Sosua Reports

[Revere]

For the record, overstaying your permitted time in the Dominican Republic is subject to a fine of 2,500 pesos and up. It is not a fee, but a fine.

It's the law which will allow them to detain you, if they decide to for any reason.

Not talking about overstaying please do not imply I ever talked about overstaying. I never said in any of my posts about overstaying. I said you cannot arrest tourists for leaving their passport in hotel it is stiupid and I got people saying there right you must carry your passport on the beach I said very clearly that if you are a tourist visiting for a short period time cannot arrest you for leaving passport in hotel. Now I rest my case they said that was wrong will not happen again. Let's stick to facts!

[Boriman]

Copied from a website. I hope this helps.

If you are a tourist visiting the Dominican Republic and you over stay your allotted time these are the Penalties or Fees. This applies to the Dominican Republic's Tourist Card and is a complete schedule of Fees Fines and Penalties you will pay at the airport when leaving or exiting the country. The words Fees Fines and Penalties are interchangeably used here. They mean the same thing and you will pay them when you are leaving the Dominican Republic if you are here longer than your tourist card allows.

1 DAY 3 MONTHS New Fine: RD $2,500

3 9 MONTHS New Fine: RD $4,000

9 12 MONTHS New Fine: RD $5,000

12 18 MONTHS New Fine: RD $6,500

18 24 MONTHS New Fine: RD $8,000

24 30 MONTHS New Fine: RD $9,500

30 36 MONTHS New Fine: RD $11,000

36 48 MONTHS New Fine: RD $16,000

48 60 MONTHS New Fine: RD $20,000

6 YEARS New Fine: RD $30,000

7 YEARS New Fine: RD $40,000

8 YEARS New Fine: RD $50,000

9 YEARS New Fine: RD $60,000

10 YEARS New Fine: RD $70,000

[Oakie]

I stand by my point. You cannot arrest tourists for leaving there passports in there hotel room. Just cannot do that. You have to be smart in how you approach a situation. I say again not bringing my passport to the beach.

7 February 2017.

Migraciand apologizes.

Wednesday, 2 February, officials from the immigration department (la Direcciand General de Migracin) came to Sosa to check on illegal practices. Officers checked bars and restaurants on the possession of the necessary permits and if t.

A number of businesses were fined because they did not meet these requirements. Furthermore, officials were looking for foreigners staying here illegally and are on the Interpol list. The following day they went to Cabarete for the same reason. Here quite a few businesses were fined because they had foreigners employed for example as cook or waitress, without a work permit. But the overzealous officials also fined innocent tourists, which appears to be a mistake according to the spokesman of Migraciand. For that they offer apologies and the tourists can rest assured that it will not happen again.

Some info about stay in DR:

Tourists who want to stay longer in the Dominican Republic than 30 days must pay a fee when leaving the country.

For the record, overstaying your permitted time in the Dominican Republic is subject to a fine of 2,500 pesos and up. It is not a fee, but a fine.

It's the law which will allow them to detain you, if they decide to for any reason.

[SubCmdr]

I stand by my point. You cannot arrest tourists for leaving there passports in there hotel room. Just cannot do that. You have to be smart in how you approach a situation. I say again not bringing my passport to the beach.

Source of the news story contained in the original of the above post is: Soss-News (sosuanews.com).

With all the fake news going around I don't have any idea why people don't identify the source of information used to support your assertions. Unless you quoting the proverbial source "that does not want to be identified" or "who is not authorized to speak on the subject" or "who is close to (insert name of important individual here)". Right?!

ROTFLMAO!

[Revere]

I stand by my point. You cannot arrest tourists for leaving there passports in there hotel room. Just cannot do that. You have to be smart in how you approach a situation. I say again not bringing my passport to the beach.

7 February 2017.

Migracióand apologizes.

Wednesday, 2 February, officials from the immigration department (la Direccióand General de Migración) came to Sosúa to check on illegal practices. Officers checked bars and restaurants on the possession of the necessary permits and if t.

A number of businesses were fined because they did not meet these requirements. Furthermore, officials were looking for foreigners staying here illegally and are on the Interpol list. The following day they went to Cabarete for the same reason. Here quite a few businesses were fined because they had foreigners employed for example as cook or waitress, without a work permit. But the overzealous officials also fined innocent tourists, which appears to be a mistake according to the spokesman of Migracióand. For that they offer apologies and the tourists can rest assured that it will not happen again.

Some info about stay in DR:

Tourists who want to stay longer in the Dominican Republic than 30 days must pay a fee when leaving the country.

