Immigration and Overstay Issues page 19 - Dominican Republic forum

Immigration and Overstay Issues

ducketts Serial expat

534POSTS

6 years ago

Hi everyone

Just to let you know our online application was approved this morning

However it gives you the option to pay聽 Not sure whether to pay online or at the airport.聽 They give you an official document which a legal status of stay in DR with an end date-incidentally far later than what we requested.聽 This is what it says, then you download the official document

Ducketts

Aproved
Your application has been approved, remember that at the time of going through the airport you will be charged an amount for the corresponding stay rate or you have the option to pay online through sirite.

sirite-button.svg
Make your payment by pressing the SIRITE button
evaluated.svg

1 member reacted to this post

Guest2022 Guest

0POSTS

6 years ago

#722

Absolutely brilliant for you 'ducketts'. you are now all legal and no risk of being denied entry at a later date for an overstay.

And thank you for sharing.

planner Dominican Republic Expert

17772POSTS

6 years ago

#723

I would be very careful saying that. I have heard from 2 lawyers and neither will state that. I am still in process of confirming the legality of all of this.聽

and anyone else heard from lawyers?

Guest2022 Guest

0POSTS

6 years ago

#724

Why - he says has the confirmation that he is legal from DGM!

Perhaps 'duckets' can clarify and autheticate what he has written.

ducketts Serial expat

534POSTS

6 years ago

#725

Guest2022 Guest

0POSTS

6 years ago

#726

'ducketts' you came in mid February as I recall and they gave you until mid June. sounds like a total of 120 days after the date you arrived.

And the guy who approved is the head of DGM and he under the immigration law is the person who has to approve (legal) extensions. I use the word legal because we are talking about an extension in accordance with the immigration law.

Lawyers may not like this because the DGM now have more procedures which lay people can use to get聽 documentation etc online.

planner Dominican Republic Expert

17772POSTS

6 years ago

#727

Well this just keeps getting more interesting. Approved legal stay with an overstay fee.聽 It's confusing.

And if it's accurate it's a big big deal!聽 I will continue clarifying as I simply don't trust the systems here

ducketts Serial expat

534POSTS

6 years ago

#728

Not sure why this is confusing

It's simply a legal approval of extension of stay for up to 120 days.

It's about time this came in as many other countries in the area already have this at peoples' disposal

So for me this is great news

No lawyers, no fees other than the overstay fee聽 Great news for every tourist who wishes to stay longer than 30 days

Ducketts

Guest2022 Guest

0POSTS

6 years ago

#729

Many countries charge for extended stays.

DR has always charged and with lax immigration control, visitors have exploited the system.

But this is now a case of being able too easily get a 120 days stay legally for 4000 pesos. Cheap and worth every pesos for those that don't want to run the risk of a future denied entry and want to drive legally with valid insurance after the tourist card expires.

Now with an easy way to get 120 days may be the dawn of more changes for those that flout the law.

The system has always been suspect but so too have lawyers and the post quoted above by 'windeyguy' looks very misguided advice now!

ducketts Serial expat

534POSTS

6 years ago

#730

Totally agree聽 Great news for people like me who don't want to live in DR but 30 days is not enough

Now we can have peace of mind聽 Thank you DGM聽 Mucho gracias

Ducketts

WillieWeb ViP

1660POSTS

6 years ago

#731

Yes... most people want an extended stay.... 60-120 days

If you want residency - another fish....

This suits the bulk of visitors, I guess....
a really good solution

Planner - if/when ducketts posts his extension, we all will see whether it's official

as for your extend and pay comment --

WHAT!!??
you want 120 days for the same price as 30 ??
Bad business....
Length of stay varies --- and so does the cost of the stay

Crystal clear.....
Maybe one day it will be a daily fee.....

planner Dominican Republic Expert

17772POSTS

6 years ago

#732

Preliminary consensus is this is NOT a legalization of anything. It continues to be an overstay that you are admitting to in advance. You can pay in advance OR at the airport.

You are not making yourself legal. It is simply another "work around"聽 to pay the damn fees. IT DOES NOT make your license legal either.聽 30 days on your license people.

Another person is confirming at immigration tomorrow.

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WillieWeb ViP

1660POSTS

6 years ago

#733

Well unless I am totally stupid, this document is a signed statement from the "Ministerio de Interior y Policia" from DGM quoting passport nos. address etc stating quite clearly our application has been approved and whilst we only asked to stay till the 26 April they have in fact extended our stay up to and including the 8 June 2020聽 This document is signed by the Director General Maximo W. Munoz Delgado

and it seems that DGM and MIP are coordinating the approvals/extension

Interesting, WW, we both know that DGM and the MIP are two different government organizations. Fascinating if the DGM website produces a response from MIP. Director General Maximo W Munoz is with DGM and not the MIP.

