Hello All,
Every month I leave the D.R. for Haiti, travelling by bus and crossing into Belade (Haiti) from Elias Pina (D.R.), and then return one week later. I have been doing this since 2009. However, it has only been in about the last nine months that I am doing this monthly.
I have had no issues with the Dominican exit tax: If my last passport stamp shows < 30 days, I owe no tax. If it shows > 30 days, I pay a pro-rated tax. We all probably use the same chart, widely available.
I have never had a problem at the Haitian immigration. However, I almost always have a problem at the Dominican immigration. For the past 6 months now, officials have demanded that I pay $20.00 U.S. I have never paid this, they always let me go, but not until I raised hell and refused to pay, loud-talking them, etc. (aggressive but no insults). So, now, every time I pass the border I know I'm in for a fight. I win it but I don't like it.
The office should receive my application, check the date on my passport, stamp it, and providing that I owe no exit tax, give my passport back to me. Instead, they pass it through a window to CAJA--even though I do not have to pay. This is where they demand the $20.00. I even remember when they painted the new sign CAJA. Other times, instead of the CAJA, it could be a random official making this demand, a big crowd forming to see who is going to "win." Like a damn cock fight.
I was thinking about going to the main immigration office and filing a report of corruption but since I am the only caucasian who crosses at this point (that I have seen crossing since 2009), I realize that I could be easily traced, and that both departments could be in collusion, and if I am blocking some income, maybe it could be dangerous for me, so I've just resolved that I'm not going to make a complaint, just fight them every time.
Thoughts, suggestions?
Every month I leave the D.R. for Haiti, travelling by bus and crossing into Belade (Haiti) from Elias Pina (D.R.), and then return one week later. I have been doing this since 2009. However, it has only been in about the last nine months that I am doing this monthly.
I have had no issues with the Dominican exit tax: If my last passport stamp shows < 30 days, I owe no tax. If it shows > 30 days, I pay a pro-rated tax. We all probably use the same chart, widely available.
I have never had a problem at the Haitian immigration. However, I almost always have a problem at the Dominican immigration. For the past 6 months now, officials have demanded that I pay $20.00 U.S. I have never paid this, they always let me go, but not until I raised hell and refused to pay, loud-talking them, etc. (aggressive but no insults). So, now, every time I pass the border I know I'm in for a fight. I win it but I don't like it.
The office should receive my application, check the date on my passport, stamp it, and providing that I owe no exit tax, give my passport back to me. Instead, they pass it through a window to CAJA--even though I do not have to pay. This is where they demand the $20.00. I even remember when they painted the new sign CAJA. Other times, instead of the CAJA, it could be a random official making this demand, a big crowd forming to see who is going to "win." Like a damn cock fight.
I was thinking about going to the main immigration office and filing a report of corruption but since I am the only caucasian who crosses at this point (that I have seen crossing since 2009), I realize that I could be easily traced, and that both departments could be in collusion, and if I am blocking some income, maybe it could be dangerous for me, so I've just resolved that I'm not going to make a complaint, just fight them every time.
Thoughts, suggestions?