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So the combination of items in fact may qualify you!  OR one of you qualifies with everything,  gets residency then the second applies for "family reunification" qualification.

YES  an overnight trip qualifies. They removed the ability to cross over to Haiti to qualify. You have to stay overnight, so a quick flight elsewhere would do it.

hmmm...wheels spinning. Thanks, again Planner!  in about 2 1/2 to 3 years from now we plan to come down with my daughter so she can do a foreign year abroad for high school...so, I'm starting to research...if she wants to finish there...great...but, it may be that we have to return for the couple years it takes for her to graduate...but, I think we'll want everything in place...residency, health insurance, etc...as of when we all three move down...It's exciting...

I just want to get down there and really start living there full time...

I think I'm in good company here, huh? 

HEY! I just realized that all my google photos were shareable!
WAIT! Now I'm realizing that that means they aren't really private!

ok...nope, that didn't post a photo....hmmm....

Well you are starting early enough and you will know what needs to be done. At least based on todays rules. One of the risks here is that the rules change whenever..... sometimes with no warning, sometimes yes.  Sometimes for the better but also sometimes not so much!

We do  our best to stay current with the rules and what may be coming..... we have spies everywhere.....LOL

You state you have about 180k in DR real estate. The threshold for fast track permanent residency is 200k according to the 2007 law.

May I suggest that you talk to an immigration lawyer to see if with everything combined or with some limited additional investment you can move forward quickly.

Hi To All,

This is a topic very interesting for us as we have just moved to the DR following our Purchase of a B&B in Cabarete.
We started the application in the UK before coming, we sent them the proof of Purchase of the 6 room B&B and also the proof pf the creation of our Ltd company, But still we are waiting, in the first instance our application was refused so we resent some additional documents, but still its all pending and no info from the UK Consulate. We were told to take a lawyer to sort it out but even that docent guaranty success.
The situation is very frustrating as we seem to qualify for the residency due to our investment in the DR but as we are finding out things here are always mañana, mañana ;-)

If anyone has got any good tips to get this sorted out, other than taking a lawyer, is this possible to do by ourselves?

Please feel free to contact us
***

Best Regards
Digby & Anna

****

Indeed you are probably correct that by taking a lawyer it does not guarantee success, but invariably it does mean you get your documentation in place correctly the first time to take into account the never ending rule changes and procedures that get put in the way, such that your file does not get put aside along with many others accumulating dust. And yes it is paper files that get shifted from office to office in DGM as your application progresses, as you will quickly realize when waiting to get your residency photograph and fingerprints with the officer shifting through them to find your name and in some instances the applicant has to wait while the file handled earlier in the day by others is found.

I have used a lawyer for all my residency renewals simply to avoid the hassle and for sure in the past an immigration lawyer with DGM contacts was the quickest way. I have just renewed my residency with an ex Guzman lawyer recommended by a Canadian friend and I got a seamless no hassle result at 1400 RD pesos per each month of a 4 year residency including the fees. But she told me that at present dealing with DGM was frustrating and many applications were taking a very long time and new applications were mentioned. In my case it was definitely a couple of weeks longer and the 10 day result cited in the rules and previously met for delivery of card after medical was not met and took 16 days

I wish you, as fellow Brits, luck and maximum resolve in seeing through your application, but my advice to others, most especially starting for a first time application and with a fast track option, is to have a lawyer. For the subsequent applications, if one has the inclination, do it yourself.

You absolutely should be using a lawyer. The contacts alone are worth it.  But use a lawyer with expertise in this area!

Oh my goodness, time flies... I started this post 5 years ago and we are STILL not down there full time... or even half-time!?!?! *sigh* Pandemic changed all those plans...

And, just checking in... with an additional question. We closed our property management business and are selling our rentals here in US (and in Cabrera ... to buy in a different area of Cabrera and build) and although we would now qualify as investors ... we don't want to.

We wonder if we could just come and extend our 30 day tourist visa to 90 days... then fly away for a day or two and re-enter and extend again until we qualify as pensioners???

120 days is the max legal extension allowed.

Yes, quick hop to PR or MIA starts the clock all over again.

You will be stamped out of the country when leave.....

Do you think after a few times, they could deny us?  Does anyone have experience doing this?

Worst that happens is they turn you back saying.....

Do not return until you have you have residency application on hand.

A good reason to start it now and solve it once and for all

I know of at least two examples of this happening.

Yes it can happen. No, it's not likely to happen YET

Who knows what the future holds.  Willie is spot on!

Tourist Visa extension question.

Good evening all.

I have read that a tourist can extend their stay for up to 120 days.

What is the process? 

Where does one have to go for the extension?

Thank you!

It's done online and must be done before you stay 30 days.  It's a prepay of the overstay fee up to day 120.  Please do a search as the website link has been posted a few times. 

I stay less and more than 30 days, coming and going mostly in winter months.  I never had them give me any warnings or any documentation saying I should do anything more than pay their fine/fee when I leave.  If this is breaking the law, they dont sure seem to mind.

I forgot to mention, when you leave and enter, you fill out the customs declaration and each time its a new visit and you get a new tourist visa.

As of now, you are right, no one seems to care.

@planner Actually- just last week i paid my overstay fee and proceeded to my gate to check in and my flight was canceled so I exited back out through customs and went back to my hotel. Then I left again on Sunday and came back on Monday and it had restarted the clock technically- I don’t even think you have to stay overnight. I think you could fly over to Puerto Rico for the day and come back in the evening and you have reset the clock…….

That's an unusual circumstance and not the normal.