Residency - updates and changes 2024

Thanks for this update!

@AttyLishali2

The visa options seem to not include us, yet we are investing heavily in the DR.  We are moving to DR 8 months prior to our home construction is completed.  It appears we will have to start our residency process after we finalize the construction/transfer of our home.

We are building our home (lot is purchased and we are 4 months into construction so we have invested well over $200K into the DR).  Since still under construction the home is not transferred into our name, thus we do not qualify for the investment visa.  We do not own rental property in the DR or abroad.  We are working remotely and do not plan to retire for a few more years, thus we do not qualify under the pensioners visa.  We earn a healthy income and do have bank accounts established in the DR. 

We have been advised to open a company in the DR and put the home under the new company.  However, we do not want to get into filing company taxes etc in the DR.  We truly wanted to be law abiding from the start and not go through the overstay issue (even though not costly).  Any other suggeestions?

Thank you

Investing in your personal residence does not qualify you for the "investors visa" regardless.   Investors visa requires an investment that creates jobs.  As far as I know that has not changed as of now.

We renewed our residency this morning and the process was much more efficient than in years past! Our appointment at Migración was at 9:00. We were walking out the door with our new Residencia cards just before 10:00. We then drove across town to the new cédula office location. We had renewed cédulas in hand before 11:00!

@ddmcghee

Excellent good news!

How many years are the now issuing the Cédula.

Why I ask they issued my residency 1 year and my Cédula 2 years till expiration

@CHRISTOPHER DAVID56

My cedula is only a year - did they make a mistake on yours?

With Pensionada Residency, you get one year to start, then each renewal gives you two more years. This was our third two-year renewal. Not sure when it gets longer than two years.

@DRVisitor

Not sure but its 2 years

@ddmcghee

Understand,  they gave my Cédula 2 years thou. Not sure why

Hi! I started the residency process with the DR consulate in Florida last year. I entered the DR in July with my visa. Went to DGM the next day in person and they told me to upload all docs onto their portal. Ok, did it. Since June, every time I log into their portal, they keep rejecting or telling me to re-upload certain documents. Finally called today and they said that my FBI background check was issued in 2024 and I need to get a new one because its 2025. Same for other docs. Is this for real? I will have to go back to Florida to re-do and re-pay for an FBI background check and then wait to get it apostilled again?

I am married to a Dominican and we live in DR.

Yes unfortunately that is what you will have to do.

This is the reason I hired Lishali Baez to help me with the process.

@gmmf

I am so looking forward to the same stuff, NOT!

I'm sorry to report outdated FBI investigations are probably the #1 reason for application turnbacks. 

>> This forum probably has many hundreds of posts about such rejected applications rejected for outdated investigation letters.

>> Docs with outdated apostilles are a close 2nd. 

Sorry you got caught in that trap.  How to fix it is up to you.  Unfortunately, there's no magic loophole to grease the skids to allow your application to slide through the process once your application was rejected.

Best wishes

Jim

ExpatRusher

p.s.: NOW, for the benefit of future readers:

>> If you're using a lawyer, they should keep you informed about "expiration dates" for your key docs.   However, it is still up to YOU to lead-turn the processes to obtain updated replacement docs and Apostilles.

>> A lawyer with a good relationship with the Ministry MAY be able to work with Ministry Staff to insert your new, updated docs into the package.  That is important because you keep your place in the queue. 

If NOT using a lawyer, YOU muat pay close attention to the dates of the docs included in your application.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, "age standards" for docs being no longer acceptable are subject to change -- due to inevitable personnel turnovers at the Ministry. 

My personal advice:  have quarterly  zoom/whatever meetings with your lawyer on residency progress, if they're willing.  Use emails or texts otherwise. 

Age of docs  should be a topic with your lawyer at least quarterly. 

IF NOT USING A LAWYER:  You must take full responsibility for your doc's ages -- and order replacements in advance, allowing margin for delays and problems.

>> That includes lead time for apostilles, which are in our experience the longest pole in the tent.

YOU will have to decide the Cost vs. Value tradeoffs of keeping docs current

>> That is, the Ministry may get to your application before your docs expire... meaning you might have spent money ordering new docs, investigations or apostilles you end up not needing. 

>> If so, SORRY, that is just a cost of doing business.

>> Do you want to ensure you stay ahead of doc dates, or not?

Extraordinary lawyers "may" have enough insight at the Ministry to judge whether your package will be processed before your docs expire.  However, there are other times when the staffs simply aren't talking to the lawyers.  IMHO, that is a losing gamble.

I think it far wiser to lead-turn expiring docs rather than not. 

>> We learned the hard way also -- during COVID, some of our residency app docs expired without us realizing it, which cost many extra months due to COVID-driven closures.

Your mileage may vary.  Choose the piper you wish to pay -- money or lost time.

