I did my renewal early Feb. Well, to be honest, I didn't do it, the lawyer did. My process is a little different than those with Temporary Residency. I am able to have the lawyer do everything with minimal involvement from me. Via email, I submit copies of my cards, passport and few bank statements to the lawyer and that's it.
Lawyer got the deportation insurance, did all the logistical paperwork and told me what day to come and get the new cards. No medical is required for my residency class and I do not have to give up my actual cards until I go to trade them for new ones.
I was surprised to hear from a recent poster that they had to turn in their residency card while the process of renewal continued. This appears to be a flaw, in that if you are not in possession of a residency card and have to leave the country suddenly due to an illness or some such thing, you'll be compelled to pay the exit charges with no practical way of getting those refunded later. In my case, that would amount to significant chunk of change that I'm not obligated to pay but without my card, wouldn't have a leg to stand on.
Clearly residency is still a hodgepodge of programs and varying requirements that change regularly. I'm glad I had the foresight to consult a lawyer before applying and specifically requesting a classification that requires the fewest external documents, requirements and personal involvement in the ongoing process of maintaining residency.
If I lived near SD I would probably attempt renewal on my own once just for the experience but since I live a long way away, it's just not practical and I have no interest in doing this myself. I have learned, with a lawyer, if I am asked to do something odd or inconvenient either due to incompetence at DGM or a changing requirement, I just have to tell the lawyer NO and that inconvenience seems to go away. The poster who had to give up their residency card, next time should say NO and offer a photocopy only until it's time to get the new card. I suspect, that card should not have been retained in the first place. Never heard of anyone else having to do that before.
For me, the process is straightforward and fairly painless because I choose not to play the renewal game. I offer money to get someone else to do the work and deal with the stupid bureaucracy. Thus far on renewal day, I just have to give up 12 hours of my time to go pick up those stupid cards which as far as I am concerned should be available from the Puerto Plata office for me to collect. Would save me about 9 hours. Maybe in my next life.
. Thanks.