Citizenship Applications Temporarily Halted

[kateinottawa]

Do I have to be in the Dominican Republic to apply for citizenship? If not, how would I aquire the forms to apply if I am abroad (Canada)?

Kate

[solisdad2000]

As of day before yesterday, situation was definately that the process is still on hold!

Sexist rules aren't they! A woman can get citizenship if married to a Dominicano but a man can't get citizenship if married to a Dominicana!!! Ridiculously logic-free.

I wonder what they're auditing? Perhaps the number of people that managed to jump the queue to get the mandatory residential visa first without having any particular merit that sets them apart from others who waited their turn? I wonder (not) how they did that? :-)

[SosuaJoe]

Alfredo,

Thanks for taking the time to respond to my post. I am aware that both my wife and child are entitled to citizenship. We have filled out the appropriate forms, I have given my official consent, the relevant investigations with Interpol etc have been completed. We are merely waiting to have them sworn in, and in fact have had several appointments to do so.

Problem is, the relevant department is refusing to do so, because of the decision of the Secretary of Interior Y Policia to not allow nationalization of foreigners to proceed except in the cases as stated above. When informed that I actually am Dominican, I am told that as I am only a naturalized (as opposed to born) Dominican, they cannot be sworn in.

Does this make sense? No. Does the law distinguish between naturalized and born Dominicans for the purpose of obtaining citizenship for wives and children? Also no. Does this make a difference with the people in charge of getting them sworn in? Of course not.

That being said, I have been here long enough to realize that power is still relatively centralized and that most government functionaries would rather err on the side of caution (or not make a decision at all) rather than debate a point of logic. Aside from my initial frustration, I refuse to obsess about this sort of thing.

So unless anyone knows the Secretary of Interior y Policia, we're out of luck for now.

This is especially annoying as we are trying to make arrangements for my wife's mudanza (which will likely be another nightmare) and we need her sworn in to begin the paperwork on that mess as well.

[abdullah]

i need a little clarification. citizenship is on halt not the permanent residencies...waiting for reply . thanx

[Chirimoya]

No, two very different things. Residency process is not affected.

[ajramirez]

I have obtained all the legal documents as required by the Consulate of the DR in the US. Where do I go from here inorder to process citizenship for my two kids. I am dominican born.
Please advise

[Vladimir333]

Originally Posted by Alfredo Guzman

The National Police’s legal department recently announced that all citizenship processes have been halted and new applications will not be accepted until further notice, due to an ongoing audit at the department. No approximate time-frame was disclosed to Guzman Ariza. The only applications that will be accepted for processing during the time of the audit are the following:

(a) Citizenship for persons born of a Dominican parent, and

(b) Citizenship through marriage (only in the case of the foreign wife of a Dominican man).

Any news when department will start to work?
Thanks

[Alfredo Guzman]

As of October 23rd, the suspension was still in place.

Alfredo A. Guzman

[MikeFisher]

Originally Posted by solisdad2000

As of day before yesterday, situation was definately that the process is still on hold!

Sexist rules aren't they! A woman can get citizenship if married to a Dominicano but a man can't get citizenship if married to a Dominicana!!! Ridiculously logic-free.

I wonder what they're auditing? Perhaps the number of people that managed to jump the queue to get the mandatory residential visa first without having any particular merit that sets them apart from others who waited their turn? I wonder (not) how they did that? :-)

looks like we Men need to marry a dominican gay first(hey, at least we have enough Sankies for that) to get the real citizenship, then we devorce and are free to marry our beloved dominican Lad.
weird, yeap.
glad i do not see any advantage to get the citizenship, til now, so will stay happy with the residency aso and see what will come up.
such can bring a big push to male Sankies business,
big advantage over the female sankiettes business.
yeap, sexists, ha ha
Mike

[Alfredo Guzman]

The audit at "Interior y Policia's" legal department has been finalized. Citizenship applications are now being accepted without distinction of the type of applicant.

Alfredo A. Guzman