[Oakie]

......Although I've not seen my buddy in several years he once explained to me that he always overstays, saying that it is cheaper and less hassle to pay the fine than it is to gain citizenship. Every so often he left the country and reentered, to avoid any complications. My friend is a businessman so obtaining a Resident or Business visa would cost $125 (which is DOP 5843, not counting cost of paperwork, and other expenses, claiming residency).

For that he could overstay in the DR up to 9-12 months and only pay a DOP 5,000 fine. The way Dominican Immigration works overstaying is simply the better option.

I guess many others have been doing the same thing and now they are cracking down on it. The problem are not the overstays but how the government has been addressing the issue. Like the motoconcho guys. They are all suppose to be wearing helmets. Every so often they enforce this law by confiscating the bikes. Then the police get lax and the motoconcho guys return to their old ways.

Let us see how long this Immigration crackdown lasts.

Manizales, Wrx2005, Berthold, and everyone else, thanks for your imput.

Thanks for the details.

Seems pretty straight forward to me, nothing mysterious there.

Play by their rules, carry a copy of your papers, be respectful of their laws and culture while you are there, and you'll be fine. It's hard, as they say, to cheat an honest man.

If you ignore, or try or game the rules, like the examples above, you are on your own. Good luck with that!

[Rodeo9112]

Hey guys,

I've seen some great sleeves on the chicas in DR. I assume they probably get the best work in Santo Domingo, but thought I'd ask about any reputable places in Sosua or elsewhere on the North coast. Any ideas on pricing would be great too! It's got to be cheaper than in the US! Safety is important of course.

[Boriman]

Looks like Punta Cana / Bavaro will be next.

http://bavarodigital.net/2017/02/05/...o-actualizado/

First, I hope my fellow board members do not mind it when I copy and paste articles directly into this forum. I do so since, many times, after a certain period, some links stop working. Second, on some computers the links do work but in others they do not.

Not that I discourage links but occassionally clicking them puts some unwanted stuff on people's computers.

Finally, the link is to a Spanish article. An English translation is helpful for my fellow brothers out there who do not read Spanish.

Below is a translation of the link http://bavarodigital.net/2017/02/05/...o-actualizado/.

In the area of Bavaro. Punta Cana, sources close to Bavaro Digital reported that there will be massive detentions in the month of March-April by the Migration Department. We advise foreigners to come to normalize and regularize their papers and residence permits in the Dominican Republic.

SANTO DOMINGO. - The General Directorate of Migration (DGM) calls on all foreign nationals residing in the Dominican Republic with expired immigration status to renew their residence cards, in accordance with the provisions of Law No. 285-04 General of Migration. In a press release, the DGM indicates that according to the provisions of article 25 of the Law, "foreigners authorized to remain in the country, are obliged to obtain, maintain and carry their immigration identification documents. ".

In that sense, it states that "foreign citizens with immigration status due in any of the categories: students, temporary workers, temporary residents, permanent residents and investors, must proceed with the renewal of their immigration identification documents. " The institution informs that in order to do so, they must come to the Headquarters, located in Santo Domingo, Distrito Nacional, at George Washington Avenue, Hroes de Luperand, (La Feria) from Monday to Friday, 08:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

In the case of foreign citizens residing in localities of the interior of the country, the renewal of their documents can be carried out in the regional offices of the DGM in bevaro, La Altagracia Province, for the East zone and in the regional offices of Santiago de LOS Caballeros and Puerto Plata, for the Cibao region and the North.

The agency issued a warning following the arrest of a number of foreigners in the last hours in Puerto Plata, Sosa and Cabarete, after establishing that they were residing illegally in the country, most of them with a residence permit and other documents Expired.

During operations carried out by immigration inspectors in Puerto Plata, Sosa and Cabarete, several Canadians, Russians, Germans, Italians, Venezuelans, Cubans, Americans and other nationalities who were illegally residing in the country were detained, after leaving their residence permit, States the entity.

However, the Migration Directorate reports that many of the detainees proceeded immediately to renew their documents in order to stay longer in the national territory, so that the entity deprived them of their deportation.

He warns, however, that other foreigners who maintain an attitude of indifference in the renewal of their stay permits in the Dominican Republic and other important documents will be located and could be removed from the national territory for violation of law 285-04 on Migration.

"We are exhausting the decision to call those foreigners to come to our offices to regularize their documents because otherwise, we will act accordingly," says a communication from the General Directorate of Migration delivered to journalists of this medium who cover the source.

