Residency Renewal while abroad

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InsanelyOne

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Oct 21, 2008
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My husband and I now spend most of our time in the U.S. but plan on returning to the DR eventually. Since we had already gone through the ridiculous nonsense of renewing our temporary residency 4 times we figure we might as well keep going with it. Last February we finally got our "permanent" residency which we all know is not really permanent and was only good for one year and needs to be renewed yet again.

I've been reading about the online renewal process but it I'm concerned we won't have much control over when we need to get back down to the DR to go to Santo Domingo to get pictures taken and get the new residency cards and cedula. I'm also unsure if we will have to yet again get a medical.

I've read a bunch of the threads but I'm still a little confused as to the exact process. Maybe I should just use a lawyer again to keep it simple?

Thoughts? / Suggestions?

Thanks!
 
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william webster

Rest In Peace WW
Jan 16, 2009
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I read the question as not one of 'simplicity'...
but the logistics....
These applicants can only come for a limited time it appears
They want to reduce the 'facetime' involved

I hope I read it right.
 
R

rubio_higuey

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Feb 7, 2007
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InsanelyOne said:
My husband and I now spend most of our time in the U.S. but plan on returning to the DR eventually. Since we had already gone through the ridiculous nonsense of renewing our temporary residency 4 times we figure we might as well keep going with it. Last February we finally got our "permanent" residency which we all know is not really permanent and was only good for one year and needs to be renewed yet again.

I've been reading about the online renewal process but it I'm concerned we won't have much control over when we need to get back down to the DR to go to Santo Domingo to get pictures taken and get the new residency cards and cedula. I'm also unsure if we will have to yet again get a medical.

I've read a bunch of the threads but I'm still a little confused as to the exact process. Maybe I should just use a lawyer again to keep it simple?

Thoughts? / Suggestions?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Calculate that your picture taking appointment will be about 3 weeks after you have done your medical. You can decline the appointment and reschedule (you can provide date you will be in the country e.g. after such and such date) and they will give you new date and you can fly in. But it will cost you additional 1000 pesos to decline the appointment.
 
Harleysrock

Harleysrock

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Nov 4, 2012
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Gaspar Hernández, Espaillat, Dominican Republic
I was out of the country and had to reschedule my pic, never paid the 2000 (for my wife and I). For my next appointment I had 3 days notice. My friend had 1 day notice for her medical lol.

You defiantly have to do the medical for perm renewal. You do not have to do it for temp residency renewal.
So you will have to be here for the medical and then your pic another day. How long can you come for?
To be honest if you want simple and can afford it get the lawyer. I did and was glad I didn’t have to deal with anything. If money is tight maybe try on your own first? People say it’s easy but I found that website annoying and it was worth the $500 to never look at it again. My friend paid $800 for her perm expired residency renewal and I paid $500 for my temp expired residency.
 
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cavok

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Jun 16, 2014
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A temporary residency renewal is going to cost you $300 w/o a lawyer, so $200 in lawyer fees isn't too bad.

Not sure what's involved involved in an expired permanent residency renewal, but I think the fees w/o a lawyer for a regular permanent residency renewal are about $400 and that doesn't include the medical.
 
C

Chirimoya

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Dec 9, 2002
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My last permanent residency renewal cost me just over RD$20,000 without a lawyer, not including the cost of travelling and staying in the capital.
 
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InsanelyOne

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Oct 21, 2008
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william webster said:
I read the question as not one of 'simplicity'...
but the logistics....
These applicants can only come for a limited time it appears
They want to reduce the 'facetime' involved

I hope I read it right.
Click to expand...

You are correct! It's the logistics I'm most concerned about. In the past, we were always able to do everything in a single trip. From what I'm reading, we will have to do a medical first and then several weeks later go into SD for the picture taking, etc. That's going to be difficult. :(
 
Cdn_Gringo

Cdn_Gringo

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Apr 29, 2014
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The residency renewal process is obviously geared towards those who live in the DR. You need someone on the ground here with a contact or two at DGM that can work to get your renewal appointment scheduled shortly after your medical appointment. You won't be able to do this yourself especially if you explain that you need a variance in procedure because you aren't actually living in the DR at present.

If you can't find a lawyer to help in this regard, then it looks like you will either be staying in country after your medical tests waiting for your next appointment or you will be leaving only to return at a later date.

Maybe renewing online is not the best option for you this time around. I think your best bet, to hopefully achieve the end result with the least amount of personal inconvenience, would be if the whole renewal was handled by a competent lawyer. It will be more expensive yes, but not as much as airline tickets for two separate return trips for two people.

