Dominican consul in Juana Mendez, Andres Bocio Fortuna told Listin Diario that requests for visas have declined considerably in recent months. He speculates that the Haitian nationals are using other ways to enter the DR. He said that in the first government of Fernandez (1996-2000), Haitians would make long lines to apply for the visas. Now, he says, only 60 persons a day on the average request the permission. “What is happening is that the situation in Haiti has reached overflowing levels and the Haitians are not requesting visas because apparently they have found other ways to cross over,” he said.