Where to seek help. In addition, the entity explains that in addition to the main office located in the Center of Heroes, Migration also opened premises in Punta Cana and bevaro, where foreigners can go to normalize and regularize their roles and residence permits in the Dominican Republic and Covers both workers and students of different nationalities residing here.

This puts a different spin on the article I previously posted (post number 28045). The above article does not mention tourists, people who ride motorized vehicles being particularly targeted, or even a DOP 2,500 (this is the fine one pays for overstaying from one day to three months!

It seems that there are two groups here: the overstays (the above article) and the tourists (post 28045). Either the media are confusing the two, reporting it incorrectly, both media have a different focus, or Immigration (or law enforcement sent out to do their bidding), in it's overzealousness are targeting overstays and accidentally arresting tourists in the process.

It could even be that Immigration is arresting tourists, along with the overstays, knowing that tourists will pay up since many have to be back home by a certain time. Surely, if I was arrested I would be worried about being detained so long that I would miss my plane back home (and have problems explaining myself to my boss). I could easily see a nave tourist, not overstaying, not speaking Spanish, being made to pay a fine for not having documents on hand. Excuse my skepticism and cynicism but I have been to DR so many times I am still amazed at all the scams some Islanders pull.

Although I've not seen my buddy in several years he once explained to me that he always overstays, saying that it is cheaper and less hassle to pay the fine than it is to gain citizenship. Every so often he left the country and reentered, to avoid any complications. My friend is a businessman so obtaining a Resident or Business visa would cost $125 (which is DOP 5843, not counting cost of paperwork, and other expenses, claiming residency).

For that he could overstay in the DR up to 9-12 months and only pay a DOP 5,000 fine. The way Dominican Immigration works overstaying is simply the better option.

I guess many others have been doing the same thing and now they are cracking down on it. The problem are not the overstays but how the government has been addressing the issue. Like the motoconcho guys. They are all suppose to be wearing helmets. Every so often they enforce this law by confiscating the bikes. Then the police get lax and the motoconcho guys return to their old ways.

Let us see how long this Immigration crackdown lasts.

Manizales, Wrx2005, Berthold, and everyone else, thanks for your imput.

[Berthold]

You are welcome. And yes we will see how this plays out. Since it is not easy to figure out the motives behind this, why they targeted certain people / places, and what is going to happen next.

Looks like Punta Cana / Bavaro will be next.

http://bavarodigital.net/2017/02/05/...o-actualizado/

[Wrx2005]

Thanks Wrx2005 for the valuable information. It will definitely come in handy, with making copies and the overstay issue.

Returning to the arrests I could be mistaken but there is no indication of an overstay in the post of the arrested tourists (post number 28049). It still seems like the usual shakedown of people on motorized vehicles, since this was Immigrations focus. If it was a paperwork issue than Immigration would be stopping every tourist they see and checking them out (has anybody on this board been stopped, checked out, and arrested over this issue? I would like to hear your story.). It sounds like a particular, limited, group was targeted, as is always the case.
We will see how it all turns out but stuff like this usually calms down after a while.

You are welcome. And yes we will see how this plays out. Since it is not easy to figure out the motives behind this, why they targeted certain people / places, and what is going to happen next.

[Rodeo9112]

We watch the Super Bowl in the back of city lights. It was about 12 of us so you should've saw the waitresses argue over who's customers we were a real clown show very unorganized. After the game hung out in the city lights Waiting on a waitress to get off work Classicao closed at 1 o'clock on Super Bowl Sunday. I thought they would ease the ban for the Super Bowl, but I was wrong. Supposedly plaza casino stays open all night never been there. We went to the casino near the old Victorian house it was dead just a couple of stragglers. OK fellas I'll keep you guys posted I have to get rid of this waitress it's her day off but she's not staying with me.

Can you PM me with the waitress' name?

[Boriman]

Thanks Wrx2005 for the valuable information. It will definitely come in handy, with making copies and the overstay issue.

Returning to the arrests I could be mistaken but there is no indication of an overstay in the post of the arrested tourists (post number 28049). It still seems like the usual shakedown of people on motorized vehicles, since this was Immigrations focus. If it was a paperwork issue than Immigration would be stopping every tourist they see and checking them out (has anybody on this board been stopped, checked out, and arrested over this issue? I would like to hear your story.). It sounds like a particular, limited, group was targeted, as is always the case.
We will see how it all turns out but stuff like this usually calms down after a while.

[Wrx2005]

In all due respect, where did you get this information?

Also, where does one go in Sosua to make a copy of their passport, with stamp? How much would it cost?

As always, Manizales, thanks for your input. It is always appreciated.

