Tourist card penalty

[juanita]

Is there a DR government web site where I could find the ORIGINAL fee that one should be charged when your tourist card is expired; an original that I could print and take with me to the immigration at the airport on departure. These guys always seem to make up their own fees.!!

[ricktoronto]

At SDQ anyway there are large signs that point out the amounts, the most being RD$1000 (for something like over 5 years) as I recall, the least being RD$62 (why bother?) for 16-90 days - the original time period - why they didn't raise the T/C fee to $12 and get this RD$62 from everyone and spare us this nonsense is anyone's guess.

In addition there are signs next to those saying if you are asked for money ( by passport control) go to the boss and complain - these signs are in English.

Also, you pay not at passport control, but at a booth where all they do is this and you do it before the passport guy so I guess in a pinch you can take the cashier to any of the passport stations and they can read it for themselves.

[Dolores]

Originally Posted by juanita

Is there a DR government web site where I could find the ORIGINAL fee that one should be charged when your tourist card is expired; an original that I could print and take with me to the immigration at the airport on departure. These guys always seem to make up their own fees.!!

We asked for a copy of the document and the people of Migration said it was not available except for consulting. This means that they are arbitrarily applying it. Nothing we can do until the change of government.

[juanita]

Originally Posted by ricktoronto

At SDQ anyway there are large signs that point out the amounts, the most being RD$1000 (for something like over 5 years) as I recall, the least being RD$62 (why bother?) for 16-90 days - the original time period - why they didn't raise the T/C fee to $12 and get this RD$62 from everyone and spare us this nonsense is anyone's guess.

In addition there are signs next to those saying if you are asked for money ( by passport control) go to the boss and complain - these signs are in English.

Also, you pay not at passport control, but at a booth where all they do is this and you do it before the passport guy so I guess in a pinch you can take the cashier to any of the passport stations and they can read it for themselves.

Thank you! Haven't been out of DR in two years...wow things have changed...signs?? ...how modern! Last time I traveled, the immigration guy would make up his fees depending on your face, asking double the real fee, so I was glad to pin the oficial paper on his forehead!!

[MommC]

a flat US$20.00 each. We were told that the tourist card now only covers a 15 day period and that it is US$10 per 30 day period after that (don't ask....I calculated it to be $30. each since we arrived the 4th of Jan and left the 18th of April however I wasn't going to complain at only being charged $20. each).

[GringoDiablo]

You also have the option of just handing them a 100 US doller bill and of course as with most Dominican institutions they will not have change. Works for me every time. I'm three for three on that one.

[ricktoronto]

Originally Posted by MommC

a flat US$20.00 each. We were told that the tourist card now only covers a 15 day period and that it is US$10 per 30 day period after that (don't ask....I calculated it to be $30. each since we arrived the 4th of Jan and left the 18th of April however I wasn't going to complain at only being charged $20. each).

I left April 19th and every passport control station at SDQ had them. RD$900 each was about 500% each too much. It is not anywhere near US$10/RD$450 per 30 days since the first 75 days ( 15-90) is RD$62. What shameful rip-off behaviour.

[frank alvarez]

Folks, the country has been in the hands of thieves for most of its history and none better represent the negatives in the term 'Banana Republic' than the bunch that has been in charge since 2000. Hopefully, they will be kicked out in the elections in 10 days and as of August 16, when the new authorities would take over, a new, improved attitude will prevail. In the meantime, just go with the flow and enjoy the positives of your trips here and let the negatives go by the wayside.

[MommC]

However we left from La Romana (didn't notice signs when we arived at SDQ but wasn't looking either).
I didn't see any signs at all at La Romana however the gal at the booth was quite pleasant and took the time to explain about the "new" rule that came into effect in Jan (at least I think she said it came into effect in Jan.)
I did ask her when the rule had changed as it had been 90 days on the tourist card before extra "fees" were due but she explained it was now only 15 days to reflect the average tourist stay!

[ricktoronto]

Originally Posted by MommC

However we left from La Romana (didn't notice signs when we arived at SDQ but wasn't looking either).
I didn't see any signs at all at La Romana however the gal at the booth was quite pleasant and took the time to explain about the "new" rule that came into effect in Jan (at least I think she said it came into effect in Jan.)
I did ask her when the rule had changed as it had been 90 days on the tourist card before extra "fees" were due but she explained it was now only 15 days to reflect the average tourist stay!

That was a Nick Nolte movie recently right? And a DR exit cashier who steals with a smile. I wouldn't give a rat's ** if she kissed me and after ****ing me for $20 vs. $2 she should .

This whole thing is an example of the stupidity of the gov't - you want more tourist visa revenue ,so you set the $10 for the 99% of people who were there <15 days. Great. Same as always.

Not once say, hey, we raise the price to $15 (or $12 etc.) for 90 days (vs. $10 plus RD$62 or less than $2 more than before ) and then collect THAT from 100% of the people. For over 90 days they collected more than $10 anyway so this dumb-a** idea winds up being a 20% revenue increase from 1% of travellers vs. a 50% increase from 100%. And make all the 1% go through stupid hoops at departure so they will be sure to want to come back.

Or they could have raised the exit fee by $2 to $22 and get 100% to pay that way as well. Morons, truly.