My attempt to get Residencia Definitiva not going well

chico bill

Silver
May 6, 2016
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just to highlight the new found skills of Migracion

They recently red flagged an application as false...counterfeit.

It seems an Arab obtained counterfeit papers from another country (Israel?) and then was applying for RD status
in an effort to hop scotch his way into the way USA undetected

Migracion caught the scheme and pulled him in...

It's a new world ......

Probably flagged with a nudge from Israel - but I doubt he got false documents from Israel - they are pretty thorough in background info
 

william webster

Rest In Peace WW
Jan 16, 2009
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may not have been Israel....

anyway -
back on this ;definitiva'

I asked my lawyer this week about the 10 yr or a passport.

There is little difference - both have 10 yr terms

Yes, Passports vote
no autopsy on death for passports

Anything else we can think of for a 'pros & cons' list?
 

windeguy

Platinum
Jul 10, 2004
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may not have been Israel....

anyway -
back on this ;definitiva'

I asked my lawyer this week about the 10 yr or a passport.

There is little difference - both have 10 yr terms

Yes, Passports vote
no autopsy on death for passports

Anything else we can think of for a 'pros & cons' list?

If you become a citizen, you are not forced to get a DR passport. That option is available if for some reason it makes sense to you. I cannot come up with a reason in my case at this time why I would pay extra for a DR passport.

People will state that your other country of citizenship's embassy will not help you in case of a problem. That is already the case since there is little they can do about any laws you break while in the DR.

Yes, you can vote in DR elections as a citizen. No passport needed, just your Cedula that does not state "No Vota".

No need to carry a residency card in your wallet.

As a citizen, you no longer have to renew anything to legally be in the DR and it would be much harder to revoke citizenship than it would be residency should you have a legal issue in the future.

SKY has posted that his being a citizen was to his advantage when he was forced to kill someone in self defense.

The biggest reason is not being faced with a scam like I face right now where the government creates a regulation that I must follow to cover their mistake when trying to renew residency after being here for 15 years.

I almost forgot. If I do something wrong, I can then claim with impunity that it is not my fault, I am Dominican.
 

william webster

Rest In Peace WW
Jan 16, 2009
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I agree
a Citizen will be better treated in the legal system.... at least , one hopes so.

I like being able to renew the cedula locally, with much less hassle
 

SKY

Gold
Apr 11, 2004
15,077
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I agree
a Citizen will be better treated in the legal system.... at least , one hopes so.

I like being able to renew the cedula locally, with much less hassle

When you are a citizen you renew your Cedula every 10 years for free. You can do it at any office in the DR, and only need to bring your old Cedula. Takes less than 10 minutes.
 

windeguy

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Jul 10, 2004
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Update after two more trips to Migracion in Santo Domingo

The place was full all day long. Many Chinese and Venezuelans getting residency.

For me, a process that started back before August when my request for a 10 year Residency Definitva was denited, and with quite a bit of misinformation from the Puerto Plata office, I decided to deal only with Migracion in Santo Domingo. I was there three weeks ago to deposit my Apostilled birth certificate and was told I needed a medical exam. So I got that done, went home and waited three weeks to return as instructed with the packet of documents already arranged by the Migracion employee. Went back this past Tuesday afternoon, found out there was a baseball game between Licey and Las Aguilas and saw that Tuesday night.

Went 8 AM to Migracion, was given incorrect information about what to do at the entrance. Then found a lawyer who went to an employee , we were routed to the same person who put my papers in order three weeks before. She took the papers and made me wait. This Migracion employee enjoys her situation of power. After a couple of hours I had to pay $5,000 RD for the submission of the papers for my special permanent residency regularization.

Then I was told to wait to make sure they were approved. After another couple of hours, afer she checked nothing, and just said I could go and check in 120 working days , 6 months, if my temporary card is ready. Of course there is no way to check by telephone, so in May of 2019 I will got to Santo Domingo to ask if my card is ready. She just like to make me wait.

At that point that I return in May of 2019, I will likely have to pay 15,000 RD for the one year temporary card and 600 RD for every month I did not have residency which will be 8 months. A total of $20,000 RD more for being lapsed for 8 or 9 months because of Migracion's corruption with immigration lawyers along with their incompetence. I would not have trusted a lawyer to do this correctly for me. Not any lawyer I have ever met here.

The woman who worked at Migracion was not a good person, but it is what it is when you work in a place like that. My situation is the result of a combination of corruption and incompetence covered up by a new "regulation" for "special regularization".

The lawyer told me that many people who got residency 10 to 15 years ago are victims of this problem. I was already aware of quite a few other people in the same situation. The lawyer seemed like a nice person and was helpful.

