MarieElaine Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 Just heard that a law was passed yesterday that will allow Americans, Australians, Canadians and Brits to obtain residency status for $500 dollars without using a lawyer. Does anyone know anything about this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Woolford Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 (edited) Marie, the Regularization program has been in effect since June 2016, some amendments were incorporated on Thursday, numbers 1 to 4. Edited March 26, 2017 by Keith Woolford Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarieElaine Posted March 26, 2017 Share Posted March 26, 2017 (edited) Thanks Keith! Do you think that "applying in person" means going to Panama City? Edited March 26, 2017 by MarieElaine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted March 30, 2017 Author Moderators Share Posted March 30, 2017 Quote No ban on immigrants passing through – Varela Posted on March 29, 2017 in Latin America, Panama Post Views: 168 CENTRAL AMERICAN countries cannot forbid migrants from passing through to their destination, said Panama President Juan Carlos Varela, on Wednesday, March 29, at the Tuxtla Summit in San Jose, Costa Rica. “Whenever they do it with order and respect to the law, we as authorities must ensure that this transit is safe and peaceful.” He called on his peers at the Summit to be in solidarity on the issue and to reduce instances of human trafficking. Varela added that during its leadership of the Central American Integration System (SICA), which it will assume in June, Panama will seek to strengthen the fight against organized crime and the control of migrants. “Panama is committed to regional security and to protecting our service and logistics platform from the threat of organized crime,” said Varela, noting that with support from countries like Mexico and Colombia, mechanisms can be put in place to deal with new threats insecurity and violence. http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/latin-america/no-ban-immigrants-passing-varela Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 I don't understand what guaranteeing safe passage through a country has to do with fighting human trafficking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TwoSailors Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 That makes two of us Bonnie!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Woolford Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 If migrants are guaranteed safe passage there won't be any need to smuggle them ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Woolford Posted May 26, 2017 Share Posted May 26, 2017 Panama will be limiting the stay on a Tourist visa to 90 days for Colombians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans. http://m.telemetro.com/nacionales/Reduciran-Panama-Nicaragua-Colombia-Venezuela_0_1029797590.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Posted May 26, 2017 Share Posted May 26, 2017 Isn't the current policy 90 days for a tourist visa? I'm confused (as usual). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Woolford Posted May 27, 2017 Share Posted May 27, 2017 New Immigration Measures will not Affect Tourism: Him The administrator of the Panama Tourism Authority (ATP), Gustavo Him, said that the new measures on immigration policy, announced by the President of the Republic Juan Carlos Varela, will not affect tourism in the country. The administrator of the ATP hailed the announcement as a healthy decision and said "our tourists who come to make tourism to Panama The average stay is 15 days so that it is not going to affect anything in the national tourism". He added that tourists who arrive in the country are not those who remain as residents and stated that they are promoting consumption in lodging, restaurant and nightlife. The Government of Panama will reduce the permanence of citizens of Nicaragua, Colombia and Venezuela in the quality of tourists from 180 days to 90 days. In addition, the special process of regularization of immigrants through appointments implemented by the current administration was suspended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Woolford Posted May 27, 2017 Share Posted May 27, 2017 This report on TVN says that according to Javier Carillo, Director of Immigration Services, foreigners convicted of a crime, after serving their sentence, will then be expelled from Panama and not allowed to return. http://www.tvn-2.com/nacionales/Extranjeros-delinquen-expulsado-podran-Panama_0_4765773400.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted May 27, 2017 Author Moderators Share Posted May 27, 2017 http://www.prensa.com/in_english/Presidente-Varela-anuncia-medidas-migratorias_21_4765983357.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Woolford Posted May 31, 2017 Share Posted May 31, 2017 (edited) Today marks the end of pre-registration for the regularization of immigration status, Executive Decree 167 of 2016. The program was basically a more organized version of the Crisol de Razas fairs. Edited May 31, 2017 by Keith Woolford Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted June 1, 2017 Author Moderators Share Posted June 1, 2017 Quote New rules for tourist stays Posted on May 31, 2017 in Panama Post Views: 407 NEW RULES governing the length of time tourists can stay in the country went into effect on Wednesday, May 31. It is aimed primarily at residents from Colombia, Nicaragua and Venezuela. The new rule establishes a maximum time of stay of 90 days as a tourist in the country of 90 days. Previously it was 180 days. It also clarified that citizens of the three nationalities who entered the country before the validity of this decree will be able to maintain their status of 180 days as tourists. The decree was signed by President Juan Carlos Varela and Minister of Public Security Alexis Bethancourt Yau. The changes went into effect after being published in the Official Gazette. One of the reasons for establishing this new regulation is that a large number of foreigners from those countries engaged in work without requesting the change of immigration status. The new provision was announced by Varela on Friday. The president also said that there will be an increase in the surveillance of foreigners entering Panama. http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/new-rules-tourist-stays Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Posted June 1, 2017 Share Posted June 1, 2017 Although I believe the 90 day limit applies only to those visitors from Colombia, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, the article isn't entirely clear. The following two sentences give me pause: "The new rule establishes a maximum time of stay of 90 days as a tourist in the country". . . . Previously it was 180 days." Otherwise, it seems to speak only to the three Latin American nations mentioned. I have sought confirmation of my interpretation from the U.S. Embassy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Woolford Posted June 1, 2017 Share Posted June 1, 2017 (edited) Residential tourists here who haven't formalized their Immigration status better start packing. National Police and Immigration authorities are continuing to raid residential buildings believed to be housing foreigners, particularly Venezuelans and Colombians. Edited June 1, 2017 by Keith Woolford Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted June 1, 2017 Author Moderators Share Posted June 1, 2017 http://www.prensa.com/in_english/Reducen-tiempo-estadia-turistas_21_4770482911.