About liazon

Status:

Considering a Move Abroad 

Gender:

Male

Currently Lives:

atlanta, Georgia, United States

Citizen Of:

United States

Some Forum Posts:

Panama: Extension of 30day Visa.:

check w/ the Habla Ya language center in Boquete or David....they will know.

Panama: Residency & Investment Visas:

Hello all, my name is Mark and i'm considering a move to Panama (preceeded by a 6 month trial periord while taking language courses). Permanent residency can be obtained by investing $40,000 in a Panama non-retail business and EFFECTIVELY employing 3 Panamanians. Does anyone have any experience with this method of obtaining residency that they could pass on to me? that word EFFECTIVELY seems a big vague to me....what are the specifics of that phrase?

Panama: LOOKING FOR INFORMATION:

the only way is to go there and spend a month to get a feel for each of the towns you are considering. the realities can be determined readily in a month of research 'in county'. you could spend years online and still not get the feel you require to make such a decision. i just returned from such an exploratory trip and can tell you that, as an example, the smells of the country (as in diesel fumes) will be a critical component of your decision. no online discussion can relay your tolerance level vs. someone elses.

Panama: NETWORKING, EXPAT HOUSE OWNERSHIP:

what kind of work do you do if i might ask? nice you have the opportunity to work in Panama for a while. i'm in my early 30's too and looking to move there (preempted by a 6 month visit to make sure it's for me and to learn more spanish.) I recommend you buy the book, Living in Panama, for answers to all your questions. Working, residency, and citizenship are all treated separately in panama, so there is much information you'll need to achieve your specific goals. Owning property is no problem for foreign nationals...you can even finance through some American banks. As far as networking, i can only say that in my 2 weeks of traveling there recently, the only english speakers i met worked at one hotel in P. City and one car rental agency in David. (in other words, speaking Spanish would be key). i look foward to hearing more about your oppotunity.

Panama: COST OF TRANSPORTATION:

rental cars (4x4 required in rainy season) run $70-90 day, obviously very expensive, but the only real way to experience the country. local buses (uncomfortable and crowded) are very cheap ($1-3) and run every 20-30 minutes and are clearly marked. flights are relatively cheap (under $100 from city to city in panama) and run daily or more often. taxis are cheap ($1-3 intown) and can often be used to travel from town to town ($15-30 for the same run as a $1-3 bus)

Panama: Should I move to Bocas Del Toro, Panama??:

don't do it. bocas is waaaaaay overrated unless you have serious money to buy a lifestyle away from the trash and corruption of bocas town.

Date Joined:

11/19/2007

Total Posts:

6

Posts/Day:

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