One Couple's Nightmare Acquiring Permanent Residency in Belize
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The information below is written in a story form. Not to make light of the journey but instead to allow the reader to understand that when you make the decision to move to your Paradise, it comes at a cost. Be it money, headaches, or just a learning curve. Paradise comes at a price.
On October 15, 2012, my husband and I sold everything in the United States. From cars to Christmas trees everything was sold or given to charities. If you're thinking of traveling an "Expat" it's a road more and more Americans are looking at becoming. Young and Old are leaving America for different reasons. Ours, like others, was personal.
Why Belize?
1. English is the language of the Country. Sure they speak other languages, BUT all their legal documents are in ENGLISH and I can't say that about America anymore.
2. The exchange doesn't change as it does in other Countries. $1us = $2bz.
3. Law is based on "Queen's Law" which is very black and white. Very few loopholes but it's just as slow as courts in the USA. One thing that is different is EVERYTHING is hand written and there is no court reporter.
4. Guns are not handed out without a Police background check. You have to show your permit whenever the police want to see it. Fight them and you'll find yourself in jail and your permit pulled.
5. Close enough to medical care that is affordable. (Merida)
We bought a condo and settled in for our retirement. Since our research showed it would be best to go for permanent residency and not the QRP (this is a program Belize offers) we started with the Immigration office. Each month you are required to go and pay for your visa stamp.
1 to 6 months = $50bz
7 forward = $100bz
If you leave for more than 14 days/13 nights you will start over on the 1 to 6 month charge.
The first thing the Officer explained was we had to stay in the Country for 12 months. Okay, we did it with no problem. Heck we didn't even leave the island. Yep, we live on an island.
On October 16, 2013 we asked the Officer for the paperwork, to which he said "with all the holidays getting ready to hit, collect all of the information and submit it in January, 2014. Since we had made it through one holiday season and understood just how many days off the Government takes, we waited. FIRST WRONG MOVE.
We were handed the sheet below. I have made notations to let you understand that what the sheet says and what an officer checked started us down the wrong path from the beginning.
(a) This requires that you have every page of your passport scanned and copied. Once copied showing all your stamps for 12 months each page must be stamped by an Immigration Officer. They will verify that your pages match your scanned pages.
(b) This is never filled in. Never was even at the end. The amount is $2000bz per person. You pay this when Belmopan Immigration has approved everything. AND I MEAN EVERYTHING. Then to top it off, you will be leaving your passports with them until Ms. Marin feels like or you pay her and her Officers/Employees under the table.
This is where I want to get on my soap box for a moment. Belizeans are some of the kindest people in the World and I've traveled all over. Expats, foreigners, and greedy people who want to work around the system hire so called "Facilitators." THIS MUST STOP. Belizeans are left sitting in a hallway with no A/C, not enough chairs to sit on, and you have to PAY to use the bathrooms. Then here comes all us WHITE FOLKS with our US dollars and buy our way through their Country. Hopefully you understand a little more about WHY so much is stolen from tourist. I'm not condoning it, I'm just explaining why it happens more than it should.
TO MAKE THIS CLEAR: A facilitator is someone who engages in the activity of facilitation. They help a group of people understand their common objectives and assist them to plan how to achieve these objectives; in doing so, the facilitator remains "neutral" meaning he/she does not take a particular position in the discussion. No funds are exchanged.
Definition of EXPEDITOR: One that expedites; specifically : one employed to ensure efficient movement of goods or supplies in a business. ONE WHO IS PAID FOR THEIR SERVICES.
(d) Police report. You'll need 4 passport pictures taken for this, here in Belize. It's easy enough to find a place. Be sure you have shoulders covered though, no tank tops and no swimsuits. Then off you will go to the police department wherever you are living. For us it was on our island. You'll fill out their paperwork and hand over your pictures. Get ready for a wait because every department is backed up with others before you. Once you DO get your interview, it then goes to "Special Division" who really goes into your background. This is why SO MANY CORRUPT PEOPLE get into Belize. They pay their "FACILITATOR" to bypass this step. PLEASE DON'T BE ONE OF THOSE. You're the only ones who can break this cycle.
(f) HIV test. Yep, this Country takes it very seriously. Easy though to get the test, and it's so much cheaper here than in the States. Your Doctor will have the paperwork for immigration and will fill it out. Be sure to scan it into your computer though. For that matter, every form you fill out or are given SCAN IT. You'll understand as you get further into the process.
(g) See where this is (referring to the prior form.) Now they tell you about 3 pictures you will need. They don't tell you about the police needing a photo. It's one of the items that can hang up your paperwork and get you frustrated enough to say "where is that FACILITATOR?" Believe me, THEY WILL DRAIN YOUR WALLET FASTER THAN A TEENAGER. Keep telling yourself over and over again, "I have the time now in my life to play this game." IT IS A GAME.
(h) Birth certificates. They must have the legal stamp showing on your scanned copy. If it doesn't show they won't let you know until the end of the process. You'll be sitting in Belmopan and the officer will flip through your file and check it last. If they can't see it, you'll be sent back to wherever your birth certificate is and have to bring it with you. Another flight on Tropic, please.
