They issue a resolution that benefits Venezuelans in the Dominican Republic

Credit: DANIEL SLIM / AFP via Getty Images

(CNN) -

The Ministry of the Interior and Police of the Dominican Republic announced on Friday that it issued a resolution that normalizes the irregular migratory situation of Venezuelans in Dominican territory within the category of non-residents.

Since at least 2016, about 5 million Venezuelans have left the South American country, according to the United Nations Agency for Refugees, fleeing poverty and deteriorating health and social services.

The coordinator of the Venezuelan Catholic Ministry, Alejandro Gómez, assured Noticias SIN that, with this measure from the Ministry of the Interior, a great step has been taken that can benefit those who meet the requirements.

According to figures from the Pastoral, there are currently more than 100,000 Venezuelans residing in the Dominican Republic.

Foreigners who have a tourist visa and remain in the Dominican territory beyond the authorized validity may be beneficiaries of an extension of stay, according to the measure.

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The resolution, adopted together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, indicates that Venezuelans will be able to take advantage of student or temporary worker permits for a period of one year, which is considered a great step by foreigners.

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Emilio Berrizbeita, a member of the organization Venezolanos en el Exterior (Venex), valued the measure as positive, since it allows them to do paperwork in the Dominican Republic without the need to travel to Venezuela.

The provision, dated last Tuesday and published by the government on social networks this Friday, indicates that, from this resolution, the General Directorate of Migration will grant a period of 30 calendar days so that Venezuelans interested in benefiting from this extension can register your data on the website of said entity.

Ana María Rodríguez, a Venezuelan who has been in the Dominican Republic for five years, hopes to regularize her immigration status with this measure.

“It benefits us that they don't deport us because we live in uncertainty, at a time when they send you to your country.

The best thing is that the expired passports are going to receive us, ”Rodríguez assured Noticias SIN.

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The deadline for requesting student and seasonal worker permits will be six months from the date on which the start of immigration normalization is announced.

The resolution indicates that “the non-resident migratory category” will be applied to normalize “the migratory status of Venezuelan nationals who are in Dominican territory and who entered the Dominican Republic regularly from January 2014 to March 2020, as well as their minor children, born or not in the Dominican Republic, who constitutionally do not have Dominican nationality ”.

Another requirement of the resolution is the payment of the administrative fees for expiration of stay.

Similarly, the measure warns that Venezuelans should not have a "criminal record in the country or abroad", in addition to "not be subject to the status of asylee or refugee."

Nor should they be in the process of extradition.