Ya still need your paperwork. Nothing will change that. Basically your buying a sponsor for 10,000Q. If your applying as a retiree there is no point in this. You'll get it without buying it. I came into this because me and my wife are in our thirties, no pension. We still required police clearance and all the necessary paperwork. The only difference is now we have a sponsor throughout the process instead of providing a permanent income. Like I said, money talks. Talk to your immigration lawyer and ask about alternative ways. I'm not giving out names since I don't bite the hand that feeds me but its really not difficult to get things done here if your willing to pay for it. Even visa runs, 400q and you can get it done for you. One could easily stay in this country for years without ever doing a visa run. Just talk to an immigration guy.

True to reality, this article !

we are a family of five in Guatemala City I average Q600 per month. We use electric stove and have central hot water.

Living in a country is much different than visiting. Give yourself six months just to acclimate. You will have to relearn many things, so try to relax, go slow and be easy on yourself. Actually having to navigate in another language can be very taxing. Give your self lots of slack and smile mucho. Don't push yourself too hard and remember, you have the rest of your life to get used to it. Successful expats use the experience to reinvent their lives and do entirely new things. Unsuccessful expats complain that things aren't like where they came from. It is also a great time to rediscover your spouse and find new ways to relate. My husband has talents I never knew he had, moving rekindled our relationship and gave us a new freedom to relate because we didn't have to meet anyone's expectations. Travel around the country and the region. Too many expats just settle in and never go anywhere. Central America is a fascinating place full of wonder, beauty and great people. Life will be the same but different. Make it an adventure. Hi Krystina - I'm a Brit too and been living on and off at the lake for past 15 years, and permanently the past 6. Feel free to pm me or email might be better: francescwade (at) rocketmail.com. Try coming as far into Oct as you can as Sept/Oct are the heaviest months of the rainy season with concessional hurricanes passing through. Nothing to worry about, just means a lot of rain. But, if you stay on into Nov, then you will be here for one of the best months of the year! And the beginning of the dry season! Best, Francesca

Hi - I live in Pana and have done for the past 6.5 years, but been in Guate on and off since '98. Life is pretty cheap, but all of us here who aren't retired and work to live it is hand to mouth! Finding work that pays is not easy. I was often doing 3-4 consulting jobs and still not making enough. Rents start I would say at around $400 for a nice place. But if you rent a room from a Guatemalan family then you can get something for around $200 or less, but it is just a room, with shared hot water shower if you are lucky! Medicine is not cheap but you can buy anything across the counter without a prescription. Guate City have fantastic doctors at about a 10th price for the same treatment in the US (don't know where you are from?!0. Food from the market dirt cheap, from the grocery stores/delis imported, not so cheap...probably the same if not more than in the US! Entertainment...food reasonably cheap, beer cheap! No cinema here! Just a beautiful, ever changing Lake and volcanoes! And one hell of a life style that makes any struggle more than worth while!! If there is a means...there is a way! Best of luck!

Bajasur, Thank you for the link. It provided exactly the information I needed. https://www.rentautos.com.gt/ http://global.budget.com/gt/index.html?2 each agency has a different price and different prices just like anywhere in the world.

Bajasur is right best day is Monday with Thursday nearly the same. Most call centers in Guatemala City in zones 9 and 10, Tikal Futura in Zone 11 and others here and there. Highest salary I have seen is Q5,000 for full English. Most offer free shuttle service and some are even offering college classes, except those are in Spanish. I have a nephew at one - Alcantel? he learned English in school here and is now in college but works part time earning the equivalent of US$360 per month. Prensa runs ads for call centers on Monday I believe and Thursdays.

None of my Guatemalan friends want to go to the U.S. and I do not blame them. The vast majority are the poor, poor Guatemalans from the highlands that have been told if they go for example a mother and child, then authorities will let them stay...

About a kilometer (two?) before reaching Miraflores, there is a Korean area on the left and across Roosevelt. As I recall, behind the Super 24 is a nice Korean place, possibly Korea House. The cooking is done in the kitchen, not on the table. I had a wonderful lunch for around Q50, far too much food for one person to eat. Place looks very simple from the outside, like maybe a garage or warehouse. The interior was a pleasant surprise. The usual duckhunter is in front. (armed guard) / In the Zona 10 there is a fantastic center called The Oakland Mall. (Love the movie theaters on the third floor.) Across the street (Diagonal 6) and to the right about 100 meters is an Asian place called "Dim Sum". It is on the ground floor of a building apparently called "The Design Center". The Korean BBQ there was good, but no side dishes. Very attractive, upscale place. I saw some other restaurants in the building, but I have not tried them out yet. Where is Korean House? Is it located in GUA city? I just arrived in Antigua and went to "Miso". Kay

Inguat, could you post that info or send it to me privately. I would so appreciate it.Thanks From US to Guatemala. You will need to have all his paperwork (shots, flea/tick treatments) signed by an APHIS certified vet within 30 days of flight. You then need to take the paperwork to an APHIS office to have it verified/stamped. I would recommend calling and making an appt. instead of just showing up there. I think this has to be done within 7 days of flight....don't remember for sure....would need to look up. You would then need to take that documentation to the Guatemalan embassy or consulate to get stamped. Cost $10 i think. If you don't live near an embassy then you need to mail it in. I have all the info but need to find it. Could give you later.