Visa information for living in the DR?

[mari99]

Hi all,

I'm a U.S. citizen planning to relocate to the Santo Domingo area for six months, possibly longer, in the coming year.
I've scoured the web and although I've found lists of documents needed to apply for the various different kinds of visas, I've not yet been able to find information as to which visa is most appropriate for a traveler's particular circumstances. I'm sure it's out there somewhere! Does anyone know where I could find that kind of info?

Thanks so much,
Marissa

[Chirimoya]

For a 6-month stay it is not worth getting residency. Come in on a tourist card (US$10 on entry) and pay the overstay fee when you leave, which is peanuts.

[webmacon]

I agree on coming in on a Toursit Visa but you should renew it every time the visa expires. Only because it is easier here you should not overstay on purpose .... you do that in the USA and they won't let you in anymore for 10 years.

[SKY]

Originally Posted by webmacon

I agree on coming in on a Toursit Visa but you should renew it every time the visa expires. Only because it is easier here you should not overstay on purpose .... you do that in the USA and they won't let you in anymore for 10 years.

This is not the USA, there is no need to do anything but enjoy your stay and pay about $5 or $10 when you leave. NO ONE is denied entry for overstaying a tourist Visa.

[webmacon]

You are right on that, but is that a reason not to follow rules?

Nothing to do with Mari99 but there are just to many here living and working without any papers, a domincan does this in europe or in the US and he is considered almost a criminal.

Telling somebody just to overstay don't seem to be the correct advise in my point of view that's all.

Wish Immigration law would be harder here, this would help cleaning the island and only fair to the dominicans.

[SKY]

Originally Posted by webmacon

You are right on that, but is that a reason not to follow rules?

Nothing to do with Mari99 but there are just to many here living and working without any papers, a domincan does this in europe or in the US and he is considered almost a criminal.

Telling somebody just to overstay don't seem to be the correct advise in my point of view that's all.

Wish Immigration law would be harder here, this would help cleaning the island and only fair to the dominicans.

Pal, do yourself a favor and stay in the US, this way you can obey all the rules over there. Again, this is not the US or Europe, you can stay as long as you like LEGALLY.

[mari99]

Thanks all, though I think I still need a little more info...
I'll be telecommuting for my job here in the U.S. so won't need to find work locally, but a friend of mine may be joining me and she would have to find a job there. Would she need to apply for residency in order to work legally? Would I be able to buy a car on a tourist visa? It's my understanding that my U.S. driver's license would only be valid as long as my tourist visa was valid and I hadn't overstayed, but is there a time limit?

[MikeFisher]

the driver license is just as long valid as your turist visa.
if you overdo your turist visa, which is really no big deal like others wrote above, in that case you would drive a car without a valid license, so in case of any accident no insurance would need to cover for a thing.
in case of working legally, for such you would need the residency.
there are still many minor jobs out there where nobody asks about your cedula or such, yes, but you asked about legally working here, for that you need the residency.
i have a bunch of riends from all pver the globe working here as representatives for touroperators, some are here since a very long time, even with wife and kids, several do not have any residency, and always when we disuss such i call them stupid.
first of all, the simple thingy with the non existent drivers license.
they all drive companies cars, so minor touches are anyways fixed by the rental car services where their company rents a whole fleet of cars, they don´t care.
but one day a bigger accident may happen, and to be the one who is declared illegal involved in such may face big costs or more just for not spending $700.- to make a residency and some more pesos to get a dominican drivers license.
such is easy and completely hassle free, so why not to do such.
any trouble with anybody and you are not legally in the country? if i would be your counter part i would just get my opponent taken by immigrations and all is resolved.
of course we also have like all not 1st world countries a lot of low lifes out there on the streets, for such i would agree with the above poster that i wish to see some laws specially like immigrations more followed and the island cleaned up.
the ones which are not wanted (or WANTED, lol) in their homecountries are no help or positive for the island neither, send them back.
just my 2cents
Mike

[Massielg]

Originally Posted by webmacon

You are right on that, but is that a reason not to follow rules?

Nothing to do with Mari99 but there are just to many here living and working without any papers, a domincan does this in europe or in the US and he is considered almost a criminal.

Telling somebody just to overstay don't seem to be the correct advise in my point of view that's all.

Wish Immigration law would be harder here, this would help cleaning the island and only fair to the dominicans.

Im totally agree with you, dominicans out of the contry cant do anything... but people from all around the world come here and do whatever they want, in general, not everybody, but in general..

I dont think is correct that if everybody broke the rules you should do the same....

Thats why we are like we are..

[SKY]

Originally Posted by Massielg

Im totally agree with you, dominicans out of the contry cant do anything... but people from all around the world come here and do whatever they want, in general, not everybody, but in general..

I dont think is correct that if everybody broke the rules you should do the same....

Thats why we are like we are..

Maybe you should become a citizen of the DR, run for office , and change the laws here?