Comments on: 30 Day´s For Tourist Visa http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/05/29/30-day%c2%b4s-for-tourist-visa/ "Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today." - James Dean Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:55:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Chiriquí Chatter » Blog Archive » More 30 Day Visa Questions http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/05/29/30-day%c2%b4s-for-tourist-visa/comment-page-1/#comment-22447 Chiriquí Chatter » Blog Archive » More 30 Day Visa Questions Thu, 07 Jun 2007 00:06:53 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/05/29/30-day%c2%b4s-for-tourist-visa/#comment-22447 [...] and unknowns about the new 30-day visa law continue to to be raised on the Panama Yahoo groups. One thing that I think most people [...] [...] and unknowns about the new 30-day visa law continue to to be raised on the Panama Yahoo groups. One thing that I think most people [...]

]]> By: Don Ray http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/05/29/30-day%c2%b4s-for-tourist-visa/comment-page-1/#comment-22430 Don Ray Wed, 06 Jun 2007 19:51:55 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/05/29/30-day%c2%b4s-for-tourist-visa/#comment-22430 Hi Sofia. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. You are correct in that the US boarder interface is much different now than in the past. The world as a whole has changed greatly after 9/11. Hi Sofia. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. You are correct in that the US boarder interface is much different now than in the past. The world as a whole has changed greatly after 9/11.

]]> By: Sofia http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/05/29/30-day%c2%b4s-for-tourist-visa/comment-page-1/#comment-22427 Sofia Wed, 06 Jun 2007 19:33:52 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/05/29/30-day%c2%b4s-for-tourist-visa/#comment-22427 Perhaps we are a little too sensative to "not nice" border control composure. Need I remind you all that our one beloved country treats all foreigners (residents and tourists alike) like hostile terrorists. Perhaps its time that we get a little taste of our own medicine. We can not push for exceptions to the new law based on what country you come from as this is extrememly unjust. Not everyone from Colombia is a drug lord. Buying into that belief is a straight up prejudice. Panama has open doors for many more options, investors, forestry, and pension visas for those with the finanacial abilities to buy in to Panama. There are worse things in this world (horror stories from US immigrations por ejemplo) than a cranky reception into Panama. Perhaps we are a little too sensative to “not nice” border control composure. Need I remind you all that our one beloved country treats all foreigners (residents and tourists alike) like hostile terrorists. Perhaps its time that we get a little taste of our own medicine. We can not push for exceptions to the new law based on what country you come from as this is extrememly unjust. Not everyone from Colombia is a drug lord. Buying into that belief is a straight up prejudice.

Panama has open doors for many more options, investors, forestry, and pension visas for those with the finanacial abilities to buy in to Panama. There are worse things in this world (horror stories from US immigrations por ejemplo) than a cranky reception into Panama.

]]> By: Don Ray http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/05/29/30-day%c2%b4s-for-tourist-visa/comment-page-1/#comment-21327 Don Ray Wed, 30 May 2007 14:03:23 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/05/29/30-day%c2%b4s-for-tourist-visa/#comment-21327 Hi Jim. After thinking more on the subject, I tend to agree with you. I still think the PR wasn't handled well, but nothing is perfect. Hi Jim. After thinking more on the subject, I tend to agree with you. I still think the PR wasn’t handled well, but nothing is perfect.

]]> By: Chiriquí Chatter » Blog Archive » Thoughts on The New Panama Tourist Visa http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/05/29/30-day%c2%b4s-for-tourist-visa/comment-page-1/#comment-21318 Chiriquí Chatter » Blog Archive » Thoughts on The New Panama Tourist Visa Wed, 30 May 2007 13:11:59 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/05/29/30-day%c2%b4s-for-tourist-visa/#comment-21318 [...] had a little more time to think about the new Tourist Visa changes since yesterday and now that my initial shock has passed, I am trying to look at it objectively. The Panama Guide has an interview with Lic. [...] [...] had a little more time to think about the new Tourist Visa changes since yesterday and now that my initial shock has passed, I am trying to look at it objectively. The Panama Guide has an interview with Lic. [...]

