Rooikop

there is alot more to me than just been a landscaper.

Looking for US made pocket knives or sheath knives.maybe you have a few lying around  in boxes or something.let me know if you have something

steve 

Hooray finally  meet him

.Bugger just remembered I am stuck in Nicaragua. 

sorry Ian maybe next time.

just for everyone's information .I was at day 85 of a 180 day visa.I was denied entry .michelle was in her 5 month of the 6 month visa .denied entry.she was denied because she was with me.they did not look at her visa or passport .only because she was my wife ,was she denied.so is that a new visa rule as well.

It's a good policy.i agree with it,one of the problems facing Europe right now.people enter as tourist and stay for ever.but it's always had a large amount of grey areas and weird loopholes.so does Panama.

I have a corporation.a business licence.ruk no.my children went to school here all done legally.i paid over 15000 dollars to seguro sociale.but never got residence due to various things.i was never illegal.but fell foul of a system operating a huge grey area.this should be a great example of a flawed system and Some one caught in it.i don't want sympathy .I just want to navigate my way through the grey areas and get out of it.

12 minutes ago, MarieElaine said:

Does anyone know how easy it is to immigrate to Spain?  Cost of residency?

not hard.some places are expensive but on the whole not to bad.France is good.property is very cheap

great place to live.depends on attitude of course. 

15 minutes ago, Pat said:

So now it's on to Malaysia for you.

Maybe this is the right place for you.

10 years ago maybe yes

not now. back to Europe!

 At the moment my wife and i are stuck in limbo here in Nicaragua. With all the problems and comments flying around regarding legal status .visa .requirements  costs etc.and not one real piece of printed advice or confirmed government  documentation  just, he said .they said could be.maybe.

I thought it would be good to see  a country that does expat immigration  .visitor visa etc,well.very well in fact. The country of Malaysia. 

when we chose to leave Australia .Malaysia was an option but we chose Panama 

Why ?property at the time was cheaper.but the process to stay 10 years ago was not as easy as made out.and I suppose we gave up trying through frustration , head banging and the fact in the end we left and went back to NZ.

Have a look at a system which works and is so efficent. . Lawyers are government  approved and veted.fees are fixed.and you can communicate directly with English speaking government  officials.

it's called the MM2H PROGRAM.

http://mm2h.co/

The government  site is in English and is easily understood.

http://www.mm2h.gov.my/index.php/en/about-mm2h

Just something  think about when you have to translate 60 pages of documents into spanish.

14 hours ago, Roger B said:

Sorry but I HAVE TO WATCH TV NEWS everyday and have not seem it yet.

Also I read almost all the newspaper everyday and havent seem it printed yet.

Thanks,

Apparently it was a Facebook video and was removed 2 hours after it was posted.interesting how things lost in translation.

Yes I see that.ten years agowhen we applied in David we sent our papers off the lawyer Who told us it could not be done and send it to Zimbabwe. interestingly we met the honorary consul  here  in Panana and  they certified it.which was acceptable.But we couldn't get police cerificates from Indonesia.New Zealand and Australia yes but there was a break in the paperwork  and it was Indonesia.we have had so much conflicting advice and spent so much money on trying to get thing's done.it's not funny.

also I have just checked and they would not have been able to apostil it anyway.

interesting  development. 

don't worry  I won't send it to Zimbabwe.

Yes we have always been travellers and enjoyed it up to now.

.we will see what happens in the next few days,  but we are running out of time and money.and we might be on the move again. 

I was told to send my south african marriage  certificate  to Zimbabwe to be apostiled  as South Africa does not apostil documents. .Great idea.!!!!

would you send your original marriage  certificate  to Zimbabwe. ????

On 12/03/2017 at 2:36 PM, Twin Wolf Technology Group said:

To clarify - yes we were both single when we got married.   We had a choice of getting married in the US, in Colombia or in Panama.   Colombia was the easiest, least expensive and least complicated as far as paperwork.   When it comes to a resident visa in Panama, the marriage is only important in the fact that it is needed to prove that my Panama company (Friendly Nations Visa via my Panama S.A.)  is what is providing the income.   Neither of us are pensionados and she does not qualify for any other type of visa.

My point was that in order to get the paperwork to prove our marriage in Colombia, we would need to go to Colombia to get it and upon returning they will not let her enter the country.  So the lawyer suggested that if we could not return with the paperwork, then we should essentially lie to Panama and get married here again as if we were single.   This goes to my point that yet another so called reputable lawyer's  answer is for us it to lie and create false paperwork to get around what should be a simple trip to get proof of marriage.   This is the system here.   Lie, cheat, get around the rules and play the game.   I did it before for 5 years because I was naive.   I am smart enough now to know that Panama is going to keep changing the rules with new decrees.   What the Panama and the lawyer tell me today will not be what the facts tomorrow.   

