Keith Woolford Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 Regularization of Immigration status requirements On Thursday 23 March it was published in the Gazette the Executive Decree No. 145 of 17 March 2017 which amends Article 2 of the Executive Decree No. 167 of 3 June 2016 which sets out the process of regularization of General and repealing the Executive Decree No. 547 of 25 July 2012. This new decree that bears the signature of President Juan Carlos Varela, and the Minister of Public Security Alexis Bethancourt sets out four requirements that have to be met by foreigners seeking to benefit from the procedure of regularization. In article 2 of the mentioned norm establishes the following requirements: Having 18 years or more. If you have less than 18 years, the applicant must have the notarized authorization of one of their parents and test the link of kinship. A year or more of stay in the country. In the event that the alien has left the country will not be able to stay outside the national territory for a period of more than thirty calendar days, which will be verified with the entry stamps. Not having a process of legalization before the National Migration Service Go personally to submit your application for legalization. The same decree points out that the decision taken by the administration of Juan Carlos Varela is with the aim of stopping extraordinary regularization processes, by carrying them out at the headquarters of the National Migration Service in a more formal and stable manner in order to make this a more agile and transparent process. http://www.tvn-2.com/nacionales/Establecen-requisitos-extranjeros-regularizacion-migratoria_0_4718528112.html These appear to be amendments to the Regularization process which was detailed in June. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SP87 Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 How is one suppose to meet #2 of being in Panama for a year not leaving for more than 30 days if now they require tourists to be out of Panama for 30 days before they can re-enter? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Woolford Posted March 25, 2017 Author Share Posted March 25, 2017 (edited) The regularization program, to the best of my knowledge, replaced the Crisol de Razas immigration fairs, is similar to an amnesty, and is for those people who have been in the country for over a year now. Lawyers may not have much to say about this program because none is required to apply. There were many people at SNM working towards this status when I was there getting paperwork for my E-Cedula last summer. Edited March 25, 2017 by Keith Woolford Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted March 25, 2017 Moderators Share Posted March 25, 2017 14 hours ago, Keith Woolford said: Regularization of Immigration status requirements On Thursday 23 March it was published in the Gazette the Executive Decree No. 145 of 17 March 2017 which amends Article 2 of the Executive Decree No. 167 of 3 June 2016 which sets out the process of regularization of General and repealing the Executive Decree No. 547 of 25 July 2012. This new decree that bears the signature of President Juan Carlos Varela, and the Minister of Public Security Alexis Bethancourt sets out four requirements that have to be met by foreigners seeking to benefit from the procedure of regularization. In article 2 of the mentioned norm establishes the following requirements: Having 18 years or more. If you have less than 18 years, the applicant must have the notarized authorization of one of their parents and test the link of kinship. A year or more of stay in the country. In the event that the alien has left the country will not be able to stay outside the national territory for a period of more than thirty calendar days, which will be verified with the entry stamps. Not having a process of legalization before the National Migration Service Go personally to submit your application for legalization. The same decree points out that the decision taken by the administration of Juan Carlos Varela is with the aim of stopping extraordinary regularization processes, by carrying them out at the headquarters of the National Migration Service in a more formal and stable manner in order to make this a more agile and transparent process. http://www.tvn-2.com/nacionales/Establecen-requisitos-extranjeros-regularizacion-migratoria_0_4718528112.html These appear to be amendments to the Regularization process which was detailed in June. <snip> Following is the full text of Executive Decree No. 145 of 17 March 2017 referenced above: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gail Anstey Posted April 3, 2017 Share Posted April 3, 2017 Keith. I can't seem to be able to save the regulations so I can translate them. Can you help me with this? Can this be done in David or do I have to go to Panama City? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted April 3, 2017 Moderators Share Posted April 3, 2017 9 minutes ago, Gail Anstey said: Keith. I can't seem to be able to save the regulations so I can translate them. Can you help me with this? Can this be done in David or do I have to go to Panama City? Not really sure what you are looking for, but assuming that you are talking about Executive Decree No. 145 dated March 17th, 2017, I am uploading a PDF version of that two page document. Perhaps that will help. Decreto Ejecutivo No 145 del 17 de marzo de 2017.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gail Anstey Posted April 3, 2017 Share Posted April 3, 2017 He lists the procedures in his post/ I can't copy it to translate it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gail Anstey Posted April 3, 2017 Share Posted April 3, 2017 (edited) This is what I need translated. Edited April 3, 2017 by Gail Anstey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted April 3, 2017 Moderators Share Posted April 3, 2017 31 minutes ago, Gail Anstey said: This is what I need translated. My understanding of what you are trying to do is file for legal residency without the assistance of a competent attorney. Probably not the wisest approach to achieving your desired end goal to my way of thinking. Wishing you all the best. When you get to the end of this process, would you mind posting your experiences here on CL? