Dominican Immigration has extended the stay for tourist

[windeguy]

This is complete nonsense. The DR gov't is not going to deny entry to anyone arriving because of a previous overstay. They are generating revenue from the overstay fees, a lot of it.

Sneak out without paying your overstay tax - maybe. Try to renter after committing a crime in your home country, maybe. Passport flagged by USA customs and border patrol, maybe. Otherwise you'll breeze right through customs with nothing but a smile.  

I suspect the money pulled in by exit fines by the small number of people that overstay(10's of thousands of people AT MOST) is dwarfed by the entry and exit fees now put into airline tickets by people who visit for a week or two (9 million or so people).

So the announcement by the Dominican Consulate in Canada is just nonsense and nothing will change?

 

[drstock]

Very few of the many snowbirds I know on the north coast will be willing to take the trip and endure the long waiting times at the Immigration Office in Santo Domingo. If the government does end up enforcing it, they should at least enable snowbirds to get the extension in their own country before they come, or go to the regional Immigration offices in places like Puerto Plata.

The Santo Domingo office is already a nightmare for those of us having to renew Residency annually, without adding tourist visa extensions to the throngs.

 

[windeguy]

drstock, You had me at Santo Domingo is a nightmare. Who in their right mind wants to go to Santo Domingo?

I ask the same questions when I can now apply for a residency renewal on line, yet still need to go to Santo Domingo to collect my residency card and get a cedula made. Amazing.

I agree that it should be easier and possible on line or at local Migracion offices.

 

[rubio_higuey]

As per this, the snowbirds should be able to do it at any airport https://www.migracion.gob.do/Menu/Index/21

 

[windeguy]

As per this, the snowbirds should be able to do it at any airport https://www.migracion.gob.do/Menu/Index/21

I see they still have some adjustments to make on their web site. No one as yet as been able to pay an overstay fine before they leave at an airport that I have seen post being able to do so. The whole idea of the overstay fine has to go away (as in be phased out) before the new 4 month extension requirement even makes any any sense.

 

[william webster]

Have a friend who is who has been here for years who was denied entry last month due to continued overstays. He moved to Panama.

You may be asked to provide proof of that ---

Many here consider that a falsehood or an Old Wive's Tale at best

The ostrich syndrome

This is complete nonsense. The DR gov't is not going to deny entry to anyone arriving because of a previous overstay. They are generating revenue from the overstay fees, a lot of it.

Sneak out without paying your overstay tax - maybe. Try to renter after committing a crime in your home country, maybe. Passport flagged by USA customs and border patrol, maybe. Otherwise you'll breeze right through customs with nothing but a smile.  

THe proof is in the pudding

and to you BBird..
i wasn't questioning bienamor... just posting a warning which came to fruition faster than expected

 

[HDR]

The change would apply to anyone coming in on a tourist card, so people from the USA would have to do the same unless there is additional information specifically for different tourist card countries, which I very much doubt will be any different than Canada.

If you want to stay more than 4 months, the legal way with this new system would be to get residency in the DR. But as mentioned, the system is still in a state of flux. Will they just terminate the exit fine system? Probably, but who knows. The rules have no teeth if they don't terminate the exit fines.

Well remember, a condition to get the residency is that you need to be here more than 6 months every year. This will be a mess for Snowbirds. And yeah I live here and I am glad I renewed my Permanent Residency. Some years ago I almost let it go bc it was such a hazzle. Then seeing people staying here for years and just paying a small fine... Things are changing.

 

[william webster]

Wrong... no absence longer than 6 months is the rule

 

[keepcoming]

What is so hard for some to understand?. It was never a question of "what" it has always been a question of "when". Yes many have proven the "law" wrong but for how long? Seems like daily things are changing unfortunately nothing written in stone.. IMO..I am sure others will disagree..

 

[Caonabo]

I find it to be quite eccentric that it always seems to be the same few people standing on their soapbox and rattling their canes to get off their lawn, when that lawn was never theirs to begin with.