@gmmf

It's very unfortunate but your US FBI can be no older than 6 months. (Was this case last year)

Most other documents required have time limits ranging from 6 to 12 months before they expire.

Additionally,  you may need to reapply for your VISA in the USA as its only good onetime entry into the DR and may also have an expiration date.

Not a lawyer; but would seek assistance from a reputable DR Immigration lawyer as Immigration policies here can change daily and not always consistent.

Good luck

1). You can request your FBI report at most US Post offices and will receive it within 24 hours via email.

@ExpatRusher

Correct me if I’m wrong but I would think the only document that you would have to renew or update would be the FBI background report. As the other documents needed to be Apostilled such as marriage, birth, pension letters do not change or expire. I do not think that Apostilles in itself expire only the information being Apostilled. Being that I have just submitted my residency application last week in Orlando I have already ordered a new FBI report as the one I submitted will be one year old in February. Just trying to stay ahead and hopefully dodge any curveballs. Now I know a prudent person would just go with a well known law firm to help navigate the DGM process. So on that note I have decided to enlist the help of a relatively unknown firm of Me, Myself and Wife to take the lead on this. Will I regret going this on my own, quite possible but I already have plenty of gray hair and stress so what’s a little more. Cannot be much worse than dealing with Edenorte.

@gmmf

and this is why we recommend using a well qualified lawyer.

@DRforme

Keep us posted.  Why not start a thread and walk the process through!   Post the good the bad and the other.......

Reading through frustrations about the process. We have also heard of expiring documents and it’s really frustrating. However, I agree with previous posters that a lawyer that’s competent in keeping on top of where you are in the process is crucial to not pulling your hair out. You will see Lishali Baez name mentioned throughout. IMO she was worth every dollar we spent for her services. She’s friendly, speaks English and Spanish and got it done for us efficiently.  When we started we were influenced by the reputation that the DR was one of the easiest countries to immigrate to. We don’t have a point of comparison but I do think that’s not accurate. In the end it’s a great place to live if you can withstand the process.

If you have not left the Dominican Republic since your last entry into country and submitted FBI background before it expired,  you might be able to do a Dominican Republic "buena conducta " submitting " Movimientos Migratorio" migration movements showing you have not left the country and any infractions on your record would have been committed in the Dominican Republic. I had to do that.

Thank you all! We are missionaries and are choosing not to spend $$$$ on a lawyer. We have all the docs and speak spanish so are trying it ourselves with lots of prayer. @AlfonsoAyala - a friend yesterday also said that she just went to the Procuduria and got a carta de buena conducta and they accepted that. I have not left DR since my entry in July with my visa so we will try the carta de buena conducta route before flying back to the States.

@gmmf

You can do it online with your passport number.  Be aware, you need to create an account, click on the Good Conduct report, add you credit or debit card on a different screen, confirm the code they send to your bank account, pay for the report, and then copy the CAS number generated and return to the first screen and input the number there to get the report generated.  For renewals, it's easier as your card info is already stored.

It's a bit of a hassle, but so much easier and quicker than going to BanReservas in person for the payment.  You still need to input your CAS number online to generate the report.

https://portal.servicios.pgr.gob.do/Login

@Alfonso Ayala

I believe that only works on renewals.  Best to check with Immigration or a lawyer

@planner

That was on my initial visa, I had various set backs as changes had been made and I had done various trips back to USA and FBI had expired but at that point I had not left the Dominican republic for over 8 months and we had to submit all my entries and exits from Dominican Republic  and with that and new buena conducta from Dominican  Republic was ok, but as we always say depends on who checks your paperwork on any given day.

@UncleBuck

Here's what that site also notes;

Foreign citizens who do NOT have an identity card or electoral card must request the Certificate of Good Conduct in person at any of our Citizen Service Centers (CAC).

• If there is an error in the data presented by the system about the applicant, they should immediately contact the nearest Citizen Service Center or write to us through our online support.

• If you have a criminal record that you are not aware of, visit the Citizen Services section, File Withdrawal, and check the corresponding requirements.

• If you are requesting a Certificate of Good Conduct for apostille purposes, you must request it in person at any of our Citizen Service Centers (CAC).

To Planner point; immigration lawyer can filter thru all that

@UncleBuck

Thank you!

@CHRISTOPHER DAVID56

Yes thank you! We tried online and didn't work since I dont have a cedula, and went in person to our CAC here, paid in BanReservas and now we go back in 5 days to pick it up. Online probably works great for renewals.

@CHRISTOPHER DAVID56

Silly question for you…just go into a post office and ask them for a FBI

background check for yourself  ?

@Tippj

I was referring to the USA FBI background checks. If you are in the USA, and a US citzen, then yes, the main branches of USPS have a method to submit your figure prints electronically , and  8 to 24 hours you are presented with your FBI report via secure email.

Cost 50 to 69 dollars.