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Siempre Soluciones Posted April 3, 2017 Share Posted April 3, 2017 1 hour ago, Moderator_02 said: My understanding of what you are trying to do is file for legal residency without the assistance of a competent attorney. Probably not the wisest approach to achieving your desired end goal to my way of thinking. Wishing you all the best. When you get to the end of this process, would you mind posting your experiences here on CL? Or at least invest $20 to have the document translated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penny Posted April 3, 2017 Share Posted April 3, 2017 18 hours ago, Siempre Soluciones said: Or at least invest $20 to have the document trans 19 hours ago, Moderator_02 said: My understanding of what you are trying to do is file for legal residency without the assistance of a competent attorney. Probably not the wisest approach to achieving your desired end goal to my way of thinking. Wishing you all the best. When you get to the end of this process, would you mind posting your experiences here on CL? I believe that you don't need an attorney for this type of visa. In fact, it appears that having an attorney is discouraged. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Siempre Soluciones Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 On 4/3/2017 at 4:02 PM, Penny said: I believe that you don't need an attorney for this type of visa. In fact, it appears that having an attorney is discouraged. Penny, Apparently this individual doesn't know Spanish. Who should bear that cost? Immigration in the United States offers free interpretation services in 12 languages as well as handing out vouchers for free stays at Marriott hotels and debit cards for food, clothing, booze, as well as free public and private education, but then again they're bankrupt. I sure hope that Panama doesn't go that route. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarieElaine Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 Apparently (per Olga S. on that "other" blog) the Panamanian government is trying to simplify the immigration process and are encouraging people to apply online without a lawyer. This is probably upsetting a lot of lawyers who make their living serving the expat community. There are more changes on the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Siempre Soluciones Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 4 minutes ago, MarieElaine said: Apparently (per Olga S. on that "other" blog) the Panamanian government is trying to simplify the immigration process and are encouraging people to apply online without a lawyer. This is probably upsetting a lot of lawyers who make their living serving the expat community. There are more changes on the way. What changes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarieElaine Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 "Other processes will also be available as of April 15". Per what I read in ning. Waiting on details. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwoSailors Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 Don't always believe what you read on that site! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gail Anstey Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 You know that I was only asking for help. You are acting like the idiots that I thought you would be. Never mind. I have had it translate, no problem. 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted April 5, 2017 Moderators Share Posted April 5, 2017 Here is a transcription of the English version of the article so that it might be easier to read: Quote National Migration System offers new online services Since Monday, March 27, the National Migration Service of Panama (SNM) has made available two new online services so that interested parties can take the first steps to regularize their immigration status without having to go to one of the Migration offices. This new service includes applications for Immigration Status and Foreign Pre-Registration, as well as naturalization, and regular and authorized visa services which were already available. With this new system, applicants can apply for an Immigration Status request from home and will only have to go to the Immigration Institution at the time of payment and subsequent collection of the status. In the case of Applications for Foreign Pre-Registration, with this method the interested party will be able to enter their data into the migration system so that when they visit the facilities of the SNM to formalize the registration the procedure will take considerably less time. Another benefit of this new system is that foreign residents can request an appointment for renewal of the provisional immigration ID from the same website. These new services come after a month of reorganization in the SNM, making such changes as the reduction to 3 consecutive months of stay in the country, for those who enter as a tourist, in addition to having to stay a month abroad before re-entering Panama. These services are available to the general public on the website of the National Migration System, www.Migracion.gob.pa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Siempre Soluciones Posted April 5, 2017 Share Posted April 5, 2017 3 hours ago, Moderator_02 said: Here is a transcription of the English version of the article so that it might be easier to read: "making such changes as the reduction to 3 consecutive months of stay in the country" Has the 180 days been reduced to three months? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Posted April 5, 2017 Share Posted April 5, 2017 I give up. I'm beginning to think that it's impossible to put all this together, to get a straight answer out of anyone. My sympathies are with all of you trying to get a residency visa. As folks work their way through this process, I hope they will keep the rest of us updated on what procedures are being followed (as opposed to all of those that have been reported). 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimAndNena Posted April 5, 2017 Share Posted April 5, 2017 I think we see why it is a nation of lawyers. jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwoSailors Posted April 5, 2017 Share Posted April 5, 2017 3 hours ago, Bonnie said: I give up. I'm beginning to think that it's impossible to put all this together, to get a straight answer out of anyone. My sympathies are with all of you trying to get a residency visa. As folks work their way through this process, I hope they will keep the rest of us updated on what procedures are being followed (as opposed to all of those that have been reported). It is amazing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonPanama Posted April 5, 2017 Share Posted April 5, 2017 For anybody wanting to get residency via marriage, the University of Panama in Panama City offers free lawyers for those that do not have any income or assets within the country. I recently had my Poder and Solcitude documents signed by the free lawyer. This saved me thousands of dollars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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