The total cost to me for my special "regularization" will be around $1,500 US is my above future payments are correct. I will have a temporary card for one year and then be able to get permanent residency after that one year. If I was not lied to yet again.

The game between Liceay and Las Aguilas was good. Licey won 8 to 1.
 

Linda Stapleton

Well-known member
Jun 3, 2003
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The place was full all day long. Many Chinese and Venezuelans getting residency.

For me, a process that started back before August when my request for a 10 year Residency Definitva was denited, and with quite a bit of misinformation from the Puerto Plata office, I decided to deal only with Migracion in Santo Domingo. I was there three weeks ago to deposit my Apostilled birth certificate and was told I needed a medical exam. So I got that done, went home and waited three weeks to return as instructed with the packet of documents already arranged by the Migracion employee. Went back this past Tuesday afternoon, found out there was a baseball game between Licey and Las Aguilas and saw that Tuesday night.

Went 8 AM to Migracion, was given incorrect information about what to do at the entrance. Then found a lawyer who went to an employee , we were routed to the same person who put my papers in order three weeks before. She took the papers and made me wait. This Migracion employee enjoys her situation of power. After a couple of hours I had to pay $5,000 RD for the submission of the papers for my special permanent residency regularization.

Then I was told to wait to make sure they were approved. After another couple of hours, afer she checked nothing, and just said I could go and check in 120 working days , 6 months, if my temporary card is ready. Of course there is no way to check by telephone, so in May of 2019 I will got to Santo Domingo to ask if my card is ready. She just like to make me wait.

At that point that I return in May of 2019, I will likely have to pay 15,000 RD for the one year temporary card and 600 RD for every month I did not have residency which will be 8 months. A total of $20,000 RD more for being lapsed for 8 or 9 months because of Migracion's corruption with immigration lawyers along with their incompetence. I would not have trusted a lawyer to do this correctly for me. Not any lawyer I have ever met here.

The woman who worked at Migracion was not a good person, but it is what it is when you work in a place like that. My situation is the result of a combination of corruption and incompetence covered up by a new "regulation" for "special regularization".

The lawyer told me that many people who got residency 10 to 15 years ago are victims of this problem. I was already aware of quite a few other people in the same situation. The lawyer seemed like a nice person and was helpful.

The total cost to me for my special "regularization" will be around $1,500 US is my above future payments are correct. I will have a temporary card for one year and then be able to get permanent residency after that one year. If I was not lied to yet again.

The game between Liceay and Las Aguilas was good. Licey won 8 to 1.

I'm glad you enjoyed the game at least. I admire your tenacity in this, I'm sure you've had your moments of wanting to throw in the towel but if we want to stay here, we have to suck it up, as a friend of mine says. I hope you finally get it all sorted out. My trials have been nothing compared to yours and the frustration has still surfaced....
 

windeguy

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Jul 10, 2004
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Linda Stapleton, If I were a single guy renting in the DR, I would have left the country.

I will not know any more until May of 2019 regarding my situation.
 

william webster

Rest In Peace WW
Jan 16, 2009
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Rightly or wrongly...
I use a lawyer.... saves me from throttling somebody.

I couldn't put up with your frustration Windy

Handle it - send me the bill....por favor
 

william webster

Rest In Peace WW
Jan 16, 2009
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Wrong lawyer


Reminds me of a golf story
The most famous caddy at Pine Valley is/was -Rocky.
They flew him privately all over the country to their golf games...
his children went to college ...
Big shot caddy - big pay

One day , Rocky was assigned to an important Japanese guest/golfer

Who asked about the yardage & club... on a specific hole
Rocky confidently says - 6 iron....

Jap hits the club but it doesn't do well and he starts to berate Senor Rocky famoso..

Wong crub you idiot.... and so on..

Unflustered, Rocky continues on his way...
and says...
Right club - wrong Jap...

The club suspended him for that -- but it's pretty funny

Same for you Windy.... wrong lawyer....

haha
 

windeguy

Platinum
Jul 10, 2004
44,915
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There is no right lawyer. Not for me. Screw them. All of them. For a couple of days of work, they would charge a few thousand dollars to do what I am doing and I would still have to gather my own paperwork like a birth certificate with an apostille and a police report. They would just be cutting the line when in Santo Domingo to submit the documents. And then I would still not know if everything was good or faked another time.

Not thanks. Screw 'em...
 
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Cdn_Gringo

Gold
Apr 29, 2014
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It was a lawyer that caused my problem in the first place. Never again.

I fear that this may just set you up for even more of the same. Unless you can and are prepared to make them squirm they will delay until the cows come home and charge your for the privilege of waiting. There is no excuse why your application needs to sit in limbo for six+ months. There is no excuse for having to pay late fee penalties while they process something they mucked up in the first place.

