residency

[Jennie McEwen]

I recently had an e-mail from Guzman saying he wanted US$2,500 each for processing residency applications.

Bearing in mind that there are now only two stages to go through, I thought the price more than a little steep.

After all it is the Dom Peso that has gone through the floor not the US$.

Any comments would be welcome

[Ken]

What sort of comments are you expecting? You apparently asked what the cost of getting a residency would be and he responded. You now have the choice of accepting the price or rejecting it and look for another attorney.

What is it that you want from the board? Suggestions as to other attornies? It certainly isn't the place of this board to jump on a business or professional because of the price they/he quote a prospective customer/client.

[ricktoronto]

Originally posted by Jennie McEwen
I recently had an e-mail from Guzman saying he wanted US$2,500 each for processing residency applications.

Bearing in mind that there are now only two stages to go through, I thought the price more than a little steep.

After all it is the Dom Peso that has gone through the floor not the US$.

Any comments would be welcome

One option: Do it yourself and have it take forever or fail.

Another: Shop around and take your chances.

A lawyer who has probably always charged US$ has a US$ price and the peso value is irrelevant. Just as my hotel, who always charges US$, charges the same US$ now as when the peso was 14;1.

If I pay in pesos, I pay more pesos. But I haven't "lost" money, since I am paying the same, as Fabio is charging the same.

[Adrian Bye]

> I recently had an e-mail from Guzman saying he
> wanted US$2,500 each for processing residency applications.
>
> Bearing in mind that there are now only two stages
> to go through, I thought the price more than a little steep.

Is that $2500/person/stage, or $10k total?

Or is it $2500/person including both provisional and permanent residency?

[Jennie McEwen]

Or is it $2500/person including both provisional and permanent residency? [/B][/QUOTE]

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$2500 each, including both provisional & permanent.

I just thought it was a tidy sum for shuffling a few papers and if that is typical of the way foreigners get ripped off, then I do not think the DR is for me.

Now you may call me odd or anything else you like, but I do not see why I (or anyone else) should pay prices the locals cannot afford just because I am a foreigner.

If the going rate is, whatever, for everyone, I have no complaints.

However if, like Cuba, they charge tourists/foreigners more, just because they are tourists/foreigners, I do not want to know.

Tourists/foreigners bring needed foreign exchange into a country, they should be treated well, not ripped-off, the locals may not like them but they do like their money

After all where does it stop?

Why should foreigners not pay more for beer, petrol (gas), bread, sugar or anything else?

[Jennie McEwen]

Originally posted by Ken
What sort of comments are you expecting? You apparently asked what the cost of getting a residency would be and he responded. You now have the choice of accepting the price or rejecting it and look for another attorney.

What is it that you want from the board? Suggestions as to other attornies? It certainly isn't the place of this board to jump on a business or professional because of the price they/he quote a prospective customer/client.

What I wanted were answers not silly, self-opinionated questions from those of your ilk.

[Ken]

Originally posted by Jennie McEwen
What I wanted were answers not silly, self-opinionated questions from those of your ilk.

Good grief. That is exactly what I was thinking about your posts.

First, you don't have to worry about paying more than Dominicans. This is their country; they don't need to apply for provisional/permanent residency.

Second, although $2,500 for both permanent and provisional residencies is not out of line, you can very likely find an attorney who will charge less. And if he doesn't deliver, then what? For sure you are going to be out at least part of the money. If you think I am making this up, then you don't know much about how lawyers operate in the Dominican Republic.

Third, with Fabio Guzman, you are guaranteed that he will deliver both the provisional and permanent residencies. However, if you think his price is too much, there is no law that prevents you from seeking another attorney.

Originally posted by Jennie McEwen

Any comments would be welcome

I see now that I misunderstood your first post. What you meant was that comments would be welcome from those who agree with you. And certainly you didn't mean from people of my ilk. To prevent this sort of misunderstanding in the future, I'd suggest that when you post you indicate which ilks you would "welcome" comments from.

[Jennie McEwen]

The ilks that I would welcome replies from are those who can at least chew gum and walk at the same time.

Why is it in Spain, England and other European countries when foreigners apply to become residents, the whole process if free?

How come it can cost thousands of dollars in DR, Central America and South America for residents permits.

It is just a big rip off and lines the lawyers pockets with gold

[Ken]

My ilk says that not everyone should relocate to the Dominican Republic. It is not the US, Canada, or Europe, and many of the skills/attitudes/customs related to those places are not applicable here.

My sense is that it would be a mistake for you to take up residency, whether with or without documents, in the DR. I offer this kindly, based on my experiences and observations during 17 years living here, and in no way am I being sarcastic. If you are determined to go ahead, I would strongly recommend living in the DR for at least 6 months before thinking about applying for residency.

[Eddy]

If memory serves me, you need to have resided here for a minimum "3 or 6 months" before applying for residence.