Need Recommendation for Bilingual Immigration Attorney, Intersecting with Real Estate and Business

[Lucas61]

Hello All,

I have a friend of means who is living in the D.R. and wants this to be his permanent home. He has already started businesses, bought property, and vehicles. Although he wants a recommendation for an immigration attorney to evaluate his status here, there are also ramifications for real estate and business.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[MariaRubia]

Guzman Ariza are very strong in real estate and are completely bilingual. They also do a lot of expat immigration. I'd say they are an obvious choice. A little frustrating to communicate with (emails get answered usually the day after you send them, so nothing moves particularly quickly in my experience) but they are very straight and have a very solid reputation.

If you want other recommendations, there are a lot of very good firms operating in Santo Domingo, including affiliates of US law firms. Expect to pay about US$ 250 per hour, I think the going rate is about US$ 2 - 3k for a residency application. Just don't use some cheap-jack street lawyer, that will never end well.

 

[Glenn Burke]

He has already started businesses, bought property, and vehicles.

Any suggestions?

He has already started businesses, bought property, and vehicles. Is he able to read? If yes, the list of documents required to get residencia is on the Migracion website. He can read and see what he qualifies for. The list of documents required for naturalization is on MIP website. Your friend doesn't need a lawyer at all to go thru any of that, he can do all paperwork himself and all he needs is a public notary. There's nothing difficult at all.

 

[Lucas61]

He has already started businesses, bought property, and vehicles. Is he able to read? If yes, the list of documents required to get residencia is on the Migracion website. He can read and see what he qualifies for. The list of documents required for naturalization is on MIP website. Your friend doesn't need a lawyer at all to go thru any of that, he can do all paperwork himself and all he needs is a public notary. There's nothing difficult at all.

"Is he able to read?" Needless to say, your remark is a little flippant and uncalled for. He has a Ph.D. from a major U.S. university. Sure, legislative documents related to immigration are available on-line but to parse them correctly, particularly when they intersect with property and business, a legitimate attorney may be helpful. Millions of dollars here and you say, "There's nothing difficult at all."

 

[MariaRubia]

He has already started businesses, bought property, and vehicles. Is he able to read? If yes, the list of documents required to get residencia is on the Migracion website. He can read and see what he qualifies for. The list of documents required for naturalization is on MIP website. Your friend doesn't need a lawyer at all to go thru any of that, he can do all paperwork himself and all he needs is a public notary. There's nothing difficult at all.

Have you actually tried doing anything involving Migracion recently? Have you seen the lines outside the building in Santo Domingo? Have you noticed how many directors of Migracion have been dismissed in the last few months as it is a complete disaster. Pay a lawyer, they will take away a lot of pain, trust me.

 

[MariaRubia]

"Is he able to read?" Needless to say, your remark is a little flippant and uncalled for. He has a Ph.D. from a major U.S. university. Sure, legislative documents related to immigration are available on-line but to parse them correctly, particularly when they intersect with property and business, a legitimate attorney may be helpful. Millions of dollars here and you say, "There's nothing difficult at all."

Agreed. A decent lawyer will also help you structure things well for tax, which is going to be increasingly important in the future here.

I actually qualified for a US green card many years ago, I was about to move there and then I had a meeting with a tax accountant who explained how much tax it would make me liable for, and I was out of there. If you structure things right the DR can be very beneficial for tax, but someone has to take a good look at your income and assets.

 

[JD Jones]

Agreed. A decent lawyer will also help you structure things well for tax, which is going to be increasingly important in the future here.

I actually qualified for a US green card many years ago, I was about to move there and then I had a meeting with a tax accountant who explained how much tax it would make me liable for, and I was out of there. If you structure things right the DR can be very beneficial for tax, but someone has to take a good look at your income and assets.

I used to use a woman who worked in Migration for many, many years until she moved to the states.

Every time I had to renew, we'd meet there, and she'd have me sit and wait while she went into the offices. After a half an hour or so, she'd call me in for my photo, and a few minutes later I'd walk out with my card.

Absolutely effortless; worth her weight in gold. Added bonus? She could have won a Miss RD competition.

 

[Glenn Burke]

Have you actually tried doing anything involving Migracion recently? Have you seen the lines outside the building in Santo Domingo? Have you noticed how many directors of Migracion have been dismissed in the last few months as it is a complete disaster. Pay a lawyer, they will take away a lot of pain, trust me.

I am a naturalized citizen, my wife is a naturalized citizen, never used any lawyer for that.

The lines are always there and have always been, both for Migracion and Direccion General de Pasaportes, so what?

By the way, the process is totally transparent now, it's not like many years ago when lawyers could help you by bribing someone. Now they are doing everything by the book, so a lawyer will just submit the same documents that you can submit by yourself, waiting in the same lines, and the list of documents are on their website. And you have to wait in those lines together with your lawyer anyway, so what's the point of hiring a lawyer?

The only place where you REALLY need a lawyer in DR is a court. All other things can be done without any lawyers.

 

[MariaRubia]

I am a naturalized citizen, my wife is a naturalized citizen, never used any lawyer for that.

The lines are always there and have always been, both for Migracion and Direccion General de Pasaportes, so what?

By the way, the process is totally transparent now, it's not like many years ago when lawyers could help you by bribing someone. Now they are doing everything by the book, so a lawyer will just submit the same documents that you can submit by yourself, waiting in the same lines, and the list of documents are on their website. And you have to wait in those lines together with your lawyer anyway, so what's the point of hiring a lawyer?

The only place where you REALLY need a lawyer in DR is a court. All other things can be done without any lawyers.

Well I'm happy to accept that you think differently, but I think applying for residency or citizenship is one area where it isn't sensible to try to save money.