Seems clear enough to me

What about that document that states you are allowed to stay until ****
pretty official that is

Guest2022 Guest

0POSTS

6 years ago

#734

It is laughable to think the Director of DGM is approving an illegal stay!

planner Dominican Republic Expert

17772POSTS

6 years ago

#735

The whole thing makes you shake your head!聽 If they would bloody well create a 90 day and 120 day visitor VISA then most of this goes the hell away!聽

Such idiocy.

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WillieWeb ViP

1660POSTS

6 years ago

#736

I think this is their well thought out solution

show me when you arrived
show me when you will leave
show me you biometric passport

all in a nice package

they issue you a protecting letter authorizing a time frame for your visit

Seems to me they authorize the 120 day visit and then ding you on exit for which part of that you have used

planner Dominican Republic Expert

17772POSTS

6 years ago

#737

We will see!

WillieWeb ViP

1660POSTS

6 years ago

#738

From another experience -

Update approved! Automatically goes 120 days from entry date stamp! Took 48 hrs for approval!

windeguy Serial expat

714POSTS

6 years ago

#739

I have not been commenting on the new 120 day聽 extension on line situation.聽 I will wait and see what it really means from a legal standpoint.

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ducketts Serial expat

534POSTS

6 years ago

#740

I have been assured that this is a legal document.聽 I even have an email confirming this

Ducketts

planner Dominican Republic Expert

17772POSTS

6 years ago

#741

I have been assured that it is an admission of overstay by you.聽 It is an acceptance of your overstay fee, calculation and payment if in fact you pay on line.

It does not make you legal here. It does not change your status.聽 Your status is overstay of tourist card or tourist visa!

Riva31 Serial expat

264POSTS

6 years ago

#742

planner wrote:
I have been assured that it is an admission of overstay by you.聽 It is an acceptance of your overstay fee, calculation and payment if in fact you pay on line.

It does not make you legal here. It does not change your status.聽 Your status is overstay of tourist card or tourist visa!

its an overstay authorized after the 30 days they wrote in your passport, that you could stay.聽 This way you do not have a record of overstay because inmigration authorized to stay longer.聽 Its what I understand.

WillieWeb ViP

1660POSTS

6 years ago

#743

Right Riva

No overstay on your record....

And if that doesn't rhyme with 'legal'.......
call me dumb

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planner Dominican Republic Expert

17772POSTS

6 years ago

#744

Sorry guys I don't think that is correct.聽 I am happy to be wrong but so far all legal opinions say it's only a prepayment.聽 You are not being issued a new Visa or any visa at all.

The whole thing is confusing at best!

Riva31 Serial expat

264POSTS

6 years ago

#745

planner wrote:
Sorry guys I don't think that is correct.聽 I am happy to be wrong but so far all legal opinions say it's only a prepayment.聽 You are not being issued a new Visa or any visa at all.

The whole thing is confusing at best!

You are right is confusing, but in my understand and as example Canada for travelers with Visas they have the option to extend your stay going to an inmigration office before expre your limit days to stay聽 if at the arrival they wrote in your passport the date that you must leave the country.聽聽My first visit they wrote in my stamp exact 6 months and I only went for 2 weeks,聽 If they do not write any date you are allowed to stay up to 6 months wich do not mean this is correct for you to do it.聽聽My next visit they never wrote any date on my stamp but I always visited for 11 or 12 days max, so thats why to me this may be something legal and not a prepaid overstay fee and I see like something legal as you are getting authorization from Inmigration to stay days after the 30 days you get with your tourist card.

ducketts Serial expat

534POSTS

6 years ago

#746

Hi Planner

I attached a copy of the document I was given by DGM confirming my legal right of extension.聽 This is for up to 120 days聽 I sent a copy to the UK Consulate in SD who confirm this is a legal document allowing one to extend one's stay as a tourist.聽 It is not a Visa.聽 Payment is irrelevant聽 You can pay online or at the airport.聽

My immediate concern is not the above but the fact that many of us are stuck here with no flights to get back, in my case, to Europe.聽 So my question is "having got an extension of stay, it's clear I will need to stay here much beyond the date given-so what does one do about that?"

