Timeline from Entering DR on Residency Visa to Interview and Medical?

@Mila V

It can range from 90 days to 7 months each case and application for the individual varies.

Recommend securing a imgration lawyer ( review threads for that recommendations.

Congrats and good luck!

@CHRISTOPHER DAVID56 I think the OP is asking about the time between submission of the online application and having your interview/medical appointment at Migración, not for approval of residency.

Your attorney should be able to tell you how long that typically takes. There is variance, but the last time I spoke to Lishali, she was getting appointments for her clients within a week of application.

Here is the most up to date information in regards to my case.

Took about 3 months in the US for approval.

Took about 7/8 months in the DR and a nightmare with every two weeks asking for a different document and of course needed a new FBI background in between. My fbi translation was held up because of the apositille signature on the translation (it was done in the US and wasnt issue in the US consulate) so strongly recommend having the translation done in in the DR which I did the second time - much easier and cheaper. Also had to resubmit my photos as the wanted directly from the photographer and not a photo jpg of it.  This was the online.

I finally was able to submit the physical paperwork in Punta Cana office last week and even then asked for a new document not previously asked for. Medical is done in area where you submit your migration paper work (you cannot submit in Punta Cana and do medical in Santo Domingo)

I was assigned Patricia Rivas Labs (10-12 locations in vicinity) for blood and urine test and Punta Cana Doctors for xrays.

Now the 90 day wait to see what happens next....

@ddmcghee

Yes understand, if they are doing without lawyer I heard now it's taking 30 to 60 days.

I guess either way it all depends on the individual application as we know almost nothing here is consistent.

I landed at SDQ with my visa on Nov26th. Lishali scanned my passport on Nov 27th. Lishali was able to get us an appointment on Dec 9th at 9:00AM. We met Maria ( Lashali’s assistant ) at immigration. 30 minutes at immigration, drove 10-15 minutes to the medical facility with Maria. We were there for about 30 minutes and done. Now the real waiting game has begun. Lishali warned me that this next stage has been averaging 3-4 months. I’m a little past 3 months now. Fingers crossed.

This is a great thread for updates on cases!!!

@huddleston1

What was your timeline prior to getting the appointment?

@DRVisitor

They indicated in the post.

Are your referring to the part before arriving with their residency visa?

@planner

The online aspect to approval/appointment for medical.

After getting all the documentation that Lishali instructed me to get ( I cannot give you a timeline on that because I gathered them without any urgency ), Lishali reviewed them and told me I was ready to proceed. I went to the Dominican consulate in NYC. They reviewed my application, accepted it and told me to return in 2 weeks for my visa. 2 weeks later they told me they didn’t have a receipt proving I had payed for the visa. By the way, the NYC consulate only accepts cash. I had a copy of the receipt , they submitted it and told me to return in one week. One week later I had my visa.

I'm just curious whether any of the consulates in the US have a reputation as being more, or less, efficient and applicant-friendly than others?

I'll have a choice between going in person to LA (Glendale) (the nearest one to me) or sending/receiving via mail or Fedex to Houston. (Apparently each consulate has its own rules on how they'll accept the application.) I'm very inclined to go in person rather than trusting the mail/couriers ... but if one of these consulates has an especially good or bad reputation, I'd rather know about it. If I've learned one thing from this process, it's not to assume anything!

Gossip, rumors, hard facts, and personal experiences welcome.

@DRVisitor

As stated in his post Nov 26 to Dec 9.  Submittal to medical appointment

@huddleston1

Quick question... once your visa is approved in the states, did u have to get down to DR within 2 weeks of that approval and request an appt date?  I'm just trying to plan ahead, any info would be appreciated.

@wondering9

I would go in person in case additional documents are needed

@planner

That is fast because I had to get a DR background check as well which took about 10 days as one of the additional documents

@Cmill0703

If I remember correctly it is 2 months

@DRVisitor

Ok thank you

@Cmill0703

Technically the residencia visa is 60 days BUT if you take longer then 30 days there can be penalties.

@planner

Ok, so to play it safe, should get there within 2 weeks so it gives time to get the appt and and complete the appt before 30 days?

@Cmill0703

Unless people are doing it differently than I have - with or without lawyer - the documents are uploaded online and reviewed by migracion (timeline to be determined pending if they want more or approve the documents) and then once approved online you get appointment in person with review again and then medical location etc.

It took me 7 months so if you get a appointment in two weeks count your lucky stars!

@DRVisitor

The DR background check was probably because you have been living here?

@Cmill0703

As I understand it, once you arrive and  upload your documents you have fulfilled the first step which needs to be done within 30 days of the residency visa being issued. 

@ddmcghee

It could be but I am back and forth in the country and do not overstay. However my big issue was ask for the documents from the beginning and not continue to ask for new documents along the way and review one document at a time even though everything "required" was submitted in the beginning. Of course I had to pay late fee on the application since it was over the 60 days.

@DRVisitor

Thank you.

@wondering9

We went to the consulate at the embassy in Washington, DC. It was exactly 4 weeks from the day we submitted until the day we received our passports with visas by Priority Mail. This included having to submit one additional document (our third pension payment was on a bank printout of activity, signed by the bank manager, in the original submission. Once that month's statement was posted, we had to download and email it to the consulate.)

@huddleston1

Wow that’s really good and kind of what I was hoping for. I do have a lawyer who’s I’ve already paid a good chunk of money to but she’s telling me 30+ business days from application to invitation to medical.

I’m going to get a quote from Lishali thanks

@wondering9

I have a friend who did hers in person in LA and I went in person in Houston. We both had good experiences with the people and I’ve used the ones in Houston multiple times now for different things (transcription of my marriage certificate, applying for a Dominican birth certificate and passport for my daughter, and now the residency visas) and they’ve always been great.

I do feel like each consulate has their own rules and prices. My friend paid $765 for her visa and translations in LA and I paid $610 for two visas and translations in Houston

@Mila V

Was the pricing difference because they were different types of visas? It sounds like maybe yours is a Family Reunification (based on your daughter getting a Dominican birth certificate). Different types of visas require different paperwork and have different costs. Maybe your friend was applying for a different type?

@wondering9

Attorney told us Boston was efficient