Residencia - 2020 - How to get it done.

@brodies2013 I don't know how often Lishali checks her Expat.com mailbox. Have you tried calling or sending a WhatsApp message? or sending an email? https://lishalibaez.com/

I just spoke with Lishali.  She does not often check the Private Messages here. For that reason we often  post her email and her whatsapp number.  That is the MOST efficient way to reach her.

@CHRISTOPHER DAVID56    Not sure if thank you for this.  I can’t find my reply to you.  So thank you for taking the time to write in such details. 

@AttyLishali hello and thank you so much for offering your time and knowledge. My concern is I have an open criminal case — would it affect the process of residency in DR?

I will make sure she sees this

From Lishali

The only accurate and 100% way to know if it will be a problem for the application is to submit the application, whoever ensures something based on past experiences with the Immigration Department is taking a risk, the policies change case to case, varios elements are taken into consideration, i.e, the number of years, comparisson to the case to the DR criminal law,  type of criminal case… Please be aware that a rejection at first attempt does not mean you cannot request the administration reconsiders and even after a reconsideration recourse there is also an appeal to proceed with at the interest of the applicant.

@t4ti One of the required documents is a police good conduct report.  Obviously if you have a criminal record of any kind that will call attention but it depends upon the actual offense.  IF you were caught drunk driving 10 years ago (without any other charges such an involuntary manslaughter) and nothing since or IF you protested the war in Vietnam when you were younger but don't have any other criminal record then it's usually not a cause to stop the residency filing process.  Now, with that said, if we are taking about robbery, murder and some other more serious crimes don't waste your time applying for residency.

HOWEVER, if you have a pending court case that has NOT yet come to fruition this means there is not yet a finalized court ruling, which means technically if you request a police background check it will not show up - yet. So, using such a police background document as part of the residency filing process should not cause any issues.  They will do an Interpol background check on you regardless what kind of police good conduct report you deposit but I will assume you are not wanted by Interpol or on thier watch list.

Regards,

John

@john-schroder no.... I've got a clean record... retired special forces.... so I do have a fbi file... don't know if that matters...I only have that because I have a top secret clearence...I thought I could just come over but I guess I have to have a passport first which I have just applied for... so now I guess they say 7 to 9 weeks.... kinda sucks I have to wait...

@planner

     I was wondering how far back do they look … I read somewhere they only ask for the last 5 years, then I read it was 10 years is there any timeline or do they go back 40 -50 years….thanks for any info you can find

I have no idea on that part.  I guess it depends on the country and agency doing the "Buena conducta"

With interpol background check again I am not sure

how far back is the DR looking for as far as info in  the background check for a  fr their Buena conducta

No idea

@Tippj If you have an arrest record from 15 years ago they will find it.  They search by name and SS# and will pull up your entire history.  I have had some clients that were arrested 10 or 15 years ago for drunk driving but never had anything since.  But, as I have said, if it was something like that or say a bar brawl that you got caught up in (again, a long while back) it's not going to be an issue to stop the residency application from going through.  They are more worried about crimes such as robbery, homicide, drug trafficking and of course if you were in jail more than just once as a "habitual offender".

The Interpol residency background check in more cursory but the Interpol check when you apply for citizenship is another matter.  For that they will do a deep dive.

Regards,

John

Would anyone have the link or can list what is needed for a US citizen to start residency from US for either marriage and investor routes.

I have emailed 4 different embassies most did not respond and one sent it in spanish but did not respond afterwards. Also anyone who has started in the US - how the consulate was. None seem good.

@Tippj

When they pull a good conduct report it is a complete list going back as far as you might have any "incidents".  Now, with that said, keep in mind they will accept a "good conduct" report from your local police dept. where you currently live, from the Sheriff's office or the FBI.  If you moved and get a good conduct from the local Sheriff's office it may not have your priors list from when you lived somewhere else although everything is usually tracked with the SS number.

The real question you should be asking is what are they worried about?  A drunk driving charge, a bar fight, being arrested for protesting 15 or 20 years they are not so concerned about (especially if you have not had any incidents since then).  However, any serious crimes, any crimes whereby you were convicted and serve jail time they ARE concerned about.

Regards,

John

@DRVisitor

NYC is OK, Miami is pretty good.  The people in Boston, New Orleans and Tyson's Corner (San Francisco) are, shall we say, not cognizant.

Regardless, the first step is the application at the consulate for a "Residency Visa" which is only valid for 60 days or so and simply allows you to file for residency in the Dominican Republic.  It is in essence a screening or precursor and everything you will give to immigration is basically what you are going to give to the consulate (which goes to Foreign Relations, not immigration, for the visa approval). I will tell you that ever since the DR was flooded with unemployment Spaniards & Italians a few years back (and more recently Venezuelans) they tend to favor "family reunion" if an "ordinary" application and an "investor" status application which includes pension or retirement as a sub category of that.  In short, proof you have own stable income and will not be looking for work.

Regards,

John

@DRVisitor We used the consulate office at the Embassy in Washington, DC. We had zero issues and received our passports with visas exactly 4 weeks after our visit to submit our application. Whether it was because of the efficiency of that consulate or the quality of our application package, Lishali said it was the smoothest, quickest processing she is aware of! If you visit the website for the consulate, you should be able to find the requirements.