Admittedly we are in an unusual situation. Looking at her passport it appears she has been border hopping for the last year.  In fact we were merely dating and travelling between the two countries until we finally got married a few months ago.   The lawyer had no answer when I asked what the difference was between visiting often and border hopping.  Everything we did for the last year was legal and within the laws, rules and decrees at that time.  Our  visits were always in one country or the other for at least a month length - not a 3 day hop.

Is there a way for us to go thru the system and get her a visa?  Yes.    The cost is estimated at $5,000+ due to various circumstances.   There is no simple way for Panama to look at my residency for the last 8 years and then give her a spousal visa for some additional fee.    On the other hand, Colombia looks at me as her new husband and says I can have spousal visa for about $200 (effective immediately) and then permanent residency and dual citizenship after 3 years.   The process is a few hours long and my passport is updated within a week or two. 

As one lawyer told me - Panama sees the border hoppers as a great deal of money if it can just force them into a visa process.   And I do not disagree that people should be here legally.   I have proudly showed my papers at every checkpoint and admired the country for making sure people were legal.   My complaint is that they are punishing the very people who want to go thru the process, such as my wife.

Don't get me wrong, I love my life here and I have fought hard to be here legally.   As I said in my original post, I am raising the white flag.   I have lived here and been a supporting member of the community.   I have employed dozens of Panamanians and given to the country in many ways.   I have changed as Panama evolved and sought to always be honest and forthright.   Panama is asking too much. The lawyer sharks are circling ready to lie and cheat with promises of a simple visa that is just a mirage.   I think I will swim somewhere else, thanks...   

I know how you feel.

3 hours ago, Roger B said:

Sorry.  

But it is only that hearsay.  

Not a formal information.   If something like that happened in the airport for sure the local newspaper and TV News would be presenting in all the TV channels.  It would be a real problem of the airport being very congested, the airlines will be having a lot of trouble with the people rejected and sending them back,   So I suggest to rely only on formal information.

Watch the TV Roger. it was on TV.

Well our forced holiday has its benefits. we see a new country tgy new food's, and generally experience  something different. Well Nicaragua  is our current country and it's very nice.Granada is a lovely town .very different  to David.Lots of culture  and interest and also has a huge lake o it's doorstep.it's relatively cheap but is catching up in its tourist spots as far as prices.steak.chips drink and desert $5 yes it's getting up there .A full roast chicken is $3.50.at the supermarket.lots of gorgeous leather just a pity we don't know what's happening otherwise we might buy something.lovely churches.will post more later

but I think a good place to visit. 

10 hours ago, Siempre Soluciones said:

Thanks for the clarification.

Though we've never met, I can speak for myself and the many people that I've discussed this with in the last week, we all care about you guys since we're all in this together.

Thanks,the last few days have been a nightmare.michelle is worried about her babies.its not easy not knowing what to do.I hope no one else has this problem.

10 hours ago, Siempre Soluciones said:

Bonnie,

People in Panama on tourist visas are not allowed to drive vehicles owned and registered to them outside of the country.

How did he do this?

No they did not let Michelle in.and the Hilux is in Panama.we are waiting to see what transpires this week.we can't afford to spend any more money.Nicaragua is cheap.and nice.

No Michelle is with me.they refused her entry and my vehicle is in Panama with Gareth.

14 hours ago, Rooikop said:

Wise move.

The immigration  officer asked if Michelle was my wife took her passport and told her she had to leave.Did not look at it .did not open and see she has been here only 5 months and has her return ticket to london next week.and was entitled to be in Panama. she hasn't  been in Panama for 5 years so there was no border hopping  ,this is what we faced, He would not talk to us just a complete denial and get out.so no chance to say goodbye to our daughter and end her holiday on a happy note.

London calls.

1 minute ago, Keith Woolford said:

Steven, Tricia Daugherty is the local U.K. Consular Representative. Sorry I do not have contact info.

thanks keith.maybe someone knows her email.

On 09/03/2017 at 7:58 PM, Bonnie said:

Just to be clear, Steve, Michelle, the daughter, and the daughter's friend all were on the trip and all were refused reentry. 

Bonnie how do I contact  the UK. Warden in Boquete?

Hey Bonnie .we have no idea how and when we can get back in .and I am tired of all the selfrightrous  ones telling me what I should have done.I just tried to warn people .should have kept quite.

I could have put it more eloquently but than I would be banned here as well.hope to be back soon and I hope you feel better soon.I have had no real advice or information on what to do

I might have to fly from Managua to london.

On 3/11/2017 at 8:49 AM, Bonnie said:

The loss of both Dan and the Walkers would be a substantial loss to the community. I'm holding out hope that Panama will rectify this situation asap. Surely by now the powers that be have recognized how short-sighted and peremptory the issuance of this decree was.

I don't think anybody cares Bonnie

I have a ticket for the first of May and my wife for march 22nd.and we can't get in to use them.the whole situation is a mess.