The measure that suspends the issuing of visas to Haitian university students in the Dominican Republic will not affect students already in the country. The visas of these students will not be suspended, as had been wrongly interpreted. Only students requesting new visas are affected, according to the Ministry of Foreign Relations.
Mariasela Alvarez explained on Esta Noche con Mariasela that the local authorities had been carrying out most of the steps for the procedure here in the Dominican Republic after Haiti had asked for help given the little capacity for the procedures in that country due to the present government crisis. This extra assistance is what has been suspended.
The measure was announced after Haitian Foreign Minister Claude Joseph responded to President Abinader’s tweet. Abinader had called for the international community, particularly the US, Canada, France and the European Union, to act with Haiti and urgently. He had announced the DR will continue the announced plan with stricter migratory measures.
To which the Haitian foreign affairs head replied, “The Dominican Republic is experiencing an increase in crime as noted by the U.S. State Department in its travel alerts.”
Listin Diario explains that Haitian students regularly come to the Dominican Republic with tourist visas, then enroll in the university and, with that document, were authorized to go to the Ministry of Foreign Relations (Mirex) and apply for a student visa. Afterwards, they go to Migration Agency (DGM) where they are issued a student card. These procedures cost between RD$10,000 and RD$12,000. Once the students graduate, many have received residence permits to work in the Dominican Republic and have stayed.
Listin Diario reports that according to statistics from the Ministry of Superior Education, as of 2019, 9,208 foreigners are studying in the Dominican Republic. Of these, 6,023 are Haitians. The second largest group is from the United States, with 1,558 students; 548 Venezuelans; 402 Puerto Ricans; 201 Colombians; 158 Cubans; 142 Spaniards; 62 Italians; 50 Peruvians; 64 Italians and 52 Mexicans.
Read more in Spanish:
Noticias SIN
Listin Diario
Esta Noche con Mariasela
Diario Libre
3 November 2021