It will cost US$25 million to the Dominican government, but could generate US$60 million in revenues for the government of Haiti. Central Electoral Board (JCE) president Roberto Rosario has denounced the Haitian authorities for turning the Dominican Republic’s Foreigner Legalization Plan into a business. He says that their main interest should be for their citizens who are resident in the DR to be able to legalize their status.
The United Nations UNFPA survey says there are 458,233 Haitians living in the DR, most without legal status that could potentially apply for the process.
The Haitian government continues to levy the high charges for supplying the identity documents that are one of the main reasons most Haitians that immigrated to the Dominican Republic do not have identity documents.
“In contrast with the generous position of the Dominican authorities, it appears that those who should be the most interested in their citizens regularizing their status have turned the legalization process into a business,” said Rosario.
He complained that when Haitians go to the consulates they are charged large sums for the documents they need in order to legalize their status in the Dominican Republic. He said the process would not be successful if Haiti does not help its citizens obtain their documents. Applicants for regularization need to have at least one official identity document to prevent duplication of identities or fake identities that are different than those in their country of origin. The government of Haiti charges US$50 for a birth certificate and US$80 for a passport.
www.elcaribe.com.do/2014/06/12/rosario-acusa-haiti-negociar-con-plan-regularizacion