In a process in which more than 16,000 foreigners have been interviewed so far, the Foreigner Legalization Plan began in Santo Domingo province yesterday, Monday 9 June, albeit with some technical difficulties that prevented offices from opening in all three of the municipalities n Santo Domingo North and West, and Los Alcarrizos. Provincial Governor Juan Frias and Jenny de la Rocha, head of international affairs for the Ministry of Interior and Police, said they would open later this week in the remaining municipaliteis.
De La Rocha said that the process was slow due to the lack of capacity of the IT system, combined with the time it took to fill in application forms and obtain biometric data.
Applicants who were unable to register were put into groups of 40 and given a day to return later in the week.
Meanwhile, Interior and Police Minister Jose Ramon Fadul said that between Monday 2 and Friday 6 June, some 16,000 foreigners had been interviewed as part of the plan. He called for the Haitian government to help people get their documentation and reminded that anyone who did not register would be sent home.
A headline in El Dia today, Tuesday 10 June, makes the point that the government of Haiti is not cooperating with the plan. As reported, the Haitian consulate is asking Haitians to pay per birth certificate (US$50 first time) and passport (US$70 first time and US$80 renewal) needed for the process. In the Dominican Republic birth certificates are free.
Haitians also need to wait three months for the documents to be issued. Haitians are calling on the government of Haiti reduce the costs and waiting time so they can make the most of the free legal status regularization process offered by the Domincian government. This can mean savings of around US$1,000.
Furthermore, Haitians interviewed at the Haitian consulate said that they were experiencing major difficulties in getting information at the consulate, leading them to resort to “paid experts” to speed up the process.
In contrast, the Dominican authorities are providing all legalization services for free.
Deputy Minister of Interior and Police Washington Gonzalez warned that anyone who takes money to help with the process would be penalized. He said that they were aiming for centers to open in 98% of cities nationwide by next week.
In Santiago, they now have an appointment system due to the large numbers of applicants, and staff numbers have also been increased.
The plan supervisor in Santiago, Amaury Duran said that they have had 400 people per day queuing for the process. Of this total 98% are Haitians and the rest Colombians, Hondurans, Argentineans, Brazilians, and others.
www.diariolibre.com/destacada/2014/06/10/i649111_mil-van-regularizarse-oficinas-municipios-abrieron.html