@john-schroder

yes John I know when something in on your folder it’s there for life , my concern is do they really worry about a felony conviction from 45 years ago.

Because if they do then i shouldn’t waste my time or money and their time and patience….I know that sometimes you can get a judge to expunge your conviction in NY especially if you haven’t had any problems in over forty years… but your finger prints are  still listed with the FBI ….that’s why I was wondering if their just looking for a good conduct report from say 15-20 years back from the local police precinct… then I might reconsider my choices….but why do all the work if you don’t have a shot…..🤔

@Tippj

I think they do because I had a misdemeanor from 20 years ago on the report and was denied. I used a lawyer who now is told to stay away from and after two years thought that was the reason.

Thanks for others for feedback. The paperwork at least from the start is tedious and comprehensive even though much more informed now.

@DRVisitor

   Maybe it’s better just to apply for a retirement visa and see what’s that benefit is….

@Tippj

The requirements are the same regardless of the residency type.  You still need to provide a "good conduct" report and they will still do an Interpol check as well.  With that said, it all depends upon exactly what the issue was.  Just because something is classified as a "felony" in the US doesn't mean it will be an entire road block.  As an example, "assault & battery" might be classified as a felony but if it was a bar fight when you were 20 years old then they might let slide (as of course if you have not had anything since then).

I would say before you even start the process, get a police conduct report, go down to immigration in Santo Domingo and talk to the director with the report in hand and ask them. Better to know in advance then to spend the money and be rejected.  But again, it all depends on the offense.  I have had a few clients with drunk driving, disorderly conduct issues when they were younger and they let it slide.

Regards,

John

@ddmcghee I also used the DC consulate and had no issues. I received the visa in my passport after 6 weeks. The residency process is another story, but it all worked out in the end. I reached out to Lishali through email for the naturalization process but she never got back to me.

All lawyers will tell you that not all consulates are created equal!  Some are great sources of info and some don't know diddly squat.

It is crazy as some do not respond or for weeks later.

Hello here, I have been a member of this forum for about three years and have enjoyed the different topics of conversation and informative insight given by Planner, uncle Buc and Lily to name a few. You have helped me immensely to decide that RD is the place for me to go and rest my head when I retire in about 13 months from now. My question is when should a person begin the process of residency ? Being from northern Ontario Canada. I have one more winter to endure and I don’t want to spend another here if I don’t have to. My actual pension date is in the beginning of December 2024. But with accumulated vacation time. I will be able to move at the end of fo September 2024. I am single and only plan to rent once there. I have no criminal record and everything should be straight forward. My question also is that I will not be able to show my pension income of three months until March of 2025. Will this be a problem if I have a letter from the company showing that I have a pension beginning on such date? Also I will be collecting cpp then plus will have a small rrsp. I already have Lily in my contacts as she will for sure be my lawyer. Thanks all for your great comments and super insight.

Happy for you. I will “winter” in the DR make a few trips off season but my home will be with my wife in New Jersey

@RandFar To get your residency visa, you have to show three months of pension received. If your pension starts in December, you will need to have three bank statements showing the pension deposits, so you could apply as soon as you get your February bank statement.

Welcome to the forums.  You may want to come down for those first 3 mnths of pension and winter to see if this country will work for you. Then start your process from home as soon as you receive that third deposit. This is very much a question for Lily!

Yes, thank you planner I am planning to go in December. I have been there on vacation six times before and really enjoyed the people and the laid back atmosphere.  The cost of living seems to to be in line with what my pension will bring in certainly much better than here in Northern Ontario.look forward to calling the DR home. I will reach out to Lily and go from there. This forum has been a terrific source of information. thank you so much for keeping people informed on the happenings down there.

Excellent!

Good idea

your last overstay

Haha I have never overstayed down there. My work did not allow me that much time away. I will be happy to do it all by the book so the process is clean and easy. It looks like Lishali has enough on her plate trying to fix others. She doesn’t need another fly in the ointment. She deserves and easy one I hope 🙏🏻🙏🏻Hahaha.

@ddmcghee Thanks for the reply, Does the 3 months of bank statements have to be in a Dominica bank? 

Can someone recommend a bank that is well known and have branches throughout the country?

No.... your home country will do

@ddmcghee Thanks for the reply, Does the 3 months of bank statements have to be in a Dominica bank?
-@L Alan Williams

No, whatever bank you use is fine

Great,  Thanks you

@L Alan Williams yes, deposits to your home bank is what you need for your visa. One of the things needed for your residency application with Migración is a letter from your Dominican bank, so you’ll have to have an account open here at that time. Once you have your residency, when you renew, you will have to show the pension amount being deposited into your Dominican account. This does not mean that your pension has to be deposited directly to the DR, you just have to show the money coming in. Ours goes to Wells Fargo, then we transfer it to Banco Santa Cruz each month using Remitly.

@AttyLishali

What does it mean Bank Letter?   Would that be the monthly bank statement for the bank their talking about?

No - the bank letter is a letter from your bank that states the length of your relationship with the bank, that you are in good standing, and lists the accounts you have with the bank. I don't recall if ours had balances on it since we were also providing bank statements.