Me, I'd get a lawyer and sue them for a refund of all fees paid and all of my expenses resulting from their mistakes. I'd ensure they squirm by informing the media as well - but that's me. The first time I'm a victim is a learning experience. The second time is my fault for letting the affront stand and not doing anything to prevent it from happening again to me or someone else.

You should not be paying any fees over and above those for your residencia definitiva and your process apart from getting new supporting documents should be processed in the same time frame as anyone else's application if not fast tracked because of the mistakes immigration has made. DGM after all has admitted the problem is theirs and fixing that problem should not be a penalty to you.
 

windeguy

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Jul 10, 2004
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Then entire point about what I and many others are going through appears to be about getting more money from us.

I doubt very much that a lawyer could do anything about it, but I have only talked to four lawyers so far. Maybe I missed one that could? :alien:
 

Cdn_Gringo

Gold
Apr 29, 2014
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I think my point is that the offices of DGM is the wrong forum to address this usury. I would agree that politely asking the thieves to return what they stole and change their ways may be rather pointless.

However, shine a very public spotlight on their activities, incompetence, corruption and blatant disregard for fairness and rats will not be able to withstand the light. It seems that many are not willing to make waves even when they are clearly being taken advantage of. Everyone gets to make up their own mind but graft will not subside and "customers" will not be treated with respect, courtesy and fairness until this practice of mandatory acquiescence ends.

The Govt and DGM in particular cannot withstand judicial scrutiny in this matter and would be stupid to attempt to defend the indefensible. You'd get your definitiva, and your money back and the next person who is told that their data was lost years ago may be told with a slight but pleasant smile and offered a less arduous remediation process sin pesos.

You don't deserve the hassles you have had to endure, you should not have to pay or start the renewal process over again. You have followed the rules and paid your dues. A mistake at DGM has denied you what you are legally entitled to. If you are prepared to accept that, well, that is your choice. I personally believe that someone needs to stand up to these thieves and hold them accountable. If not you, then hopefully someone else. You certainly don't deserve to be made to wait until May 2019, this is their fault! If you have jumped through all the hoops, then you should have your card in a week at most. Govts are supposed to serve people, not themselves...
 

Cdn_Gringo

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Apr 29, 2014
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This might be the type of story that lady investigative journalist would be interested in. The reporter that blew the whistle on that minister who had umpteen companies that were not declared in his statement of holdings.
 

windeguy

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Jul 10, 2004
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When I was initially told what I would have to do to "regularize" my permanent residency, I was told it would not be ready quickly. I have no idea why it takes 120 working days, but I have no way to decrease that period of time, to get money back, etc., fight the system with some type of class action lawsuit or by notifying some reporter.

They created a document, a regulation if you will, that applies to this process which I have followed. I don't personally know anyone that has had the same thing happen to them so we can compare notes. Just various lawyers telling me they are aware of the problem. The latest one who was kind enough to help me at Migracion in Santo Domingo told me to calm down or it would just make things worse.

Any lawyer that I would have contracted to do this work would have cost double to triple what I am spending without any way of guaranteeing it would have been any faster.


At this point, I expect my only option is to what until May of 2019.
 

USA DOC

Bronze
Feb 20, 2016
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There is no right lawyer. Not for me. Screw them. All of them. For a couple of days of work, they would charge a few thousand dollars to do what I am doing and I would still have to gather my own paperwork like a birth certificate with an apostille and a police report. They would just be cutting the line when in Santo Domingo to submit the documents. And then I would still not know if everything was good or faked another time.

Not thanks. Screw 'em...

....sounds like you could be working with the USA embassy in Santo Domingo....Hope you dont always get the 8.30 am appointments, like I do........
 

windeguy

Platinum
Jul 10, 2004
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....sounds like you could be working with the USA embassy in Santo Domingo....Hope you dont always get the 8.30 am appointments, like I do........

Thankfully, I have not had to deal with the US Embassy in the DR in a long time. Not since I got residency and then a 10 year visitor's visa for my wife and a residency visa for my step daughter going back more than 5 years ago for the last time. Next time dealing with them will be to renew my wife's 10 year visitor's visa.

DGM Dominicana has at least one more visit for me in Santo Domingo, sometime in May of 2019, so I have been told. No appointments, you just show up early and in general wait all day. It's like looking forward to that next hemorrhoid.
 

Cdn_Gringo

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Apr 29, 2014
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We should all make a day of it. Rent a bus, go to SD with you, while you do DGM, the rest of us could tour the larger hardware stores, grocery stores, specialty shops, do lunch at a genuine NA fast food place etc. We could then pick you up and party the whole way home while you show off your new treasure...

I need to make a trip to SD in May also, so it could work out.