Meeting Tuesday re Migracion questions

[USA DOC]

Japanese cotton cheesecake: can you wear it as well as eat it? Intrigued.

thats the beauty of it, after you eat it ........you will be wearing it........

 

[snowbird44]

These pin heads really need a snowbird visa with relatively simple requirements.

 
Exactly! I am not willing to jump through all these hoops every year just to stay for 3-4 months. If nothing is made simpler, we won't be coming here anymore. Really sad about this. Why can't we just pay our overstay at the airport as before? Tons of revenue for the Government. As Snowbirds we don't abuse their system for any services and we contribute to the economy by spending money and employment. 

 

[lifeisgreat]

 
Exactly! I am not willing to jump through all these hoops every year just to stay for 3-4 months. If nothing is made simpler, we won't be coming here anymore. Really sad about this. Why can't we just pay our overstay at the airport as before? Tons of revenue for the Government. As Snowbirds we don't abuse their system for any services and we contribute to the economy by spending money and employment. 

They said those who want to stay over the 30 days has to go to office apply by letter before 30 days up (hi I'm snow bird I want stay another 30 days) we can do it Puerto plata they said, Mayor in talks to have satellite office Sosua offered place , might be easier then . You can apply as many times as you want for 30 days so print off 10 copies ...or just pay when you leave exit fee and be done... business as usual my amigo ..they can't make it simple because of their Haitian and Venezuelan issue..can't say gringo tourist card 6 months 3000 peso imagine backlash... so they said no further actions of this type will take place??... can't get you if they don't want to look for you right! So have a Presidente and enjoy so weather even though it's cold today better then weather in Canada..

 

[retiree]

When you pay at the airport it's much simpler for them. Just look at the passport and the fee gets paid. Before you can leave. I'd be surprised if this changed but who knows.

 

[Polar Bear]

http://www.justonecookbook.com/souffle-japanese-cheesecake/

it's very much off topic but it's delicious. i may post a recipe once i do chocolate and mixed berry versions and see what they are like.



i can tell you that this meeting did not inspire warm feeling in my heart. the director of extranjeria seemed pretty neat: he was well prepared, showed lots of patience, was not argumentative and his vocabulary and syntax were great (that's not a given for government official). he handled things well, given the fact that so many people spoke really broken spanish and could not carry entire sentence without suddenly dropping into weird stream of consciousness. some folks behind me were throwing insults too.

 

[lifeisgreat]

When you pay at the airport it's much simpler for them. Just look at the passport and the fee gets paid. Before you can leave. I'd be surprised if this changed but who knows.

 I posted...I left a few days ago  paid 2500 peso no fuss no questions asked have a good day was all that was said..

 

[Meemselle]

When you pay at the airport it's much simpler for them. Just look at the passport and the fee gets paid. Before you can leave. I'd be surprised if this changed but who knows.

I mean: to me, it's a no-brainer. One overstays the 30 days. One pays on departure. One keeps one's nose clean (as it were) and does not invite trouble. The gov't makes money. What's the problem?

 

[cobraboy]

 I posted...I left a few days ago  paid 2500 peso no fuss no questions asked have a good day was all that was said..

A few weeks ago my mom left after almost a year, and just coughed up the $$$ at SDQ, no muss, no fuss, no questions asked.

Returned 10 days later, still no muss, no fuss...

('Course, she does airports in a wheelchair, so that could make a difference.)

 

[cobraboy]

I mean: to me, it's a no-brainer. One overstays the 30 days. One pays on departure. One keeps one's nose clean (as it were) and does not invite trouble. The gov't makes money. What's the problem?

Few gubmint activities done in the DR make a lot of sense.

 

[Meemselle]

thats the beauty of it, after you eat it ........you will be wearing it........

That's, unfortunately, always the way with cheesecake.......

OMG! OMG! OMG! Off-topic!

 

[Meemselle]

('Course, she does airports in a wheelchair, so that could make a difference.)

It does and it doesn't. I have to use a wheelchair because I can walk, but I cannot stand (check the blog about the two broken legs and shattered foot. And the knee that already had no cartilage.) Sometimes they are really nice to the non-ambulatory, and sometimes they single us out for (ahem) special treatment.

 

[Meemselle]

I didn't go either Meems.
Plus... I didn't know which shoes to wear? Shoes can change the whole conversation and

You had me at SHOES. Thank YOU!

 

[Bundel2014]

72 posts,little info,why does this board even bother? if they don't want tourist dollars,go elsewhere

 

[bob saunders]

We are Canadian Snowbirds.
We have spent the last 7 winters in the DR (varying from 3 to 6 months /year).
We spend money.
We follow all the laws (if we know about them).
We don't need work (thank god).

Which way do we go after today Migración meeting ? ? ?

