| I work in Panama for a Real Estate | | | | immigration lawyer to get around these |
| Company. Essentially, I am an illegal | | | | problems. She knows first hand the |
| immigrant in Panama. Today I realized | | | | dangers of overstaying your welcome. A |
| that my tourist visa, which is good for | | | | year ago she was held in an immigration |
| 3 months, is set to expire tomorrow. | | | | detention center while her passport was |
| This poses an immediate problem as | | | | confiscated and transferred to the |
| deportation is a very real threat to | | | | Airport, where she had to pick it up and |
| foreigners who overstay their welcome. | | | | leave the country that day. They gave |
| When you enter Panama as a non-citizen, | | | | her just hours to pack enough for the |
| you are able to pay for a Tourist Visa. | | | | trip and get out. Luckily she was able |
| This visa costs $5 at the border or at | | | | to fly to San Jose and stay with |
| the international airport and is valid | | | | friends, but she reports that it was a |
| for 90 days from day of entry. I am | | | | traumatic experience. She notes that she |
| sitting on day 89 hoping that tomorrow | | | | had not been in the country for the |
| I'm not in jail or on a plane. | | | | allotted 90 days, but that immigration |
| I enjoy living and working in Panama and | | | | judged that she did not have sufficient |
| intend to continue to stay here for some | | | | time to get her affairs in order and |
| time. I would prefer not to leave as it | | | | they were not issuing her a visa |
| is a monetary and time consuming | | | | extension, so they deported her. |
| obligation. The easiest option is to fly | | | | I'm on my way to buy a bus pass out of |
| to Costa Rica, a one hour flight that | | | | Panama. The government requires that all |
| costs around $250 each way. For a | | | | entering parties have a ticket showing |
| fraction of the cost, $25, you can take | | | | that they are planning to leave Panama. |
| a bus ride from Panama City to San Jose, | | | | I had purchased a $12 ticket in Costa |
| Costa Rica. This ride is seventeen hours | | | | Rica before I left to come down here |
| long. Having done both, I dread the | | | | that I showed to immigration when I |
| thought of having to sit cramped in a | | | | entered. It has since expired and I need |
| bus for another ¾ of a day. If it is | | | | a new one that shows even with an |
| within your means, there is no reason to | | | | extension, that I plan to leave. The |
| not take the flight. Otherwise, get | | | | penalty for not giving Immigration 48 |
| ready for a long, long drive. | | | | hours to process my request is $25, |
| You are allowed to extend your stay for | | | | along with the normal $25 administrative |
| up to 180 days. This is what I am | | | | fee and the $12 bus ticket, a $72 |
| attempting to accomplish today. My | | | | extension much less that the $600+ |
| roommate, a Canadian who has lived in | | | | flight and stay or the $150+ bus and |
| Panama for 18 months, has hired an | | | | stay. Wish me luck. |