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonnie Posted June 2, 2017 Share Posted June 2, 2017 10 hours ago, Bonnie said: Although I believe the 90 day limit applies only to those visitors from Colombia, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, the article isn't entirely clear. The following two sentences give me pause: "The new rule establishes a maximum time of stay of 90 days as a tourist in the country". . . . Previously it was 180 days." Otherwise, it seems to speak only to the three Latin American nations mentioned. I have sought confirmation of my interpretation from the U.S. Embassy I just received the following response from the U.S. Embassy: Bonnie, It is our understanding that there has been no change in the length of time that U.S. tourists can stay in Panama (still 180 days). We are currently working to have a Panamanian immigration official answer general immigration questions for U.S. citizens on Radio Chiriqui soon. Best, Thao Anh 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penny Posted June 2, 2017 Share Posted June 2, 2017 I thought Cubans were also one of the restricted nationalities but I might be wrong. Sounds similar to what is being argued in the US Supreme Court starting today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Woolford Posted June 2, 2017 Share Posted June 2, 2017 (edited) To the best of my knowledge, the Panamanian government is not banning or attempting to ban anyone (without a criminal record) from traveling here, just limiting the length of stay for three nationalities. Edited June 2, 2017 by Keith Woolford Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger B Posted June 2, 2017 Share Posted June 2, 2017 9 hours ago, Keith Woolford said: To the best of my knowledge, the Panamanian government is not banning or attempting to ban anyone (without a criminal record) from traveling here, just limiting the length of stay for three nationalities. Keith That is correct. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Woolford Posted June 8, 2017 Share Posted June 8, 2017 Executive Decree 269 will be challenged in the courts as being unconstitutional because it discriminates against Venezuelans, Colombians and Nicaraguans. Lawyers initiating the suit say the length of stay for tourists should be rolled back to 90 days for all nationalities. http://www.tvn-2.com/nacionales/judicial/Demandan-venezolanos-colombianos-nicaraguenses-Panama_0_4774772542.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Woolford Posted June 9, 2017 Share Posted June 9, 2017 This story reports a 50% increase in the number of applications received for Refugee status since Decree 269 limiting the stays of three nationalities to 90 days went into effect. Of the 2,600 applications received in 2016, only 23 were granted the status. http://www.tvn-2.com/nacionales/Incrementa-solicitudes-Panama-promulgacion-migrantes_0_4775522518.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted August 23, 2018 Author Moderators Share Posted August 23, 2018 Quote Colombia and Panama prepare strategy to attack border instability Wed, 08/22/2018 - 16:10 The security forces of Colombia and Panama are working to prepare a binational plan to protect their borders from the instability caused by drug trafficking and immigrant flow, representatives reported today after a meeting in the Panamanian capital. Major General Ricardo Jiménez Mejía, Chief of Operations Staff of the National Army of Colombia, told reporters that the meeting held with Panamanian authorities will help present a strategy and a plan that allows integration and combined work to attack the instability factors in the border. "We have heard and seen the threatening situation in both countries, and we are practically going to start to build the plan and the initiatives that each working group will develop to present it at the high level of Colombia and Panama," he said. Meanwhile, the Panamanian Minister of Public Security, Alexis Bethancourt, said the first orientation meeting is the result of the visits made by the President of Panama, Juan Carlos Varela to the new Colombian President, Iván Duque, on August 7. We have had great success in binational work, but this boost from both governments will take us much further with the new authorities," the minister said. He said the issues that are addressed include transnational threats such as organized crime, and aid in cooperation field. "We are strengthening the fight against drug trafficking and blocking the generation of money profited from this bad coexistence related to gangs and hired killers; if we focus on this, we will continue to lower crime rates," added Bethancourt https://www.panamatoday.com/panama/colombia-and-panama-prepare-strategy-attack-border-instability-7649 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Moderator_02 Posted November 5, 2018 Author Moderators Share Posted November 5, 2018 Quote Pregnant Cuban mom and kids deported Posted on November 4, 2018 in Panama The Cuban would-be refugee Post Views: 402 Yaima Millares Cuesta a pregnant Cuban woman and her three children who have been camped out in the transit area of Tocumen International Aiport for a week, seeking entry to Panama, were forcibly deported on Sunday, November 4 Immigration authorities first attempted to take the children but when they clung together to avoid being separated, police intervened and led the eldest a 17-year old away in cuffs. The mother and the other two children, aged 5 and 8 were then uploaded to a to Cuba bound plane reported the portal CiberCuba. https://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/pregnant-cuban-mom-and-kids-deported Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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