For years, my husband and I talked about moving to Panama. We drooled over photos of lush tropical hideaways, deserted beaches and dreamy, cool mountaintops covered in flowers. Countless articles and guides — online and in print — told us about cheap real estate and very-easy immigration visas. It seemed so simple to us, so we eventually visited and decided to take the next step.
We made the big decision to become Panama residents.
Unfortunately, this decision required that we temporarily step out of the dream-world of Latin fantasies and into the immigration office of nightmares. But we survived it and thankfully haven’t lost the romance of our first love. It just required some careful planning and research, realistic expectations, and lots of patience.
Moving to a new country is exciting, challenging and a bit romantic. But the logistics of getting there can be quite the opposite. Let’s face it; it’s not as easy as some of the articles online try to portray. In this article, I want to cover a few of the more challenging aspects of immigration, and give you some helpful tips, resources and advice for navigating through some potential “romance” killers.
Hiring a lawyer
Yes, there’s a ton of free immigration information online. Some of it is good, but much of it is outdated. Laws change all the time. For example, in Panama, the immigration laws changed in February of 2008. So what you’re reading about a country’s immigration laws and visa programs may not be accurate. Before you make any decisions about moving, you absolutely need to find a reputable immigration lawyer in your country of choice with whom to discuss your own particular options. You may even learn that moving to a new country isn’t as appealing or as do-able as you thought.
When I first sought out a lawyer in Panama, I had handful of leads and some sparse recommendations. There’s always plenty of advertising online, but that doesn’t mean anything. There’s risk in getting a popular, well-known lawyer or law firm. The risk is that they may not have the time or willingness to help you in the timeframe you need. I experienced this with one very highly recommended lawyer from a well-respected international travel/relocation company. Yeah, it was great to have a good lawyer to contact that I could trust, but, frankly, she didn’t have time for me.
Some of the bigger, well-known firms can turn out to be the same way. If you’re a “little guy” to them, you may not get the service you want.
Conversely, going with a “hungry” and cheaper small-time lawyer is a huge risk, too. Immigration is a big step and the last thing you need is inexperience. Dozens will actively try and win you over with cheap prices and big promises, and some of them will deliver on their promises. And many will not. It’s a huge risk you shouldn’t take with such an important process.
Instead, try to find a well-respected lawyer who is happy to have your business and has the time to help you, but has already established themselves in the area. And always double-check references and credentials. (You may not believe this, but some people who claim they are lawyers really are not!) Many countries have some form of online registry where you can check to see if a lawyer is registered to practice law in that country. Find out where you can do that if it’s not online. In Panama, I had the fortune of easily checking to not only see my lawyer was registered to practice, but also how many applications she had processed and how many were approved or denied.
Another important consideration is communication. It’s absolutely imperative that you and your lawyer’s staff communicate well. Don’t assume you can just “get by” on some phrases here and there. You will need to communicate with each other beyond “hello” and “how much?”
Lastly, try and get a written service agreement upfront which will outline payment and your expectations of the services and timeframe your lawyer will provide.
Immigration Paperwork
Now that you have a lawyer, it’s time to think about paperwork. You will be handling tons of it and it needs to be perfect and timely. Go over with your lawyer exactly what you will need and when you will need it. Make a master list with all the details and systematically start your work. Some countries will want documents that have been issued within a certain time-frame only, so your dusty 20-year-old marriage certificate won’t cut it.
Once you have your list of needed documents, have your lawyer double-check it. Then research your time-requirements on each item, and how long it will take you to order them and have them certified, which are two different processes. Be careful: some U.S. state agencies are painfully slow and backed-up. I made the mistake of ordering my birth certificate from California through the state Vital Records office. It arrived four months later. Luckily, I suspected this would happen and ordered one expedited through the county as well, and I got it in a week’s time.
Be wary of online companies offering to get your documents to you fast for a fee. Some of them may produce documents that do not qualify for further certification if they are not notarized properly. Usually you can work with the local state and county offices to have it done fast, so look to them first.
The other matter to consider is authenticating all your documents. If the country of your destination belongs to the Hague Convention, then you will need an Apostille. If it doesn’t, then you will most likely need a Certification, which is given by the same government agencies. I had the most trouble with this step because we had a stack of documents coming from several different states. There are many apostille services which can do this for you, but you risk dealing with a lazy or fraudulent company and you’ll be charged a pretty hefty price for it. Since getting an apostille can be an intimidating and mysterious process, con-artists have popped up all over the world taking fees from unsuspecting customers and then either disappearing with their important documents or providing them with fake apostilles. Of course if you have a fake apostille, you’ll eventually find out when the immigration office checks it. And that’s not a good first impression to make to a new country.
Since I had a background in state legislation and agencies, I did my own research and found some great tips and information so that the “average Joe” can feel confident about handling their own paperwork. One great source for getting your paperwork authenticated is the Apostille & Certification Guide. You can check it out at: www.apostilleguide.com
Opening A Bank Account
Well, if you’re going to move to a new place, you’re probably going to need money. And more than that, some immigration visas will require that you have a certain amount in an account or CD. This means you will have to find a bank you can trust and one that will give you an account. Your lawyer will be able to help explain the local banking laws, and even recommend reputable banks. Keep in mind that you will likely not find the same kind banking insurance we have in the U.S. (FDIC) So that’s a risk in itself – not that the FDIC doesn’t have it’s own inherent risks. You will absolutely want to research each bank’s solvency and balance sheet.
Also consider using a major international bank, like HSBC, which has branches in your country. Now, I’m not endorsing HSBC’s balance sheet, per se, but in my mind it’s one of the banks in the “too big to fail” category. Additionally, you may be able to open your overseas account via a local branch. I was able to open a Panama account from a Canadian branch (where I had an account) for a fee of around $130 USD. This saved me so much time and energy, and I was able to transfer money very easily and without any outrageous fees from one branch to the other. HSBC also offers foreign currency accounts so you may be able to save some conversion fees as well.
Patience Is A Virtue
But don’t be too virtuous. Stay on top of things. You may have temporary visas that need to be renewed before your application is approved. Don’t simply rely on your lawyer to anticipate everything for you – although they should. Keep track yourself of each step and stay in contact with your lawyer’s staff. On the other hand, keep in mind that you are dealing with a different country and a different way of doing things. Missing a deadline may not be that important to some cultures, so don’t hyperventilate if things take longer than you thought. (That is unless you’re moving to Germany where everything runs on time!)
Remember that you can control some things, but you can’t control everything. Immigrating to a new country requires a great deal of diligence, but it also requires a good attitude. With some smart planning and realistic expectations, you can keep the romance alive with your new home even throughout the immigration process.
Best,
Mels
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
If you were happy with your lawyer, can you tell me who it was. We are hoping to move to Panama and are in the beginning stages.
Thank you
Wynne,
I know how hard it can be to find a lawyer that is both legitimate, reasonably priced, and able to serve your needs well. I can heartily recommend Beth Gray in Panama City. She is English but grew up in Panama and has an amazing bi-lingual staff. Email her directly from her website: http://www.lawyers-abogados.net/