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