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Article #133: Overstaying Your Welcome in Panama

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






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