Clearly the OP agrees with me, as he is asking for lawyer recommendations, not asking whether others think he should be using a lawyer.

 

[JD Jones]

Well I'm happy to accept that you think differently, but I think applying for residency or citizenship is one area where it isn't sensible to try to save money.

Clearly the OP agrees with me, as he is asking for lawyer recommendations, not asking whether others think he should be using a lawyer.

Money is time, time is money.

 

[Glenn Burke]

Money is time, time is money.

Yeah but it will be the same time with or without a lawyer now. Time for preparing and printing the paperwork needed? Not that much time. And if OP's friend has a Ph.D. from a major U.S. University, he probably has more brains than any Dominican lawyer, so why would he need one to evaluate his own assets, business, etc? All he needs for Immigration is on their site, just read it.

 

[MariaRubia]

Yeah but it will be the same time with or without a lawyer now. Time for preparing and printing the paperwork needed? Not that much time. And if OP's friend has a Ph.D. from a major U.S. University, he probably has more brains than any Dominican lawyer, so why would he need one to evaluate his own assets, business, etc? All he needs for Immigration is on their site, just read it.

Darling, someone has come onto a forum and asked for a lawyer recommendation. You don't think he needs one, you've made that point. Move on please.

 

[SKY]

One thing about dealing with Immigration without a lawyer on your own is you will spend a good portion of your life waiting on line, waiting to get on a line, and MORE waiting. A good Immigration lawyer cuts to the chase. Makes life a lot easier and well worth it. "Do it yourself" takes a few years off your lifespan..........But "To each his own"....................

 

[Glenn Burke]

One thing about dealing with Immigration without a lawyer on your own is you will spend a good portion of your life waiting on line, waiting to get on a line, and MORE waiting. A good Immigration lawyer cuts to the chase. Makes life a lot easier and well worth it. "Do it yourself" takes a few years off your lifespan..........But "To each his own"....................

Not true, it took a few months for my wife to get her residence (starting with residence visa in her home country), then a few weeks to renew it next year, and in a little more than one year after that she got her citizenship. All of that included a very few visits to Migracion, MIP or other offices. This was by marriage, but the amount of paperwork and waiting time for each step is not that different for other ways to get it. Other ways just have more steps/more years as a resident until you get the citizenship, but the process is clear and transparent and goes by the book now. What you said about 'cuts to the chase' was 20 years ago but it's not like that now.

 

[SKY]

Not true, it took a few months for my wife to get her residence (starting with residence visa in her home country), then a few weeks to renew it next year, and in a little more than one year after that she got her citizenship. All of that included a very few visits to Migracion, MIP or other offices. This was by marriage, but the amount of paperwork and waiting time for each step is not that different for other ways to get it. Other ways just have more steps/more years as a resident until you get the citizenship, but the process is clear and transparent and goes by the book now. What you said about 'cuts to the chase' was 20 years ago but it's not like that now.

Good for you. I was in the DR for 1 1/2 years and had Citizenship. I was in SD not more than 3 times and NEVER waited on any line. My lawyer had a guy that walked on water in Immigration. Not even a lawyer..........Well worth it....................And reasonable.......This was more than 20 years ago.......

 

[NanSanPedro]

Good for you. I was in the DR for 1 1/2 years and had Citizenship. I was in SD not more than 3 times and NEVER waited on any line. My lawyer had a guy that walked on water in Immigration. Not even a lawyer..........Well worth it....................And reasonable.......This was more than 20 years ago.......

A little off topic but Mike Logan has a similar guy to get cars registered. He can do it in one day. As an impatient American, I would pay him whatever he asked. Same with the lawyer or his assistant.

 

[keepcoming]

It is very frustrating when one does not understand that just because the "process" was easy for you, it does not mean that it will be easy for someone else. IMO using a lawyer takes away a lot of the headaches, leg work, etc...sometimes it is worth using someone (lawyer) who knows the ins and outs of the process. I got my citizenship years ago, when I believe the process was much simpler (was for me). If I had to do it again, I would 100% use a lawyer. I do not know if the process goes "by the book now". I have heard many people complain about the process, the documents needed, etc... Again, my experience may not be the same as yours.

 

[Glenn Burke]

Good for you. I was in the DR for 1 1/2 years and had Citizenship. I was in SD not more than 3 times and NEVER waited on any line. My lawyer had a guy that walked on water in Immigration. Not even a lawyer..........Well worth it....................And reasonable.......This was more than 20 years ago.......

I know what was there 20 years ago because I got my citizenship back then too, and it was lightning fast without a lawyer too. I spoke to some of those guys who walked on water in immigration back then, and decided why the hell I need any of them.

But things are totally different now. It really goes by the book now and all the info you need is on Migracion and MIP sites.

 

[Glenn Burke]

It is very frustrating when one does not understand that just because the "process" was easy for you, it does not mean that it will be easy for someone else.

Not sure about you, but should be easy for someone who 'has a Ph.D. from a major U.S. University' and 'already started businesses, bought property, and vehicles'. Really.

 

[bob saunders]

One thing about dealing with Immigration without a lawyer on your own is you will spend a good portion of your life waiting on line, waiting to get on a line, and MORE waiting. A good Immigration lawyer cuts to the chase. Makes life a lot easier and well worth it. "Do it yourself" takes a few years off your lifespan..........But "To each his own"....................

I used Guzman for my initial residency plus renewals and they were very good. I had a young lawyer that knew her stuff and spoke very good English. When I did my citizenship, I used a notary for what was required, got my own criminal record check and fingerprints, used a translator in Santo Domingo who was very good and prompt. My wife did the rest. Took time but only two trips to the capital and a bit of waiting. That was in 2016. Total cost was around 500 $US.