Was he expensive?

Is a pet exporter required, or can you do this yourself?

Also you have to wonder if someone used this workaround in the past to get residency, could they be subject to a random FBI check when traveling and re-entering Panama, and then denied entry?

It does say criminal conviction in that link, not arrest record. Those can be two entirely different things. I wonder if the people detained and sent back had actual convictions. Are you able to contact the person that sent you the email to get any more information?

I agree something doesn't sound quite right. My first thought was what are the odds that several Americans all entered with arrest records at around the same time.

 The border could simply have a sign posted at the window so that people would know, I don't understand why they aren't doing this.  I wondered if there were many people getting caught unaware because some people don't use internet forums, or even use the internet much at all. 

The time is probably ripe now for snagging vehicles where people are driving after the 3 month time is up on their tourist visas since no more border hopping is allowed to renew.

I think Marie is talking about the decree 167 visa. It gives you a two year residency and a work visa. It is low cost compared to other visa options. The only things I have heard on another forum is someone who filled out the application online, and then you are supposed to wait for them to notify you for an appointment. I believe he is still waiting to be contacted for an appointment. He posted that he is out doing a 30 day border hop right now. Another person posted that they applied last year when this first came out. He waited several months and then was contacted that he had an appointment time this May. I haven't seen any posts by him as to how it went. Another person posted that they talked to someone that went down to immigration and they said this visa was only for people that are wanting to work in Panama, not people with pensions. I personally talked to someone from immigration and they said to apply online and they were giving out appointments for May. This was maybe 6 weeks or so ago. I don't believe an appointment would be given out that fast. They also said that doing a 30 day border hop would disqualify you since you can't have left the country for more than 30 days and you should try to fly out for two weeks instead if you were needing to do a border hop.This also doesn't make sense.  Someone else posted that they were told that immigration has received over 30,000 applications. If that were the case, I can't imagine how long it would take them to go through all of those applications and then have them all come in for appointments.  Other than that I haven't seen anything online about anyone that has said that they actually have this visa. 

23 hours ago, Keith Woolford said:

Panama City to revitalize tourist attractions

Posted on May 14, 2017 in Panama, Panama

WHILE Panama’s tourism authority has endorsed a campaign put forward by its new advertising agency to promote the country as an adventure destination the capital city has its own plans to improve its tourist offerings.

A series of projects has been advanced by the Metropolitan Tourism Society, S.A.

Mi Pueblito heading for makeover

The first actions include a total renewal of the Mi Pueblito complex, located at the foot of Ancon  Hill. The initial phase of improvements includes demolition and reconstruction of Mi Pueblito Afroantillano.

Subsequently, the remodeling of Mi Pueblito Interiorano and Mi Pueblito Indígena will be tendered.

The Metropolitan Tourism Society is a corporation owned by the Municipality of Panama, but its structure allows the participation of the private sector.

Within the plan is the creation of tourist routes and circuits to historical points of the capital city such as Santa Ana, Central Avenue and reverted areas. It also contemplates the creation of shows that recreate past events in the city of Panama.

One of the objectives is to capture the thousands of tourists who are passing through Tocumen airport to take advantage of the waiting time and visit the city.

In 2016, there were 10 million people in transit through the air terminal, but only 2.4 million became tourists the lowest figure in recent years.

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/panama-city-revitalize-tourist-attractions

In light of the tourism numbers being down, it was probably really bad timing for Panama to toss out the perpetual tourists and snowbirds.

I thought that with the decree 167 visa it was a requirement to enroll in the system. I wonder how that is going to work now.

Of course he doesn't owe anyone an explanation, but someone in his position should at least give a general reason as to why. He was the Embassy Warden, and was a very outspoken person who talked about his personal life quite frequently, so it is a bit strange and disconcerting that he would not comment on the reason.

Has anyone heard why he abruptly decided to leave? He made no comment as to why, and has not replied to anyone on his site. 

1 hour ago, Uncle Doug said:

President Varela has stated that “we cannot afford for the six-month tourist permit to be used to cross the border and then return, and stay here as if you  were a permanent resident”. He said that on March 18.

It seems to me that everything since early March has been Immigration trying to figure out how to implement a visa policy which accomplishes that.  Yes, the 30 days out of the country rule was stated by Javier Carrillo, the director of Immigration, but that was also several weeks ago.

As unsatisfying as it is, I think the focus ought to be on what Panama is trying to accomplish.  I rather doubt that Panama is particularly motivated to provide a lot of clarity as to how to circumvent their stated goal. 

