Can anyone refer certified house inspectors who are reliable with reasonable charges? Thanks, RB

I'm curious. I see lots of folks on this forum talking about crossing over to CR while waiting for their permanent visas. Do the folks located in Panama City make that trek too, or do they cross into Columbia to do this? Can you even do this?

Does Panama have Health and/or Prescription type insurance/plans that we are used to back in the US? I had 1 prescription filled for $78.00 that would normally cost me $5.00 in the US under a prescription plan. Do prescription costs go decrease under the pensiando program?

I know this has been discussed before, but I would like to hear from someone who has recently (this year) brought a dog into the country from the USA. Exactly what is required and what is the timeline? My Vet said the USDA APHIS Form 7001 is good for 30 days. Does this have to be "certified" by the USDA? And where do I send it? What forms have to be certified at the Panamanian consulate? What are the timelines? What about certification for parasites (worms)? I haven't seen anything on this, but I know other countries are very strict in this regard. Thanks for any insight you can offer.

Hello: first let me apologize that this inquiry has probably been made many times before. I searched and did not see anything that appeared to be the answer I am seeking. I hope to retire in 2-3 years so I am now beginning to look for places to stay. I have been to CR, el Sal and will be in Guat in three months. the more I read of Panama, the more I am interested. Looking for suggested areas to visit. I am looking for an area within 1-2 hours of beach yet in mountain areas for cooler climes. I am in Ohio so I will spend the winter somewhere in Central Am. I have no idea of cities or areas in Panama that I should visit. I speak High school Spanish but am working on it. My girlfriend and I do not need big city amenities but small town atmosphere that is safe and friendly would be perfect. any suggestions? Need for additional info? thanks

I know this topic has somewhat been addressed but this has a twist. If anyone has a present day experience, Thank you. My wife and I will be moving in Dec. and start building our home. My wife will have her Pensionado when we land but I will be just applying. Mine is complicated so no guarantee. The issue is we want to make the plane reservations to arrive Dec. but return for a visit to the states in August just over 6 month's. Will there be any issues since I do not have my Visa yet and the tickets will be for more than 6 month's? And if I do not get the Visa within the 6 month's then can I just cross over to CR to satisfy the 6 month tourist Visa?

If you are 100% prepared to get your Pension Visa in Panama (have all the documents needed & a lawyer when you arrive), do you really need a return ticket to the country (Canada) where you came from? Ticket is expensive! If you can show everything, do they smile and say "welcome"?

I understand that it is cheaper to rent a car away from the airport - I posted this a couple of days ago, but it didn't show up. Suggestions?

Must have been Angered about his 10K Money Declaration - LOL A Canadian charter plane bound for Panama was escorted by U.S. fighter jets back to Toronto, where a passenger was removed by police after allegedly threatening the safety of the flight, police said on Friday. http:// news.msn.com /world/canadian-plane-escorted-by-us-f-16s-after-passenger-threat Heavily-armed officers boarded the flight after it returned to Toronto at mid-morning, yelling "heads down, hands up!" as they entered the cabin, according to passenger video shown on CTV News. The flight, bound for Panama City from Toronto and operated by Sunwing Airlines, was over West Virginia when it turned around after a passenger made a threat against the plane, said Lilly Fitzpatrick, a spokeswoman for Peel Regional Police, which has jurisdiction over Toronto's main airport. "It caused the pilot enough concern that he turned the plane around," Fitzpatrick said. Ali Shahi, a 25-year-old Canadian, was taken into custody and charged with four counts, including uttering threats and endangering the safety of an aircraft. Two U.S. F-16 fighter jets, which were doing training exercises in the area, shadowed the plane back to Toronto, where police met it on the runway. "We had fighters in the air doing training based out of Toledo, Ohio. So they were asked to shadow the flight as it returned to Toronto," said Jennifer Stadnyk, a spokeswoman for the North American Aerospace Defense Command.