(i) Same as with your Birth certificates.
(k) During your first 12 months (it will take about 6 months to accomplish it), OPEN A LOCAL BANK ACCOUNT. It will prepare you for what is coming with Immigration. TRUST ME. Scan the latest one in before you turn your paperwork it. The officer will verify the Month is the same as your paperwork being turned into them.
(m) This one threw us for a loop. Notice how it is worded "Income Tax Statement." THAT'S IT nothing else. So, since our last income tax statement was from the US, we gave them a complete copy of it. Again, when turned into our local immigration office nothing was said. So I'LL TELL YOU WHAT THEY REALLY WANT. Go to the sales tax office in your city and they write a letter that will state you are NOT working here. That is what IMMIGRATION is talking about. Again, another flight to Belmopan if you don't get this letter. NOW, if you're working here, then by all means, you'll need to take in your income tax that you have done here. BUT if you're retired like us, you're not working, go get the letter.
I love the last line now that I've been through the complete system. Your file will never be completed until Ms. Marin signs off on it. No matter how many little check list sheets each officer puts on each and every paper.
When your local Immigration office sends it over to Belmopan they are done with it. They'll never see it again. You have no reason to bother them anymore. They can't find out anything for you. The Belmopan office doesn't return calls to their own offices. They will tell you "it should take about 6 months" smile and walk away. Keep paying your visas on time. Don't stop or you'll be charged even more than you can even imagine.
THIS IS THE WAIT PERIOD WE DID WRONG. I HOPE YOU WILL LEARN FROM US.
Every time you go and pay your visa, CALL BELMOPAN.
Belmopan Immigration for Belize
Ms. Gallop 822-0284
Office 822-3860
Other number 822-0739
Be sure to get the name of who you are talking to and write down the day and time you got through. In the future you'll find the best time to get through.
Once you get a human have the following items to give to them:
Your case file number
Your complete names
The date your paperwork was turned into your immigration office
A phone number to call you back on (no they won't call you BUT you might get lucky)
Thank them and hang up.
Now is the time to create a log/timeline because it will be your lifeline when you go to Belmopan. Since my background is in investigations, I was grateful I had mine every time I went to Belmopan.
Once you reach the 6 months after you have turned your paperwork into Belmopan, it's time to go to Belmopan and plan on your first time to stay for at least 4 days. When you make your call in the 6th month setup an appointment to meet with whoever has your file and be firm with them that you are coming over and want to talk to whoever is in charge of YOUR file. They'll buck you all the way but, don't give up; they will give you a meeting time. NOW scan in BOTH of your passports from the months you've been paying for since your files have been taken over to Belmopan. TAKE THEM WITH YOU. If you're married have one partner stay where you're living and one come over. You both need to work as a tag team at this point.
Your day will be a long one so plan of taking a bag that can hold water for you, some snacks, change for the bathroom, and some toilet paper. The doors open at 8:30 but there is a great place to buy a breakfast burrito in the parking lot which will cover you until lunch with no problem. There is a guard shack; he will ask you what you are coming for. Tell him who you are meeting with and he will direct you where to go. If you're lucky the person you are meeting will keep the appointment, if not, they'll tell you what they told me, and "he's in a meeting and will be back after 1pm." Sit and do not move. Keep a smile on your face and pull out your book (or in my case my embroidery) and eat your burrito. Don't bother them as they are working BUT watch how they work and it will help you understand why you're there and not where you live. Observe the rooms when doors open. Remember faces and if you need to, take notes on your phone. I did and it helped on my timeline when I met with the Minister of Labor Mr. Zungia.
Unlike me, you're starting at the 6 month mark; we started once another year had passed. The first time I called I was told by Ms. Gallup not to call until another 6 months. So being a good American I followed the new government I was working with. WRONG!!!!!!! Belize doesn't understand commitment. You'll learn that while you're watching them work.
Once you get into your meeting I suggest you record your meeting on your phone. That way when you get back to your hotel room you can replay it and take notes. Have questions lined up (they hate questions) or if you want to keep smiling watch their hands. Be sure you see your file and here is where you'll have them in a corner. You will hand him/her the pages from your passports with your local immigration office stamp all ready for him/her to add to your file. The biggest line I got from all of the big shots was "your file is below all of these and they come first." Now is the time to hit them with the big question, "what are their dates when they were submitted into the process?" It won't get you thrown out, it will make them sit up and take notice that you will not be leaving. Now your question is, "if there is nothing holding up my file, if I have met all of Belize Immigration requirements, what is the hold up?" Make them talk and keep them talking. Don't leave until you feel them understanding that you are not going to pay someone to do what you can do yourself. Explain you are working within the Belize Government requirements and expect employees of the Government to do the same thing. Now tell them you will be back tomorrow and leave. Don't look back. Even if they start to talk, walk.
I recommend the following hotel:
Hibiscus Hotel
Phone number(s): 822-0400 or 633-5323
Melhado Parade Belmopan
Geoff and Sam Hatto-Hembling (Owners)
They're wonderful and the rooms are clean, quiet, and the food is outstanding.