Choice #1
recent street raids in sosua: the act of stopping and arresting people that took place in sosua few weeks ago was unauthorized. the person/people responsible are currently under investigation and will be sanctioned. there will be no more raids of that type neither in sosua nor any other location.

Ya a a ! !… The madness is over. It's back to “pay when you leave”

or is it ?
Choice #2
those who wish to stay longer can apply for "permanencia de corto plazo" - from 2 to 6 months.

Crap ! !

The "permanencia de corto plazo" sound like a WHOLE LOT of DR bureaucratic BS !

What is so hard about a Snowbird VISA?
Ask us for medical coverage, bank statements, and return tickets.
Make us promise not to work.
Have it mailed in (months prior) from our Home Country.
Charge us a $100.
DONE!!


Next year...
We have already (because of the early Feb. scare) booked 3 months in the EU (mostly Spain)
It is (now) looking like our other 3 months, will be in Cuba.
(Canadians can stay 90 days there.)


We are only a single couple, but we are typical Snowbirds. .
We don't own anything here. We don't have family ties here.
We don't want to be residents here.
We are just looking for a quiet Winters, with warm temperatures, and no bothers.
We really like it here.
We like all the small independent merchants, restaurants, and motoconchos.

BUT...
We don't have to put up with this DR bureaucratic $h1t.

We can go elsewhere !

If it is “back to normal... pay on exit at the Airport”.... then Please tell us (clearly)

You mean you follow all the laws except the immigration laws.
You will have to play medical insurance in Cuba and the end price will cost you more, however fill your boots. Let us know how wonderful the Cuban bureaucracy is. My brother spent the better part of two years in Cuba doing micro-finance and medical missions. He could tell you a few horror stories about Cuban government practises, that change on a whim.

 

[retiree]

 
Exactly! I am not willing to jump through all these hoops every year just to stay for 3-4 months. If nothing is made simpler, we won't be coming here anymore. Really sad about this. Why can't we just pay our overstay at the airport as before? Tons of revenue for the Government. As Snowbirds we don't abuse their system for any services and we contribute to the economy by spending money and employment. 

You can pay at the airport!

 

[aname4me]

You mean you follow all the laws except the immigration laws.
You will have to play medical insurance in Cuba and the end price will cost you more, however fill your boots. Let us know how wonderful the Cuban bureaucracy is. My brother spent the better part of two years in Cuba doing micro-finance and medical missions. He could tell you a few horror stories about Cuban government practises, that change on a whim.

Yes... Cuba did require Medical Insurance.

I was there the first year they tried to do it.
Friends, after 30 days, had to go to Immigration.
They brought a 7 page Medical Insurance document, written in English Legal Medicalize.
(I couldn't understand most of it)
The Immigration Officer (who could barely form an English sentence) looked at it for a few minutes, and pronounced it was OK. Done.

I have been to Cuba over 20 times and they no long ask for proof of Medical Insurance.
They (now) do check all people arriving from the DR for Malaria, Dengue and other things (they are required to have blood test in the first week). As you know, the DR has a very poor medical system.

Personally, my Pension provides 95 day of out of Country Medical Insurance, so I never leave home without it.

 

[aname4me]

You mean you follow all the laws except the immigration laws.

I checked several times, and I thought I was following the Migración Department “Law”.

Do you know the Parlour Game... the one where you stand, with your eyes closed, and arms crossed.
Your “Friend” stands behind you and you fall backwards.
Your “Friend” catches you.

Well....For years the Migración Department has said:
Stay as long as you want, just pay at the Airport as you leave.
See! I have a sheet of paper that shows you how much to pay, and it is written by me... the Migración Department.
Trust me! ! There will be no problems.

Well.... In early February, the Migración Department went out raiding Snowbirds.

Now they say “Stay as long as you want, just pay at the Airport as you leave.” There will be no problems.


It is like falling to the floor and your Friend saying... Trust me, I won't drop you (this time).

 

[InsanelyOne]

Has this immigration stuff been going on elsewhere in the country?  What about Punta Cana?  Are there really that more expats living in the north that they didn't bother hassling the folks in the east?  

 

[windeguy]

I mean: to me, it's a no-brainer. One overstays the 30 days. One pays on departure. One keeps one's nose clean (as it were) and does not invite trouble. The gov't makes money. What's the problem?

Here is the problem: Haitians and Venezuelans enter the country and are also "presumed to pay the exit fee when they go", just like everyone else. One must treat everyone the same way, eh? But they never go. They stay. See the problem yet with the exit fees?

That is why a snowbird visa is needed where you pay up front.

 

[dv8]

i think the meeting was summed up pretty well by attendees and everyone knows what's been said.
you can continue usual bickering in "gringo roundup in sosua thread" without polluting this one with senseless squabble.