WARNING: This is just for people interested in applying for this change of status on their own, without a lawyer. For those using a lawyer, it is not worth the read. It?s long and detailed for a purpose, and your lawyer should know the procedure well. That why you hired him/her.
Yesterday, I went to Immigration to see if I was able to start the process of going from Temporary to Permanent Residence a little bit ahead of time.
The instructions mention to apply 45 days prior to expiration of residence. That would have been the first days of July for me as my current residence expires August 18.
I showed up at Immigration and found a very long line outside. Glad I asked. That was for passports requests. I was immediately ushered in and sent to one of the windows in the hall where there was no one in line.
The room was very, very noisy and I suspected the girl at the window couldn?t really hear me well. I explained I was there to request my permanent residence. She gave me a form and a number, told me to fill it out while I waited in the main room.
Main room was full. I had no idea how long I?d have to wait (it certainly felt like all day) but had a feeling that the girl at the window didn?t really hear well what I was there for.
Instead of waiting, I went to the information desk inside the main room (not the entrance hall). There I was able to explain once again why I came in to the two ladies manning this desk.
I was told that my first step was to go to Window 5 (no number needed, just stand in line) to make sure that I now had renewed enough times and qualified for a permanent residency.
The guy at window 5 checked, came back and told me I did, but I had to wait to apply by July 18. That would have been 30 days prior to expiration as opposed to the 45 mentioned on the online instructions.
I pressed by saying I really needed to start this process asap because I need to travel, and for him to check whether it is 30 or 45 days prior to expiration, and again, if it was possible to start the process right there and then.
On return, he explained that it is 45 days indeed but that there is a document I needed that takes a very long time to get approved and suggested I started by filing this document right away to save time.
The document, not mentioned in the instructions, is a letter addressed to the Director of Immigration, telling him that you have complied with the legal renewals to please authorize you or consider your applying for your permanent residency. I had a suspicion such letter would be needed and had brought with me a similar one (just a feeling based on what was required for renewal of temporary). He said to make a copy and go to the last window on the right, with the sign ?Correspondence?. Again, no number required, just wait in line if there is one. There wasn?t.
Made a copy and proceeded directly to this window. I also needed a copy of my residency card which thankfully I had brought some extra ones just in case. I filed the letter and copy of my current residency card, got a copy of the letter stamped for my files with a phone number to call, and was told that it takes 2-3 weeks for approval from the Director?s office or, maybe, much longer. That I should start calling and check if it is ready in 3 weeks or so. She also asked me to write on the original my phone numbers just in case they wanted to call me instead.
I was again also told to go back to the hall entrance window where I was given the form to request printed instructions to make sure I had the latest instructions on this process. In fact, I was told the same in the other information desk as well as in Window 5.
All along, I had asked many times whether or not I would need the new insurance policy. Every single person said they didn?t think but to check and verify at that first window in the hall?those are the people who know exactly what you need they said.
Went back to the hall, asked for the printed instructions and asked again this question about the new insurance. The girl said twice that only what it is on the form is required. I pressed and she went to ask another person who said she could confirm. The other woman came to talk to me and said that I didn?t need it if I could present proof of support with one of the documents outlined in the instructions. (side note: I do have a Certificado Mercantil for our business and property, but didn?t show it).
For now, I decided I will NOT purchase the new insurance unless, when I return to submit my folder 1 or folder 2, I?m explicitly asked for it. Yes, it may take time to go purchase it and another line at immigration, but I prefer it to paying $115 for an $800+ policy that may not be required after all, and that to me, it doesn?t make much sense because it doesn?t prove you can support yourself. I find it strange that it is all it is required to prove solvency nowadays. But many things don?t make sense in the DR and we live with that. So, I?ll wait and see on this one.
In my best estimate, this process will take long. First 2-3 weeks wait for the approval of my request to change status from temporary to permanent (that with luck); then go back to file folder 1 and for medical exam. It is not clear from the instructions whether you wait for the results of the medical 5-10 days as permanent renewals do, or if like the current instructions say, immediately after the medical you submit folder 2.
Assuming I have to wait 10 days and return to file folder 2, then there?s an interview with an immigration officer you?re cited for (not clear if this is at the time of presenting folder 2 or later, I suspect that later, since your documents, it appears, go to Interpol, etc.). So all in all, I figure it can take well over 8-10 weeks if not longer.
Something others should think about is whether if you go right at the 45-day in advance mark, you may be able to do both, submit the letter and do the medical at the same time. Obviously, for whatever reason, you?re not allowed to do this it ahead of time.
Lesson learned: don?t wait in line without asking questions, and insist if you have doubts. I could have spent the entire day waiting for my turn, only to be turned back.
In my opinion, Immigration employees are very polite and go out of their way to explain everything you need. We?ve been there several times now, both for my renewal of temporary as well as my husband?s renewal of permanent. Every time we had the very same experience. Polite employees that direct us everywhere we needed to go and provided answers to all our questions.
I would not fault them now for not knowing exactly how you go from temporary to permanent. This is new. Only few people are now qualifying for this, as the new law for temporary residency came into effect, if I recall correctly, in July of 2012. So only those of us who had already temporary residence issued in mid to late 2011 are facing this new process now.
I will update this thread as I go along, but if anyone has more current information, please do post updates here as long as it is on this subject and not related to other type of residency requests/renewals. Thanks
PS: I?ll try to upload the two pages I got with instructions later, after I checked them one more time. A cursory reading didn?t highlight anything different from the online instructions: http://www.migracion.gob.do/sitev1/...icitudes-de-residencia/residencia-permanente/
Yesterday, I went to Immigration to see if I was able to start the process of going from Temporary to Permanent Residence a little bit ahead of time.