I have no experience in judging how accommodating DGM is prepared to be these days when it comes to schedule issues.
 
Harleysrock

Harleysrock

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Nov 4, 2012
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I used Jorge at his dads firm J. Lora Castillo & Asociados. Loraolivares@jlcabogados.com
I contacted him through WhatsApp messages the whole time and he is in SD.
Really nice young guy and speaks great English. +1 (829) 707-7773

I wanted to use someone else other than the NC lawyers...and my friend was using him for other things.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
You could always just let it expire as well until you are here for longer???
 
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InsanelyOne

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Oct 21, 2008
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Harleysrock said:
I used Jorge at his dads firm J. Lora Castillo & Asociados. Loraolivares@jlcabogados.com
I contacted him through WhatsApp messages the whole time and he is in SD.
Really nice young guy and speaks great English. +1 (829) 707-7773

I wanted to use someone else other than the NC lawyers...and my friend was using him for other things.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
You could always just let it expire as well until you are here for longer???
Click to expand...

We've invested so much time and effort as it is... I'd hate to just stop now. We were planning on coming down for a trip anyway.

I'll reach out to our lawyer we used last time.

Thanks everyone for your suggestions!
 
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windeguy

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Jul 10, 2004
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Harleysrock said:
I used Jorge at his dads firm J. Lora Castillo & Asociados. Loraolivares@jlcabogados.com
I contacted him through WhatsApp messages the whole time and he is in SD.
Really nice young guy and speaks great English. +1 (829) 707-7773

I wanted to use someone else other than the NC lawyers...and my friend was using him for other things.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
You could always just let it expire as well until you are here for longer???
Click to expand...

I agree that dealing with someone in Santo Domingo could work better than a lawyer not living in that district.

After being such an advocate of not having residency and just paying the exit fees, even being proud of the fact you both did not renew, what finally prompted you to not be an illegal alien in the DR?
 
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InsanelyOne

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Oct 21, 2008
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Cdn_Gringo said:
The residency renewal process is obviously geared towards those who live in the DR. You need someone on the ground here with a contact or two at DGM that can work to get your renewal appointment scheduled shortly after your medical appointment. You won't be able to do this yourself especially if you explain that you need a variance in procedure because you aren't actually living in the DR at present.

If you can't find a lawyer to help in this regard, then it looks like you will either be staying in country after your medical tests waiting for your next appointment or you will be leaving only to return at a later date.

Maybe renewing online is not the best option for you this time around. I think your best bet, to hopefully achieve the end result with the least amount of personal inconvenience, would be if the whole renewal was handled by a competent lawyer. It will be more expensive yes, but not as much as airline tickets for two separate return trips for two people.

I have no experience in judging how accommodating DGM is prepared to be these days when it comes to schedule issues.
Click to expand...


I have been in contact with the guy that Harleysrock recommended. He's telling me it can all be done in one day. I'm a little suspect to be honest.
 
Cdn_Gringo

Cdn_Gringo

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Apr 29, 2014
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If your guy is on the ball, both the residency renewal and the new cedula can be done the same day. Residency is first, so if you get an early morning appointment for that, you can have enough time to hit JCE for the cedula in the afternoon.

I am anticipating just such a day in the near future as it's my turn to renew this month. My day requires 10 hours on a bus as well as the Govt shenanigans - my gal hasn't let me down yet - although there is a first time for everything.
 
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InsanelyOne

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We’ve always done the residency renewal and cédula in one day. It’s the medical that I was concerned about. Everything I’ve been hearing is that the medical has to be done days or weeks before the appointment at the immigration office. He’s telling us we can do everything on the same day.
 
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william webster

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The results for the medical take a week or so.....
Blood test, urinalysis, etc

The actual residency/cedula is one day as people are saying here
I have done it in one day countless times
 
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InsanelyOne

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Oct 21, 2008
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william webster said:
The results for the medical take a week or so.....
Blood test, urinalysis, etc

The actual residency/cedula is one day as people are saying here
I have done it in one day countless times
Click to expand...

So then from what everyone is saying, this lawyer is full of ****. He insists that the medical can be done the same day as getting the residency/cedula.
 
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william webster

Rest In Peace WW
Jan 16, 2009
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As I recall, there are 3 locations for the tests... 3 different locations.

One is right across the street for DGM - the others are further away.

Travel time is one issue but the analysis and results take time - at least mine did, and did my wife's
We renewed separately
 
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