Residencia - 2020 - How to get it done.

Thank you  I will give it a thought !

Great feedback.  Rich my intent is not to dissuade you.  I hope it all goes smoothly for you.

My point is only to stop saying its easy until you have done it! 

Why not open a thread and share your experience with us as it goes along?

Real life example - not residency but citizenship

Bureaucracy in the DR is  tricky, they 'lost' my file 3 times !!
The lawyer (Lily) kept on it eventually speaking to the head of the department.

In the end, I got ushered in - took the test - and was not given the verbal interview.
Whether that was embarrassment or whatever - I don't care.

Just a warning of what can happen.... and might happen

Thank you guys. I do appreciate all your feed back  will keep you posted on how is going and if and when do get it. We gonna celebrate in La Romana and everyone is welcome!!!

We love a good celebration!

count us in we can spend weekend somewhere

What was on the test that they gave you….?  And what are they looking for with the 
Verbal interview…?

Tippj wrote:

What was on the test that they gave you….?  And what are they looking for with the 
Verbal interview…?

WillieWeb was talking about Citizenship, not residency. Like any country, the process to gain citizenship is more strenuous, and always includes a verbal or written test that usually covers the country's history and is in the country's official language.

You cannot apply for citizenship until you've been through the residency and renewal process a number of times.

For DR citizenship - written (10 questions) plus a verbal to verify your fluency

Hello all, got a question or two. Has anyone been through a recent residency process? I been approved for my 1 time visa entry to DR (FAMILY reunification method). I have 2 months to enter. My question is how long does it take once u enter/upload documentes upon entry for them to call u up? I know about medical and all but does anyone have general knowledge how many days/weeks can this take? I know process to be called to santo Domingo is now up to 90 days for actual approval.  My issue is i have a job back home and can hang around for 90 days while they do their process. There is an extension (letting u leave the country without stopping the process/can be done up to 2 times) but even then i am not sure how long that approval takes. Anyone had any experience with this?

Hello,
Yes, I just completed mine.  I would suggest double checking with your lawyer as my timelines were not as you are stating, however, you are entering under a different visa type. 
Entry time for me was 30 days, and second stage documents had to be submitted by 60 days.  Fortunately, I had a good lawyer and also had my medical within that 60 day period, but I am hearing from others that they are still waiting after 90 days.
If you wait that long to enter, you will have to pay a penalty with your paperwork (and it's not cheap).
If you don't have a lawyer, you could contact Lishali Baez in SD.
Best of luck.

Thanks, seems like flights will cost a lot more them the process lol. 

Yes, unfortunately flights are really going up in price right now 😔

@Rajko85 I just submitted my residency paperwork and had my medical exam in country about 2 months ago. For me it was not advised to leave before your paperwork and medical exam is completed. I believe it is because the immigration officers look through the  passport thoroughly to see if you have the visa and you had not left prior before submitting. 

I had to pay an overstay along with the document submission which totaled $27,000 pesos because my visa had already been expired for 2 months.

Hello all, got a question or two. Has anyone been through a recent residency process? I been approved for my 1 time visa entry to DR (FAMILY reunification method). I have 2 months to enter. My question is how long does it take once u enter/upload ... - @Rajko85

I am going through same process with family reunification-  my partner’s visa was given on sept 15. We entered DR on November 8, uploaded everything and had first appointment on December 23, including medical examination - 

—-wait time between uploading, approval, and first appointment was over 30 days. 

AS OF TODAY excluding all holidays- wait time FOR 2ND APPOINTMENT- is 91 days.  

  We were told last week all is ok and just to wait for his 2nd appointment  (I’m half Dominican and know the deal so I call them at least once a week). which is when they will give him his 2nd appointment for biometrics and to get his cédula -  then we wait- short time - for his residency card-     

PLEASE be aware that you must upload all paperwork as soon as you can  from when your visa is given-  I arrived DR ON 11/8 and i was not approved with everything until after November 15 (visa expired on 11/15) and was charged overstay and expiry visa.  

Feel  free to ping me if you need to ask more questions- 

My issue is i dont have a month or two to hang around for approval.  I know i can enter, upload, do medical, ask for approval to leave the country (without abandoning the process). But seems like all those take more than 3 weeks. I already know I would have to reenter the second time for final approval (with reentry approval). Might just to give up on the residency for now...

You shouldn’t have to wait after submitting your application for residency. We submitted ours in March 2020, left two days later, then returned in July 2020 while the application was still pending.

Unless that is a unique requirement for reunification. As an American, you can enter the country at any time, no visa required for entry. It’s just that the residencia visa is required to apply for residency.

I was told by consulate that you have to be there until your medical/first apt is done? Takes 10 or so days per them. Then to avoid "abandoning " the process u need to apply for an exit visa (takes 5 days to approve) per them and then its good for 90 days. 

One thing to remember is that the consulates only handle the visas. Once you are in the country, you are dealing with Migración for your residency.

I would contact Migración directly with your questions. They will know the in-country process much better than the consulates. Also, there are a number of US consulate staff that contact DR migration attorneys with questions! I really don’t think they understand the process!

They will ask for a DR bank account, make sure u have 300k pesos in this account at least.

@Rajko85

They will ask for a DR bank account, make sure u have 300k pesos in this account at least.

This is the second time I hear about a bank deposit in the residency process.

I was not asked to have one three years ago.

is it a new requisite ? Are you applying  as a retiree, person of means, investor ... ?

- @Guineo Verde

@ddmcghee this is good to know.  I was not aware of that 😃

@Tripp789  i guess it will all depend on your situation but ballpack how much did the entire process cost?

@WillieWeb that is pleasing to hear. Given my experience so far both in the US and DR  - getting a straight answer appears to be foreign or just not in their DNA (no disrespect given i come from a very similar background).