The instructions mention to apply 45 days prior to expiration of residence. That would have been the first days of July for me as my current residence expires August 18.
I showed up at Immigration and found a very long line outside. Glad I asked. That was for passports requests. I was immediately ushered in and sent to one of the windows in the hall where there was no one in line.
The room was very, very noisy and I suspected the girl at the window couldn?t really hear me well. I explained I was there to request my permanent residence. She gave me a form and a number, told me to fill it out while I waited in the main room.
Main room was full. I had no idea how long I?d have to wait (it certainly felt like all day) but had a feeling that the girl at the window didn?t really hear well what I was there for.
Instead of waiting, I went to the information desk inside the main room (not the entrance hall). There I was able to explain once again why I came in to the two ladies manning this desk.
I was told that my first step was to go to Window 5 (no number needed, just stand in line) to make sure that I now had renewed enough times and qualified for a permanent residency.
The guy at window 5 checked, came back and told me I did, but I had to wait to apply by July 18. That would have been 30 days prior to expiration as opposed to the 45 mentioned on the online instructions.
I pressed by saying I really needed to start this process asap because I need to travel, and for him to check whether it is 30 or 45 days prior to expiration, and again, if it was possible to start the process right there and then.
On return, he explained that it is 45 days indeed but that there is a document I needed that takes a very long time to get approved and suggested I started by filing this document right away to save time.
The document, not mentioned in the instructions, is a letter addressed to the Director of Immigration, telling him that you have complied with the legal renewals to please authorize you or consider your applying for your permanent residency. I had a suspicion such letter would be needed and had brought with me a similar one (just a feeling based on what was required for renewal of temporary). He said to make a copy and go to the last window on the right, with the sign ?Correspondence?. Again, no number required, just wait in line if there is one. There wasn?t.
Made a copy and proceeded directly to this window. I also needed a copy of my residency card which thankfully I had brought some extra ones just in case. I filed the letter and copy of my current residency card, got a copy of the letter stamped for my files with a phone number to call, and was told that it takes 2-3 weeks for approval from the Director?s office or, maybe, much longer. That I should start calling and check if it is ready in 3 weeks or so. She also asked me to write on the original my phone numbers just in case they wanted to call me instead.
I was again also told to go back to the hall entrance window where I was given the form to request printed instructions to make sure I had the latest instructions on this process. In fact, I was told the same in the other information desk as well as in Window 5.
All along, I had asked many times whether or not I would need the new insurance policy. Every single person said they didn?t think but to check and verify at that first window in the hall?those are the people who know exactly what you need they said.
Went back to the hall, asked for the printed instructions and asked again this question about the new insurance. The girl said twice that only what it is on the form is required. I pressed and she went to ask another person who said she could confirm. The other woman came to talk to me and said that I didn?t need it if I could present proof of support with one of the documents outlined in the instructions. (side note: I do have a Certificado Mercantil for our business and property, but didn?t show it).
For now, I decided I will NOT purchase the new insurance unless, when I return to submit my folder 1 or folder 2, I?m explicitly asked for it. Yes, it may take time to go purchase it and another line at immigration, but I prefer it to paying $115 for an $800+ policy that may not be required after all, and that to me, it doesn?t make much sense because it doesn?t prove you can support yourself. I find it strange that it is all it is required to prove solvency nowadays. But many things don?t make sense in the DR and we live with that. So, I?ll wait and see on this one.
In my best estimate, this process will take long. First 2-3 weeks wait for the approval of my request to change status from temporary to permanent (that with luck); then go back to file folder 1 and for medical exam. It is not clear from the instructions whether you wait for the results of the medical 5-10 days as permanent renewals do, or if like the current instructions say, immediately after the medical you submit folder 2.
Assuming I have to wait 10 days and return to file folder 2, then there?s an interview with an immigration officer you?re cited for (not clear if this is at the time of presenting folder 2 or later, I suspect that later, since your documents, it appears, go to Interpol, etc.). So all in all, I figure it can take well over 8-10 weeks if not longer.
Something others should think about is whether if you go right at the 45-day in advance mark, you may be able to do both, submit the letter and do the medical at the same time. Obviously, for whatever reason, you?re not allowed to do this it ahead of time.
Lesson learned: don?t wait in line without asking questions, and insist if you have doubts. I could have spent the entire day waiting for my turn, only to be turned back.
In my opinion, Immigration employees are very polite and go out of their way to explain everything you need. We?ve been there several times now, both for my renewal of temporary as well as my husband?s renewal of permanent. Every time we had the very same experience. Polite employees that direct us everywhere we needed to go and provided answers to all our questions.
I would not fault them now for not knowing exactly how you go from temporary to permanent. This is new. Only few people are now qualifying for this, as the new law for temporary residency came into effect, if I recall correctly, in July of 2012. So only those of us who had already temporary residence issued in mid to late 2011 are facing this new process now.
I will update this thread as I go along, but if anyone has more current information, please do post updates here as long as it is on this subject and not related to other type of residency requests/renewals. Thanks
PS: I?ll try to upload the two pages I got with instructions later, after I checked them one more time. A cursory reading didn?t highlight anything different from the online instructions: http://www.migracion.gob.do/sitev1/...icitudes-de-residencia/residencia-permanente/