I know and used two places in Sosua to get my passport copied. The 1st place is the computer / office center in the plaza behind Baileys restaurant on Alejo Martinez. Their color copying is very reasonably priced. Next is the business / office store on calle Dr. Rosen. If you stand in the Metro Bus station parking lot (facing calle Dr. Rosen) , you can look right at it. They also made the same color copies, and lamination. For some reason, I prefer going to the store behind Baileys Restaurant.

I had my 1st two pages copied in color then laminated in actual size of my passport. One side has my photo, details and the other side is the 2nd page of my passport. On another occasion I also had them make the same copies of my passport, then they shrunk it down into the size of a credit card. Laminated. I try to get them to make at least 5 copies. I haven't yet copied my entry stamp. Mainly because I'm still legal from when I left and returned back in January.

I also got several laminated copies of my Universal Medical Insurance Card, and my USA driver license. They all look very official in color and laminated to look like the real thing.

For those possibly needing to pay for an overstay of their tourist visa:

Yesterday went to La Sirena in PP. Did a dry run looking for the DR Immigration Office at 95 Calle Beller, near Calle 20 de Diciembre. Calle Beller runs One way, west to east, until you get past calle 27 de Febreo, then it becomes two way ( The street name may change? ), . Once I was driving on Beller traveling east, I realized that I had been on it dozens of times.

If you follow it towards the direction of Sosua it will take you to the big circle where that Judicial Office bldg is and the main autopista. Coming from the direction of Sosua, heading into Puerto Plata, you would have to follow the same road going in the opposite direction, knowing that it splits in the area of 27 de Febrero and becomes one way, east to west ( again do not know the name, but it runs parallel to Calle Beller ).

After about 5 to 8 blocks past 27 de Febrero, you will have to turn left (at least 2 blocks past calle 20 de Diciembre) on one of those side streets to head about 2 blocks south to Calle Beller to turn left to go back east. If you turn onto Calle Beller and the address numbers are higher than 95, then the Immigration office is behind you. And you need to navigate to go back. If you turn on Calle Beller and the numbers are lower than 95, then just keep driving looking on your right hand side for it. Next door is the TSS office. Dont look for any large office building. You could easily pass it because the entrance to the Immigration bldg is relatively small and it doesnt seem like it belongs in the area.

[Scotch]

We watch the Super Bowl in the back of city lights. It was about 12 of us so you should've saw the waitresses argue over who's customers we were a real clown show very unorganized. After the game hung out in the city lights Waiting on a waitress to get off work Classicao closed at 1 o'clock on Super Bowl Sunday. I thought they would ease the ban for the Super Bowl, but I was wrong. Supposedly plaza casino stays open all night never been there. We went to the casino near the old Victorian house it was dead just a couple of stragglers. OK fellas I'll keep you guys posted I have to get rid of this waitress it's her day off but she's not staying with me.

[Oakie]

Maybe, maybe not. This board does not seem to have a very good record on making predictions about Dominican politics, and things that seem random to the casual observer must always have some underlying rationale, even if we don't know what it is. I remember Cuba Dave saying the same thing about the closure of La Pasion nightclub, that a few bribes needed to be paid and normal service would be resumed at the famous brothel as soon as possible. I wonder what he is doing now.

"Even if we don't know what it is", this mysterious, almost religious "underlying rationale" to you, is no such thing to locals. They understand the corrupt game that goes on. I explained it in my post, Simply politics and money. The age old tension between what politicians say to become popular vs what they actually do!

When I first started hangin with the locals I kept hearing the word "mafia". I was curious as to where this mafia was. Turns out the words mafiosa and mafioso describe individual bad dudes, while "mafia" is their word for the political powers that be that are in charge of essential services like water and electricity, and decide what will be enforcement flavor of the month.

I don't listen to "predictions" from this board, or rumors. Most turn out to be useless. 180 degrees wrong, or only half the story.

Things like Sosua prostitution being on its last legs, or Sosua dying as a prostitution destination. Sosua as a dangerous place. A den of thieves. So-called "smart" mongers moving out.

If I did I would not be going back as often as I could for that cheap, beautiful, abundance of safe tropical pussy. I'd rather believe my own lyin' eyes. My own enjoyment of the place improves with every visit, if that is possible.

I don't know why some folks here are not happy to hear that, but that's their problem.

I agree with them in one aspect, they SHOULD move on!

To mix metaphors, Sosua is the energizer bunny that keeps on ticking, and defies all exaggerated reports of its death! It just needs a new battery now and then!

Truth is it runs on money and politics, like all places.

I just like the fact that the locals are far more aware of this than your average PC NA resident who tend to idolize their politicians.