently closed (they close almost any interesting threads there now)  where a well known poster and business owner stated two of his friends were denied re-entry to the DR recently for previous overstays.  I asked him about it and here is his direct response to me about it,  Of course, nobody will believe this is only about previous overstays.

This is from the former owner of the Britannia in Sosua: 

Happened to my friend Jeff when he landed in Santo Domingo. They sent him back to the USA for 8 months and also to my friend Mike in Puerto Plata. He was sent back to Canada for 6 months. I didn't believe either until I spoke with them.

I expect we'll see more of this as time passes.

The e-ticket gives Migracion the ability to identify overstayers - whereas previously, they could not.

As the e-ticket ages and Migracion builds its files, it might become more common to see arrival refusals.

If you doubt it.... just ask yourself what purpose the e-ticket serves?

Does it track visitors or residents ? 

Of course it does both, but which is of more value to Migracion?

When I became a DR citizen, I had to go to Migracion to get a record of my entries and exits to and from the DR as one of the required documents in the process. So they had ways to track that before.

The E-Ticket just makes it easy for them to pull that up on their screens at the point of entry while potentially flagging frequent overstayers such as the two recently denied re-entry and sent back home for months.

Just conjecture until we have more information about more such denials of entry. Consistency is not a theme in such matters.

@windeguy

    I guess it would pay to just apply for an extension…. And pay the fees on the way out     

    This way the government doesn’t think your hiding from them

@windeguy
  I guess it would pay to just apply for an extension…. And pay the fees on the way out   
  This way the government doesn’t think your hiding from them
-@Tippj

That might work for up to a 120 day stay. But most won't go through the process. How often will they allow that is also a question. Here is what that takes including this and how to apply below:

REQUERIMIENTOS O REQUISITOS

Copia de la página del pasaporte donde están los datos biométricos.

Sello de la fecha de la última entrada.

Ticket aéreo de retorno.

Solvencia Económica Propia.

Certificado Médico.

https://migracion.gob.do/servicio/prorroga-de-estadia/

You can run, but you can't hide with the new E-Ticket...

And my understanding of the extension is that it is a prepayment of the overstay.  Still an overstay.

They need to create categories for snowbirds and others. 

And my understanding of the extension is that it is a prepayment of the overstay. Still an overstay.
They need to create categories for snowbirds and others.
-@planner

The problem is there are so few people in this category that such a snowbird visa is very unlikely to ever happen.

So we will have to see what happens on a case by case basis of selective enforcement.

It will be interesting for sure!

I think I read that you pay on the way out , just in case you only want to stay half the time and not the whole 120 days

If you pre-pay..... you can buy 30-60-90 day extensions

No need to buy the whole 120

Very good to know…..thanks willie

Very welcome

Go practise on the website

@planner You think they consider an approved extension an overstay? If it's an extension of your 30-day visitor card, and you're in the country legally during that extension period, I wouldn't think it's an overstay.

To me, that’s the point of doing the extension- to remain legal-

must be done within the initial 30 days

If the extension is based upon DR laws, then it is legal. Otherwise it is just a prepayment of the overstay fine which is a workaround drummed up at the time of the PLD and not based in any laws to my knowledge. I suspect prepayment is just another extra-legal workaround.

I have to leave that to this forum's legal expert to respond to. It is certainly referred to as a "legal extension" , but is it really?

My understanding is similar to Windeguy.  This is an extension to the administrative work around. No laws were changed.

Will it be treated the same as simply overstaying?  I have NO idea.

This does need to be addressed by the government as it remains confusing!

Now I’ve never overstayed , but almost had to twice for business reasons, now if they turn me away at the airport that’ll be 7-10 jobs lost for the next couple of months until they let me back in … I wonder how many other expat’s would find it hard to spend money here if they are turned away…. Just think if they turn away 100 expat’s let’s say that’s 700 jobs lost….🤔

But usually it's not.  We are looking at serial overstayers.  And frankly most expats don't employ anyone!  A cleaning lady once a week? 

I agree with Planner - the vast majority of expats have no employees, or just a part time housekeeper or gardener.hopefully those with established businesses have obtained legal status in this country.

I was only thinking about all the people that are building houses and renovations on apartments and the older houses

I my self won’t let people work around the house unless I’m there  , did it once and had to redo everything when I returned to the way I want it instead of the way they thought best

….

Normally those are contractors not employees!

Now I’ve never overstayed , but almost had to twice for business reasons, now if they turn me away at the airport that’ll be 7-10 jobs lost for the next couple of months until they let me back in … I wonder how many other expat’s would find it hard to spend money here if they are turned away…. Just think if they turn away 100 expat’s let’s say that’s 700 jobs lost….🤔
-@Tippj

This is about people that are "tourists" who overstay. Such people are not legally able to work in the DR.

What jobs are you doing if you are not a legal resident in the DR? Or are you the person paying those 7 to 10 people each time you enter the DR?

If you want to live legally, become a legal resident. Otherwise you "takes yer chances".

So far, there are VERY few of these examples of people being denied entry and being told it was because they previously overstayed.

Now I’ve never overstayed , but almost had to twice for business reasons, now if they turn me away at the airport that’ll be 7-10 jobs lost for the next couple of months until they let me back in … I wonder how many other expat’s would find it hard to spend money here if they are turned away…. Just think if they turn away 100 expat’s let’s say that’s 700 jobs lost….🤔
-@Tippj
This is about people that are "tourists" who overstay. Such people are not legally able to work in the DR.
What jobs are you doing if you are not a legal resident in the DR? Or are you the person paying those 7 to 10 people each time you enter the DR?

If you want to live legally, become a legal resident. Otherwise you "takes yer chances".
So far, there are VERY few of these examples of people being denied entry and being told it was because they previously overstayed.
-@windeguy

Similar excuse says people that overstay when they say are spending money here while overstaying.

@windeguy

       If you took the time to read what I wrote I was talking about “ tourist “ that have

bought property (s) that want to renovate or build or just do improvements and they hire someone

that has 7-10 men doing the work ….and might have to stay past the 30 day limit so they can see the completion of the work being done on their property  ….. and the next time they come there denied entry because the last time they overstayed…the post was about how the government was thinking about cracking down on overstaying and being denied entry the next time .I really don’t know to many “ tourist “ that come here to work when labor is so cheap ….. I know what I would have to charge to do a job here couldn’t come close  to the prices being given here