If for any reason you need more pages in your passports this would also be a good time to set that appointment up with the US Embassy. They're not open Friday and they close early at 4:30 every day. Their phone number is 822-4011 or 610-5030. You must have an appointment to get pages added. No walking in and getting it done, that's not how America works remember…..
I have a couple of drivers I've used but you'll find one you like. The cost is always $5bz around town. $25bz to and from the airport; trust me when I say it's better to fly than drive from Belize City.
Next morning show up at the guard shack and get a number. When they call your number go and sit at the window. Explain that yesterday you spoke to whoever you spoke to and you want to know if your file is down in line with others for approval. This is where you'll see the change of command and how it works from the windows to the back room. Watch all of the people behind the windows and see how they move paper around but nothing really gets done. Remember all the people sitting in the hallway? This is where they should be and not out in the hallway. Don't leave until you see your file. This is where your file should be if there are no issues that were address yesterday. Once you see it ask the person where they are going to take it next. Get the name of the person and tell him/her that you will be back tomorrow to see how it is progressing along. They will try to tell you not to come that it will be handled, DON'T BELIEVE THEM. Until it gets to Ms. Marin's desk it will be a hide and seek game. Then it will be hidden but you'll have a better handle on how the system works. The next place your file will go is to Ms. Gallup (or whoever is sitting at the middle desk behind the front row of window employee's.) She is the keeper of the files or as we who have dealt with her "Ms. Marin's private lackey." Once your file lands on her desk and she signs off on it, you're on third base.
Time to go home and wait but, no longer than 30 days so your file doesn't end back up in the loop from hell. Before you left you got her to give you phone numbers to call. Sure you have them BUT you need her to repeat them and she also needs to repeat YOUR numbers so she is aware you are taking notes. Leave nothing to chance with her as she will try her best to stall for any reason she can find so you will become frustrated enough to contact a FACITATOR. Just keep saying to yourself "I WILL NOT BUY MY WAY INTO BELIZE!!!!" Let her know you will be calling in 30 days to see how the progress is coming on getting ready for you to LEAVE your passports so they can get their stamps put in by Ms. Marin. Oh boy, this will throw her off guard. Had I known what I know now, this would have been the line that would have saved me 5 more months of hell. Hopefully you won't wait that long.
Call and be sure to talk to a human just like before. By now you should have a good list of names you have spoken to each month. The more they hear your voice the more they get to know you're not going away. FOLLOW THROUGH IS PARAMOUNT!!!!! Belizeans don't know what it means to do it; so show them, teach them, and hold them accountable for their words and promises.
When you DO GET TOLD TO COME BACK, do a little happy dance then do the following. Take over all the pages from your passport that you haven't taken along with your immigration office stamped approval on them. Both of you will need to go this time. Take with you $4000bz CASH only. They don't take a local check or a credit card. Another reason to get to know your driver well so you can feel some trust carrying so much money in a Country you're just learning about. Once at the guard shack explain you have been called by Ms. Gallup and he will either give you a number to wait and be called or he will send you directly to the guard at the door in the hallway. Once you're at her desk, hand her over your passport pages so she can see you're ahead of her and ready to move to the handing of funds. She will direct you to go to the cashier window. One of you goes to the cashier and the other stays at her desk. No need for conversation, let her work and you keep an eye on your file. Once your partner is back it's time to hand over your passports. The final question to ask is "when can we expect to return and pick up our passports?" Do not leave without a date from this person that your passports will be given back. Even if it's the dreaded two week date; take it and then leave. The good thing is you don't have to pay your visa any longer since they have your passport. The bad thing is you can't do any banking, leave the Country, or anything that requires your passport.
YOU'RE ALMOST THERE…..
Call on that date and if they move it again let them know you're calling the US Embassy now and letting them know you were given a date, you have done everything Belize Immigration has requested and yet you are still being held hostage by Belize. Trust me, this gets things moving. Call the Embassy but you will be passed around like a hot potato. Remember back when I talked about adding pages to your passports and getting a hold of the Embassy then. At that time someone there should have given you a contact email since they could see you were going for your permanent residency. So, if they didn't, I'll give it to you: ACSBelize@state.gov I won't promise you they will do anything but, using the "hostage" seems to get their ear and they do have connections at immigration. Every week call from here on. Leave a message, get names, become the pest that doesn't go away. You will get the call. We did and the next day was on the plane picking up our passports with the big red stamp.
Was it worth it? YES and even more so when our driver was so proud that we, being Americans, didn't go the way so many other Expats go. We won the respect of so many of our Belizean friends for standing up to their, now our government. We taught them not to be afraid of their leaders and to expose what is happening.
On November 5, 2015, we picked up our passports, completed. HAPPY DANCE. What should have been done by July, 2014 was delayed by greed from so called "FACILITATORS" and government employee's.
To clarify: "Facilitators" are charging where they should not be per Queens Law description.
"Expeditors" under Queens Law their description is misleading.
Submitted on Apr 13, 2016 - Category: Visas & Work Permits, Network: Belize
Submitted By
BelizeThinkTwice
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