International Living Community

Glad you've posted CLAUDETTELC 0 and it would be great if some of the other ILers on this forum are in Panama City to meet up. That said most of the folks on this forum are contemplating a move and may not be there yet. Luckily there are many ways to meet expats in Panama. Networking apps and sites like LinkedIn (website: www.linkedin.com), Instagram (website www.Instagram.com), and Facebook (website: www.facebook.com) are extremely popular in Panama and are great ways to grow your network. You can create a profile for free and search Panama-related groups. You'll find expat groups specifically on Facebook for many areas of Panama, such as El Valle and Coronado. Attending events, by the way, is also a great way to get involved and meet new people. There are many sites where you can find out about fun events, including Facebook (check expat groups in your city or town of interest and/or select the events section from the menu), Playa Community (Coronado region; website: www.playacommunity.com), and Internations (Panama City; website: www.Internations.org). When traveling to specific destinations in Panama, make sure to hit the popular expat hotspots. You’re likely to make friends and glean important information. In Panama City, you might try the Balboa Yacht Club if you're already in the area (it's located not in Balboa but in Amador by the Radisson Hotel Panama Canal and a short drive from the Biomuseum), and in the city-center there are multiple options like The Londoner Pub, owned by fun-loving expat Piers Edgar, or Bdubs by the Waldorf Astoria, or Murphy's Bar on Via Argentina (check their facebook pages to see if they're having live music or other fun events as these are great networking opportunities). International networking platform Internations also holds networking events once a month—a different venue each time (sign up for the website at www.internations.org/panama-city-expats). Best, IL Panama Editor Jess Ramesch

Hi Karen3A, I am David Hammond, International Living's correspondent in Uruguay. I am from Washington State and have been living in Uruguay for 19 years. In my opionion: A few cons: While I find Uruguay more affordable than the U.S., it is one of the more expensive countries in Latin America. And it's also a long flight to the U.S. A few pluses: What I like best about Uruguay is its culture of inclusion. There is a bigger middle class in Uruguay than any other country in Latin America. And its recently been ranked as the country with the least amount of public corruption in the Americas by Transparancy International. Here are a couple of articles I wrote that yiou may find intereesting: This article specifically lays out some of the pros and cons of living in Uruguay: https://internationalliving.com/countries/uruguay/ This article explains some of the pluses attracting expats to Uruguay: https://internationalliving.com/why-uruguay-is-the-perfect-post-election-haven-for-expats/ Best regards, David

First of all, there is no obstacle to getting a second citizenship on the American side.The Supreme Court has ruled several times that Americans cannot be forbidden from acquiring other citizenships. So keep that in mind because if you really like a country, it's always best to become a citizen if you want to stay there. There are many countries where you can live and retire indefinitely. For retirees, countries have visas that allow you to remain indefinitely as long as you have sufficient income from pensions and investments. In Europe, they include Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Germany, and several countries in the Balkans. Popular retirement visas in the Western Hemisphere include Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Uruguay, Brazil, Argentina, and Ecuador. The key factor for all of these visas is whether you have enough passive income from pension and investments to qualify. The cheapest are in Central America, with Costa Rica and Panama at $1000 a month. Europe is more expensive although Portugal will grant AD7 retirement visa for around $1000 a month income. All the other countries are in the €3000 to €3500 monthly income range. Finally, note that although you often need to renew the visa annually for every two years, this is just a formality to show that you continue to have enough income. Many IL subscribers have lived for years abroad in these countries in this way.

Hi there, If you're just looking to get a feel for what the country is like, IL's "Escape to Colombia" guide contains a host of information for people looking to visit or retire there. Cartagena is a famously charming city. Here’s a shortlist of must-see attractions you should check out when visiting Cartagena (according to the Escape to Colombia guide): • Bolívar Square • Gold and Archaeological Museum • Castle of San Felipe de Barajas • Palace of the Inquisition • San Pedro Claver Cathedral • Temple of Santo Domingo • Mucura Island Medellín also has plenty to offer in the realm of entertainment and cultural tourism. In July, the city hosts Colombiamoda, where the country's top fashion designers show off their work.

I suggest calling the number on this page to find out more info: https://internationalliving.com/events/fast-track-costa-rica-2025/ Register Today! If you have any questions give our customer service team a call on 1-866-381-8446 (toll free from the U.S. or Canada) or +1-443-353-4232 (9 AM-7PM EST) I look forward to seeing you in MAY!

You can go here! https://internationalliving.com/events/fast-track-costa-rica-2025/ There is also an option to call - Register Today! If you have any questions give our customer service team a call on 1-866-381-8446 (toll free from the U.S. or Canada) or +1-443-353-4232 (9 AM-7PM EST) I can't wait to meet you at the conference in MAY!

Hi there, If you're already a member, you should be able to find this book (and others) in your IL library. For now, try using this link to access it directly. If you find yourself looking for a specific book in the future, however, you could try logging into the IL website (or clicking on the "member site" button in the top right of the screen) and using the search button at the top of the page. Also, you can always browse through your IL library by clicking on the "My Library" button (located under the "New For You" header on the member site).

Reach out to Magda Crespo for info on the Highlands. She is a treasure when in comes to everything Boquete, David, and Volcan. Here is her contact info: Magda Crespo Insurance & Real Estate Agent Tel 507-720-3240 Cel 507-6671-8800 email magda@magdacrespo.com website : www.magdacrespo.com

Merci beaucoup, Tuula! I will try those resources.

once you have been given approval for a Mexican Visa whether temporary or permanent, you get a stamp in your passport, and you have 180 days to go to Mexico and have that temporary stamp converted to a permanent resident status. If you don't go to Mexico with him that time, you have to start the application process all over again.

i am curious about the billage she lives in. I livd in lugano swyz gor 11 years and sm very familiar with maggiori

Hey Mike - that's fantastic! Unfortunately I leave on the 27th for two weeks otherwise I would have happily caught up with you. Straits has changed a lot, for the better in the last year or so too with lots of good restuarants opening. Healy Macs for social events like trivia too on a Monday night is pretty popular. Sorry that I'll miss you - next time.

Hi Clarksteller, I live in Uruguay. The immigration requirement, here, is a clean FBI report (from the U.S.) or a clean national police report (if from another country). However, sometimes, a Uruguayan immigration attorney can successfully make a case for why a person should be granted immigration status even if their record isn't spotless. It would probably take an experienced immigration attorney in the country where you want to immigrate to learn the details of your partner's case and give you odds of successfully getting an exception

Roxanne, thank you for the your questions. Generally VISAs in most countries allow you to stay indefinately. We have to renew our VISA every two years. BUT I am not famil, iar with Slovakia nor am I a Visa Lawyer. From that perspective you should be able to visit italy for 90 days without problem. But I am also sending along a VISA expert who is a lawyer. mgrazia.colombo@leexe.it. She will give you the right answer. Chip Stites, Italy Corresmpondent, International Living Magazine

Hello there! Thailand is very friendly to all races. I've seen an increase in the number of black Americans living here during the past few years, especially couples. The Philippines is also quite open and friendly with many retired military members from all races choosing the island nation as their new home. When it comes to openness and diversity, Southeast Asia is hard to beat.