禁漫天堂

Yiu can in the states now get your FBI background check in all major branches of the USPS offices.

50 bucks, electr贸nico, recieve normally via email within 24 hours, print and submit to the state department for Appostille

@planner thanks for all the good info!聽 Does she help people in reverse meaning a DR citizen married to a US citizen with two kids who are now US citizens as well? They have been waiting months to hear about her visa guess it is so she can start her citizenship here鈥�.

@AttyLishali2

Hello Lishali,

Are you taking new clients?聽 We are moving to Punta Cana聽 next May.聽 My husband聽 is half Dominican聽 (US citizen)聽 and while I聽 was born an American citizen, I聽 was born in Germany. I聽 have read these forums but I聽 feel聽 my situation may be a聽 little different.聽 Can you advise? A聽 private message would be fine as well.

I聽 would appreciate any assistance聽 (from anyone)

Carol you can reach out to Lishali on WhatsApp at +1 809-860-1231

@glaureal no she doesn't.聽 You need a US based immigration lawyer to help with that.

@Glauriel

12-14 month backlog currently

@CHRISTOPHER DAVID56

Depending on what state you have places like "printscan' in NY which does it all for you fbi check and apostille. Slightly more but easier.

Thank you, planner!!

@DRVisitor

What is 12 to 14th month backlog?

@DRVisitor

From my understanding the US State Department is the only one that can Apostille your FBI Federal background.

PrintScan can assist with NY State Appostille but Federal documents need Appostille by the State Department

PrintScan will mail it the State Department

I was fingerprinted at a police station in NY for my FBI background check, sent that fingerprint card to the FBI and when I got the background check I indeed had to send it to the US Department of State for the apostille.聽 The NY Department of State was suffifient for the apostille on my NY birth certificate, but not for the FBI document.聽 This was all for getting my DR naturlization done, but the same path would be true if those docutments are needed for legal residency.

@CHRISTOPHER DAVID56

Reverse Dominican to become US citizen

@CHRISTOPHER DAVID56

Yes exactly they do it all and mail back to you.

@DRVisitor

Got it! not familiar or any experience with that process.聽 Thanks for clarifying

聽 聽 From my understanding FBI for US citzen, Apostille by state department, and then translated by certified translator and then Apostille by the DR government agency
聽 聽

聽 聽 -@CHRISTOPHER DAVID56

The Apostilles I got for my birth certificate and FBI background check were from the NY Department of State and the US Department of State. Apostilles have to been done in the country the documents are issued.聽 As far as I know from personal experience.

I then had legal translations done in the DR and those were again "legalized" here as one of the 50 or so odd things needed in my application for DR Natularization via marriage.聽

Any changes yet regards to actually enforcing immigration laws instead of using the extra-legal exit fines for illegal overstayers?

How abut a 6 month snowbird visa for countries that currently enter on a tourist card?

@windeguy

Yep normal process ...

Nothing changing yet in terms of exit fees or longer term visas.聽 As far I have been able to find out there is no serious discussions about long term visas except amongst expats.

聽 聽 Nothing changing yet in terms of exit fees or longer term visas.聽 As far I have been able to find out there is no serious discussions about long term visas except amongst expats.聽 聽 聽 聽 -@planner

Not a surprise.聽 The DR governmetn has much bigger fish to fry than to worry about a few illegal expats.

Haiti, new AI resorts,聽 Cruise Ports,聽 Amber Highway, Play Bergantin,聽 Sosua Beach Plazas, anoteher Metro Line in Santo Domingo, Teleferico in Santiago,聽 train between Santiago and Santo Domingo - all have far more importance.

So, people can just come in on a tourist card, stay forever, drive forever on foreing licenses and even work here.聽

All without ramifications.聽 And so it goes

Quick update:

The system is broken and overwhelmed.

That is the word I am receiving from various sources!聽 聽 Immigration is cancelling appointments, cancelling naturalization ceremonies and taking days just to respond to anything.聽 聽Lawyers are spending hours and hours just trying to get an appointment!聽

Please understand that the most professional of them聽 are doing their very best to make things happen on time. They are frustrated as well.

So if they tell you they are trying, please understand they actually are trying!

In the case of Lishali,聽 she asks you to use her email to contact the office, not whatsapp as that actually slows things down.聽 Use the email assigned or聽 lbaez@lishalibaez.com

@planner

For whatever it is worth...from the time we submitted our completed & proof-read naturalization application packages, to the time we actually took our exams and were approved for naturalization, only took about 5-6 weeks. This was in February - March time frame.

1. I believe that very short turnaround time was entirely due to the diligence and finesse of Lishali and her crew.聽
2. I think the Ministry knows her packages (and candidates) are going to be thoroughly vetted and have things under control.
3. So, the Ministry is less likely to nitpick...as long as the packages are "clean" without any major character issues (e.g., a "complicated" background check) in the mix.

I note here also, as I have elsewhere, that according to the Ministry staff that proctored our naturalization examination, apparently the Ministry now requires in-person interviews for naturalization ONLY if you are requesting citizenship-by-marriage. [Which we are not, we're straight-up expats requesting naturalization.)

1. I can only advise what the proctors (actually, all three, in different conversations) stated.聽 We weren't given a piece of paper to make it official.
2. We were told that the next call we would get would be for the naturalization ceremony.
3. I guess we're expected to make the short-notice flight down there to attend.聽 Which we're okay with.
4. Then, we have to be there to get processed for our passports.聽

FYI to everyone doing citizenship-by-marriage:聽 We're told that "some" of the CBM interviews can be rather intense.聽 They are skeptical of intentions and looking for signs of sham marriages.