 

[Caonabo]

I suspect the money pulled in by exit fines by the small number of people that overstay(10's of thousands of people AT MOST) is dwarfed by the entry and exit fees now put into airline tickets by people who visit for a week or two (9 million or so people).

So the announcement by the Dominican Consulate in Canada is just nonsense and nothing will change?

Less Canadians, and more Chinese.

 

[Riva_31]

The note says if wants to stay longer than 120 days better to apply for a temporary reaidence wich I dont think will be very dificult to get it for a Canadian.  Another thing is that makes clear the fine or tax is not a pardon for brake the law, so better to have in both cases a visa as stats the the extention of stay is if you come with turist card.

 

[william webster]

The nationality shouldn't be part of the decision for residency application....
just the qualifications


But I agree, Canadians are more welcome more often than others... socially speaking

 

[Caonabo]

I wonder whom the "Organization of Canadian Snowbirds" recommends to assist there members in obtaining their RD residency?

 

[william webster]

I have a suggestion for those interested...........

 

[Caonabo]

The nationality shouldn't be part of the decision for residency application....
just the qualifications


But I agree, Canadians are more welcome more often than others... socially speaking

Why not? If the RD feels they need to do a better job of tracking those Canadians that have been breaking the law, so be it. Is it not the essence of all these ridiculous threads regarding the matter?

 

[Garyexpat]

You may be asked to provide proof of that ---

Many here consider that a falsehood or an Old Wive's Tale at best

The ostrich syndrome

Sorry it took me so long to chime in William. I see in a later post bienamor states that offering proof is no problem but I have yet to see it? No ostrich syndrome from me just not buying it. You guys have been at this (and probably writing the D.R. Gov. to kick out overstayers) for quite some time now and except for a few unsubstantiated claims there is no proof of ANYONE being denied re-entry solely on the basis of past over stays.
You say ostrich syndrome and I say - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1YXhUig7vo

 

[Caonabo]

Sorry it took me so long to chime in William. I see in a later post bienamor states that offering proof is no problem but I have yet to see it? No ostrich syndrome from me just not buying it. You guys have been at this (and probably writing the D.R. Gov. to kick out overstayers) for quite some time now and except for a few unsubstantiated claims there is no proof of ANYONE being denied re-entry solely on the basis of past over stays.
You say ostrich syndrome and I say - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1YXhUig7vo

Just might be the Executive Board of the "Organization of Canadian Snowbirds". LOL.

 

[william webster]

Gary

I have no interest in this situation other than entertainment... watching the confusion
The same as I watch the new systems employ in RD - from tracking traffic fines to immigration to residency.
All involve new software, rules and procedures.
The traffic fines and residency ones - I have participated in.
Immigration - I'm exempt by residency but am tracked in a new manner, I have noticed.

It seems that for some reason , Canada has been the first to come out explaining the new overstay rules... perhaps others will follow, perhaps not.

As for deportations... I have no reason to challenge bienamor's statement nor should have anybody else.
Similarly, when a registered driver waiting for for a pickup at PUJ informs us that he lost his fare when his clients were detained and refused entry - I see no reason to disbelieve him.
That driver was routed from here by being called a liar.
He was trying to warn others... who don't want to hear that warning.
That's their choice.

Personally, I don't think that when their day comes (if it ever does) to be deported...
They'll scramble home and report it here.

The proof you seek may never come

 

[windeguy]

Why not? If the RD feels they need to do a better job of tracking those Canadians that have been breaking the law, so be it. Is it not the essence of all these ridiculous threads regarding the matter?

The essence is coming up with a way to deport Haitians and what needs to be done to be fair regarding visitors from other countries. With so few snowbirds compared to short stay tourist, it has not been a center of attention for the DR government. Really that is what underlies this whole mess. If there were no Haiti and the DR on the same island, there probably would already be 6 month snowbird visas and no silly system of pay as you leave fines for overstaying.