Document:

This document certifies the authorization for an extension of stay for the purpose
exclusively tourist in favor of Mr. xxxxxxxxxx, of Nationality
xxxxxxx, date of birth xxxxxxx, passport No. xxxxxxx,
Address in the Dominican Republic in the Province: Puerto Plata,
Municipality: Sos煤a, Sector: xxxxxxx, Street: xxxxxxxxxx
person accredited with this certification has the obligation to
leave the Dominican Republic no later than 06/08/2020.
Given in Santo Domingo, National District, Capital of the Dominican Republic,
On the Eleven (11) days of the month of March of the year 2020

Ducketts

planner Dominican Republic Expert

17772POSTS

6 years ago

#747

In terms of overstay because you cannot leave - I expect there will be concessions for this honey!

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ducketts Serial expat

534POSTS

6 years ago

#748

Thanks Planner

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planner Dominican Republic Expert

17772POSTS

6 years ago

#749

Quick update on this thread.

As of now, there are no changes and no updates to any of this policy.聽 It is likely there will be, however the gov't has a lot of other issues on their plate right now.

WillieWeb ViP

1660POSTS

6 years ago

#750

I posted my opinion elsewhere but it may be more appropriate here

My opinion is -

Yes, the world and the DR are changing.... no more 'old' normal

Visas will be altered

The face of tourism will change.
Overstays will be a thing of the past for a while

Firstly, IMO, the initial tourists will be aimed at Punta Cana and the AI's
Like a quarantine - they will arrive , be escorted to their destination,
mingle among themselves - nobody outside the resort -
and be escorted to their departing flight.

Not difficult to facilitate and gets the hotel/tourist of to a start.

Now - the independent tourist.... who wants to step off the plane and go where the wind blows them -
That may be a while opening up
The 'free roaming' tourist will change for sure ... IMO

Perhaps - if you apply for residency - you'll be allowed to enter to complete that.... seems reasonable to me.

We know the DGM has been tracking overstayers....
Now, those overstayers are at a disadvantage.

We have yet to see how this will develop...
but for sure...
the tourist industry will get a push... too large a factor not to get help.

planner Dominican Republic Expert

17772POSTS

6 years ago

#751

This is a better place for it.聽

And yes things will change.聽 If tourists are only allowed in All Inclusive resorts then I can't see there being overstay issues.聽 It may not be allowed - yet!聽聽Maybe after things settle down almost completely regular tourism will follow.

Kat11 Serial expat

216POSTS

6 years ago

#752

Yes, hopefully the part of your Post on people applying for Residency is correct.
" People applying for residency would be allowed to enter to complete that"
Because we can't come there and quarantine, we are there to get a lot of things done, plus we will be coming with a bill of good health from our doctor (a visa requirement) and we will be getting an medical exam when we are there required by DR immigration to process our visa. I don't plan to fly any time soon, but hope residency process won't get to much more complicated.

WillieWeb ViP

1660POSTS

6 years ago

#753

The question I have is about visiting family members....

How do we do that.... A permit perhaps
special dispensation.......

planner Dominican Republic Expert

17772POSTS

6 years ago

#754

So a residency visa is different than a tourist visa.聽 Not sure if you will need to quarentine or be let into society. I think it will evolve over time.

I think Willie there will be no special permits I n the beginning.聽 Everyone coming in goes into some form of control or quarentine for 14 days.聽 Again, this will change over time.聽 Hang tight.

Riva31 Serial expat

264POSTS

6 years ago

#755

Think better ask about it before ypu come, actually all flights are received by Public Health and put every body in Quaretine,聽 Goverment didnt tell exact what protocol will fallow when finally open the borders.

WillieWeb ViP

1660POSTS

6 years ago

#756

We have 7 days for quarantine too....

Yet to be announced

Dawiky502 Member

14POSTS

5 years ago

#757

Hello everyone,

I am from Guatemala, currently in Santiago since march 13. My wife is from the DR, I plan to go back to Guatemala as soon as the borders are opened but there are no news yet. Has anyone heard if they will be denying re- entries for overstaying during Covid? (I applied for extension online and never got an answer).

I plan to start my residency process if possible but our my wife will give birth on December so if I can't process it on time I will probably just travel to GT and come back to renew my tourist visa.

planner Dominican Republic Expert

17772POSTS

5 years ago

#758

No idea how this will effect you!聽 I am sorry for your situation.聽 Best to apply for residency as soon as you can.

Dawiky502 Member

14POSTS

5 years ago

#759

Thank you! Yeah I have called several times to the DGM Office and they say they are not being so harsh since Covid but I don't know what will happen later on the line.

Definitely will apply to residency soon, my plan was to do it this year and this happened, we lived in Guatemala last year.

WillieWeb ViP

1660POSTS

5 years ago

#760

when my daughter left yesterday.. she paid the overstay

there seems to be no softening of the rules
but that doesn't mean you can never come come back

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