]]> By: jimandnena http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/05/29/30-day%c2%b4s-for-tourist-visa/comment-page-1/#comment-21306 jimandnena Wed, 30 May 2007 11:37:46 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/05/29/30-day%c2%b4s-for-tourist-visa/#comment-21306 Don Ray, The USA would do well to enact some similar time period in their laws. I surfed the USA visa gov sites looking for a finite duration of visit number and came up empty. I was finally able to get Nena's sister her permanent resident status after the having to repay several hundred dollars when the government lost her original card in transit so at least Panama is offering a very clear policy. It sure beats the maze of government regs that we have here in the US. My sister-in-law's original request for permanent status was filed in 1992 and was granted just last year. JimAndNen Don Ray, The USA would do well to enact some similar time period in their laws. I surfed the USA visa gov sites looking for a finite duration of visit number and came up empty.

I was finally able to get Nena’s sister her permanent resident status after the having to repay several hundred dollars when the government lost her original card in transit so at least Panama is offering a very clear policy. It sure beats the maze of government regs that we have here in the US. My sister-in-law’s original request for permanent status was filed in 1992 and was granted just last year.
JimAndNen

]]> By: Don Ray http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/05/29/30-day%c2%b4s-for-tourist-visa/comment-page-1/#comment-21270 Don Ray Wed, 30 May 2007 02:07:14 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/05/29/30-day%c2%b4s-for-tourist-visa/#comment-21270 Ron - They are really cracking down. I really think this is a good thing. The bad thing is that they have done a terrible job of promoting what they are doing and they need to be sensitive to communicating as the example above shows. Ron – They are really cracking down. I really think this is a good thing. The bad thing is that they have done a terrible job of promoting what they are doing and they need to be sensitive to communicating as the example above shows.

]]> By: Ron http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/05/29/30-day%c2%b4s-for-tourist-visa/comment-page-1/#comment-21269 Ron Wed, 30 May 2007 01:52:57 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/05/29/30-day%c2%b4s-for-tourist-visa/#comment-21269 This new law is one of the silliest laws enacted since I started researching Panama 5 years ago. It will cost Panama $100,000s in lost revenue from tourists who spend more in a day than most Panamanians make in a week. A good compromise would be a 60 visa with a 60 day extension possible. I guess I'll have to start on my small business investor visa when I came back down in July. As I understand it, the law allows one 30 day extension after the initial 30 period then a 72 hour "sabatical". The good news is that I'll only be 25 minutes from the border. This new law is one of the silliest laws enacted since I started researching Panama 5 years ago. It will cost Panama $100,000s in lost revenue from tourists who spend more in a day than most Panamanians make in a week. A good compromise would be a 60 visa with a 60 day extension possible. I guess I’ll have to start on my small business investor visa when I came back down in July. As I understand it, the law allows one 30 day extension after the initial 30 period then a 72 hour “sabatical”. The good news is that I’ll only be 25 minutes from the border.

]]> By: Don Ray http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/05/29/30-day%c2%b4s-for-tourist-visa/comment-page-1/#comment-21268 Don Ray Wed, 30 May 2007 01:46:36 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/05/29/30-day%c2%b4s-for-tourist-visa/#comment-21268 I agree. The implementation seems to leave a lot to be desired. I agree. The implementation seems to leave a lot to be desired.

]]> By: Rob Alan http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/05/29/30-day%c2%b4s-for-tourist-visa/comment-page-1/#comment-21266 Rob Alan Wed, 30 May 2007 01:35:20 +0000 http://www.chiriquichatter.net/blog/2007/05/29/30-day%c2%b4s-for-tourist-visa/#comment-21266 Don Ray, The Panama Guide has more info and an interview with Senor Tomas Garcia Tobar, the National Sub Director of Panama's Department of Immigration regarding the recent change in requirements for tourist visas. See: http://www.panama-guide.com/article.php/20070529182323397 I have no problem with Panama trying to control their borders better, in contrast to the US which doesn't appear to have the stomach for it. Nonetheless, this seems to be not the best approach to rolling it out. I would guess that drug & human trafficking are the primary targets. Rob Don Ray,
The Panama Guide has more info and an interview with Senor Tomas Garcia Tobar, the National Sub Director of Panama’s Department of Immigration regarding the recent change in requirements for tourist visas. See:
http://www.panama-guide.com/article.php/20070529182323397
I have no problem with Panama trying to control their borders better, in contrast to the US which doesn’t appear to have the stomach for it. Nonetheless, this seems to be not the best approach to rolling it out. I would guess that drug & human trafficking are the primary targets.
Rob

]]>