We can speculate that the reason for the new enforcement policy is the flood of non-Panamanians from South America fleeing poor conditions.  There certainly is resentment against foreigners coming to Panama, competing with Panamanians for employment, and staying here indefinitely on a tourist visa.  There is currently a lot of political pressure on the Panamanian government to do something about that.

Panama encourages tourism.  It wants to encourage business travel to Panama, as well.  Being in Panama for extended periods is not the concern.  It is the drain on social services, not the least of which is health care, by the people who live in Panama as if they are permanent residents but are not. And, undoubtedly, there is some resentment of foreigners in general moving into cities and neighborhoods throughout the country which also contributes to that political pressure.

I have enormous sympathy for those who live in Panama on a tourist visa, especially those in this area who have made housing decisions, opened businesses, and made an enormous effort to relocate from far abroad.  They are almost universally not the burden that Varela says "we (Panama) cannot afford."

But devising a policy accomplishes Panama's goal without casting too wide of a net is nearly impossible. It has caught those who are contributing greatly to the country.  It has snared those who employ Panamanians.  It is devastating to those who can't (for very good reasons) obtain the documents necessary to apply successfully for permanent residency.  For US citizens, it has caught those who no longer have suitable fingerprints that the FBI can accept in order to run the required background check to apply for a permanent visa.

If the "30 days out of the country" rule if you're approaching the end of a 180 day tourist visa is the current policy at the border is truly a permanent and consistent rule (which I doubt), then it probably will eliminate those who can't afford to be gone from Panama for 30 days every six months. The intention may be that those people who can't afford it will be the ones who are competing for jobs and social services with Panamanian citizens and legal permanent residents.  Obviously, the effect is far more broad and draconian than that.

The bottom line is still the same.  Panama does not want foreigners living here indefinitely on a tourist visa.   It would be very surprising to me if the Panamanian government wants to really clarify how anyone can still continue to do so at this time.  That's the new reality in Panama.

Until it changes, of course...

Yes, but the point of this thread is not to go over the merits of why Panama is implementing these new changes or if you are a bad person or not because you have border hopped, it is to try to help those that need to cross the border  and to gain insight into the new policies and what people need to do. This is not only affecting "border hoppers", it is also affecting the "regular tourists". I read on another forum about a couple of tourists that had flown into Panama City and then crossed through Paso Canoas into Costa Rica to spend a few days there before returning to Panama to fly out. They were reportedly denied re-entry into Panama. 

8 minutes ago, TwoSailors said:

I called the number and was put in touch with a lady that oversees entry problems. She said that as long as your 180 days stamp is not expired you should have no problem re- entering at Tocuman. She also said no US citizen has been denied re entry as far as she was aware of.

Should there be a problem the correct number to call is 317-5200 which connects you with Security and then ask for the Duty Officer.

It's more a matter of how long you need to stay out rather than if you let your stamp expire. The information that people are wanting is if you leave at 5 months can you come back in if you stay out for two weeks or 30 days or 3 days? Also if you leave at your 6th month before it expires are you going to be let back in after 30 days, or do you need to stay out for 6 months or longer? Also does it matter how many border hops you have done in the past?

Bonnie, it would be nice if they were able to tell you if they have had any issues with people having to call them from the airport. 

13 minutes ago, JimAndNena said:

Although I am a proponent of "ask the man who owns one", the variety of experiences of which I have read many lead me to believe that no two crossings are the same.  Return ticket, $500 cash, 3 day exit required, all these things are applied or not seemingly at random. The only sure thing is that the border guard du jour has absolute authority regardless of their understanding of the law.

So true. Now however it's more than a matter of this guy had to show $500 and the next guy didn't. People have been denied entry and it would be helpful to hear the stories to see if anything that could be helpful to others emerges. 

 The problem is that Panama has not made any clear cut rules, it is all very wishy washy. The best way at this point is to hear about others experiences crossing the border, either by land or air. People have been attacked trying to tell their experiences, and that has shied people away from telling their stories. Maybe if this stops we can gain some insight.   It has been said before 5 months have passed to stay out 30 days and you will be let back in, but if you reach your 6th month staying out for 30 days won't let you back in. If that is the case when can you come back, 6 months, a year? No one knows. It has also been said that if you have been border hopping for 2 years, you can't come back in. If so, how long before you can come back? It has also been said that if you are in the process of applying for residency to show a letter or paperwork from your lawyer and you will be let back in, but will you really be able to, is this good enough? Hopefully some will come forward and tell their experiences so others can benefit. If you have been border hopping for awhile at this point if I were to do a border hop, I would treat it as if I wouldn't be allowed back in just in case. Have someone caring for your pets, let your landlord know you may not be able to come back, maybe go so far as packing up all of your things or selling them.