I've been married to a Dominican woman for the past twenty years, and we typically visit her family for 3-4 weeks every year. My employment situation is now such that, beginning in 2016, we are looking at spending 2-3 months each year in the DR and hope to gradually increase that to 5-6 months per year by the time we hit retirement (10+ years out).
As my wife is Dominican, she can, of course, come and go as she pleases. My understanding is that for me, however, I am limited to extended visits under one of the following three options:
1. Buy a 30-day tourist card upon entering the country, let it expire, and pay the overstay fees upon departure.
2. Apply for residency via my wife, which must be renewed regularly. This may initially be more expensive than paying overstay fees but, for the long term, is it worth it?
3. Apply for citizenship (following the requisite six-months of residency) via my wife. Again, this costs a bit up front. But once the process is complete, I'd be able to come and go as I please with no further entry/exit fees, correct?
My question is this: Are options 2 or 3 even viable if I'm only spending 2, 3, or even 4 months per year in the DR? Or, in the absence of a "snowbird visa," am I pretty much limited to option #1 which seems to be the simplest--albeit imperfect--way to go.
Thanks in advance for your advice!
As my wife is Dominican, she can, of course, come and go as she pleases. My understanding is that for me, however, I am limited to extended visits under one of the following three options:
1. Buy a 30-day tourist card upon entering the country, let it expire, and pay the overstay fees upon departure.
2. Apply for residency via my wife, which must be renewed regularly. This may initially be more expensive than paying overstay fees but, for the long term, is it worth it?
3. Apply for citizenship (following the requisite six-months of residency) via my wife. Again, this costs a bit up front. But once the process is complete, I'd be able to come and go as I please with no further entry/exit fees, correct?
My question is this: Are options 2 or 3 even viable if I'm only spending 2, 3, or even 4 months per year in the DR? Or, in the absence of a "snowbird visa," am I pretty much limited to option #1 which seems to be the simplest--albeit imperfect--way to go.
Thanks in advance for your advice!