El Siglo newspaper reports that the income of the Dominican Consulate in Haiti has increased from US$46,000 a year at the start of the Fernández administration to US$500,000. The Dominican consulate in Haiti grants about 1,000 visas a month to Haitians. Last year, some 9,600 visas were issued. The visas are primarily granted to businessmen, Dominican product buyers, tourists, and those visiting on religious, cultural, university, professional, artistic or official business. A cost of a visa ranges from US$40-RD$110. The Dominican Consulate also operates as an Oficialía del Estado Civil, where Dominicans living in Haiti can declare their children, and obtain marriage certificates. The Dominican Consul in Haiti, Carlos Castillo estimates that some 7,000 Dominicans live in Haiti.
