The chairman of the National Council on Immigration, Jose Ramon Fadul says that most of the people seeking status regularization may qualify as immigrants and not nationals. He said this is the case because most of the people who go to normalize their status are unable to prove their Dominican roots. He said that applicants may show a birth certificate, a cedula, or a passport, but many have not been able to prove their economic or employment links to the country.
Interviewed by El Caribe reporters at the Presidential Palace yesterday, Wednesday 10 September 2014, Fadul, who is also the Minister of Interior and Police reported that the National Foreigner Legalization Plan has received RD$800 million so far of the RD$1.2 billion budgeted for preparing the facilities, staff salaries and running costs of the plan that will be in effect through June 2015.
He said that 260 of a total of 59,600 applicants have already been approved.
The official said that by way of Law 1691-14 regarding naturalization, a total of 460 people had been assessed as of Tuesday, 9 September 2014 and that if they meet the conditions they will be sent directly to the Central Electoral Board (JCE) to be registered in the Book of Foreigners, a first step in the process.
The minister also reminded the reporters that the deadline for taking advantage of this fast-track naturalization law is 26 October 2014.