Best to all,

Jim

ExpatRusher

@ExpatRusher

I agree. Though my interview at the naturalization office was very quick without issues, I witnessed many couples who were being聽 interviewed for nearly 25 minutes while my interview lasted 4 minutes.

On another note, it sucks that things have come to a halt for a lot of us in one process or another. Hopefully, migraci贸n and the naturalization office resumes normal operations soon.

We can see and understand to Planner point that the DGM system, and immigration is overwhelmed with the substantial application increases this year and other government initiatives occurring.

The Migration Agency (DGM) announced it will impose hefty fines on businesses caught employing foreign workers illegally. The move is part of a broader campaign to eradicate the practice nationwide, N Digital reports.

The agency鈥檚 legal department stated that penalties will be levied according to Article 132 of the country鈥檚 General Migration Law No. 285-04, which mandates fines ranging from five to thirty minimum public sector salaries for those who hire or facilitate employment for foreigners without legal authorization to work in the Dominican Republic. The size of the fine will correspond to the number of undocumented workers found at each inspected establishment.

That's actually great news!!聽 If you want to stop out of control illegal immigration, the fastest way is to dry up the jobs pool.聽 The word will get out quickly.

>> The US could learn a lesson from the DR on this topic.聽 In US, hiring illegals is technically illegal, but there's very little enforcement of the law.

I'm skeptical, though, regarding how aggressive the enforcement om the DR will be.聽 I can imagine eyesight issues arising in some officials, should they find a filled envelope on their doorstep.聽

Not trying to be disrespectful toward the government.聽 There's simply a lot of "la propina" culture in the DR.聽 It can be cleaned out, but only if thr government is VERY serious, consistent and aggressive in doing so.聽

I certainly hope they are successful in getting employers on board with not hiring illegals.聽 Much needed.

>> much depends on whether the fines are large enough.

>> At too low a level, they simply become an additional cost of doing business with the cheapest labor source.

ExpatRusher

This has been the law for several years.聽 It's why we say it's almost impossible to find a job here without a cedula or work visa!聽 Enforcement has been erratic for sure.

I was going to post about recent changes in the immigration office regarding the process. Well,聽 those changes were (apparently) a nightmare. AND they have reverted to how things were before.聽 So, we carry on.

I guess that鈥檚 better??聽 Once medical and all paperwork submitted can anyone weigh in on how long before immigration gives pensioners residency. The time frame range of recent experience is what we would like to know? Can鈥檛 seem to nail this down and would like to understand others recent experiences ie 2025.

@karynllanders

It is really a throw of the stone...however, it can range from 3 to 8 months, it really depends on the individual case. Unfortunately it's not a one stop show...

@karynllanders
It is really a throw of the stone...however, it can range from 3 to 8 months, it really depends on the individual case. Unfortunately it's not a one stop show... - @CHRISTOPHER DAVID56

Thank you. So this is exactly why I鈥檓 trying to better understand. Do I sign another lease, have a backup plan etc.聽 Really love the country and its culture.聽 Looking forward to the future. It鈥檚 no fun waiting for it to start.

As many have said time frame from when you get appointment to deposit documents in person and go get medical exam to actually get notified to come pick up residency card varies. I can only speak to my case . I deposited everything March 2025, in June 2025 received notice they needed a document they said wasn't deposited so add additional month for that and I have appointment to pick up residency card next week August 28, 2025 call it 4 to 5 months in my case.

@karynllanders

Your welcome,聽 one thing many of us that have lived here for years is that;

1. Almost nothing is consistent

2. Local and government changes/process happens every day

3. You will be told 5 different answers on a question and/or topic

5. Most importantly; patience!!! and Flexibility

List goes on.....

Good luck !

@karynllanders

I understand your frustration.聽 聽Go ahead and sign your lease.聽 Even if your application was rejected, no one will care.聽 However, I understand聽 wanting to do things the right way!

@planner

Interesting!!!聽 聽

@karynllanders
Your welcome, one thing many of us that have lived here for years is that;
1. Almost nothing is consistent
2. Local and government changes/process happens every day
3. You will be told 5 different answers on a question and/or topic
5. Most importantly; patience!!! and Flexibility
List goes on.....
Good luck ! - @CHRISTOPHER DAVID56

Christopher, you could boldface, capitalize, upsize and change the color of your rules like this...

聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽RED

... and you'd still wouldn't have put it strongly enough.

Updated timeline for myself:

3 months approximately in US

13 months in DR - just finally went in for my biometrics and photographs and hopefully few weeks receive my card

In another thread has all the headaches but even after finally submitting documents and taking medical, the 90th day later they sent email I needed to take medical. It was a mistake but the process has been total headache but glad finally over with or I hope - maybe I should wait to I receive the card.

Some people have shorter timeframes but if they want to hold you up or deny you they will!

Punta Cana Airport Migration person wanted to know why my temporary had expired and didnt have it renewed and then when I left from Santo Domingo the migration person said how come I still dont have it - she remembers stamping me leaving a year ago from seeing in the system....

@DRVisitor

Are you doing this yourself or with a lawyer?

@planner

Lawyer but Ive used them for other things.

@DRVisitor

These kind of testimonials is what鈥檚 holding me back from applying , I鈥檓 not that great w/a computer and the headache

of people going out of their way to make it more difficult for yer really makes me think long and hard about applying ,

keep the updates coming 鈥�good luck 馃檹馃徎

@Tippj

If you can and able hire a reputable lawyer to assist. There are several within these threads that are highly recommend.

This may reduce your stresslevel.

Good luck!

@Tippj

I am probably the extreme case but it is very easy to get frustrated along the way. Even though I could have probably have done the process myself it would have presented more barriers without a lawyer.