The timeframe for tourist visas has been reduced to 90 days and the period of validity for temporary cards for those seeking temporary or permanent residence reduced from 12 to 6 months.
From Decree 590 of the Executive Branch, published in La Gaceta:
"...Article 16.Immigration authorities at the National Immigration Servicewill issue tourist visas valid for a period notexceeding ninety (90) days, if foreigners comply with the requirements of this regulation without prejudicing what is established in international agreements ratified by the Republic of Panama and the principles of reciprocity."
International labor mobility as an important factor in business competitiveness is being obstructed in Costa Rica by the inefficiency of the Department of Immigration.
EDITORIAL
Inefficiency is the right adjective to describe the management of the Department of Immigration and Alien Affairs, where"... there are more than 20,000 cases pending resolution."
A new edict orders procedures which are very similar to the "melting pot" held under previous administrations, in order to regularize the status of undocumented immigrants.
An article on Prensa.com reports that "...Decrees 167 and 168 issued on June 3, 2016 by the Executive for general regularization and also for migrants from China, respectively, have generated a debate about its resemblance to Decree 547 of July 22, 2012, whereby migratory regularization fairs known as the Melting Pot were created during the administration of Ricardo Martinelli."
It has been announced that there will be an end to liberality in granting residence permits in the so-called melting pot, and the revision of the immigration status of resident foreigners whose papers have expired.
From a statement issued by the Presidency of Panama:
The Government of the Republic of Panama has approved an executive decree establishing immigration controls and regulating the immigration status of foreigners whose extraordinary provisional migratory permits have expired.
The government has asked the Assembly to return to the first legislative body a bill which eliminates the immigration fairs and to start discussions to establish a migration code.
At the request of the executive branch, "... The document was dropped from second to first debate, "arguing that it had to go back for review and take into account the considerations of the business sector, particularly the hotel industry and businesses linked to the Colon Free Zone.
"... Some of the professions reserved for national citizens are chemical engineering and petrochemicals, careers which are not offered by any university in Panama. "
EDITORIAL
Acting as a backdrop to the contradiction between migrant's human right to work and the need to reserve jobs for nationals, is the upkeep of competitiveness and economic development of each country.
An announcement has been made that the next round of issuance of residence permits to foreigners will be the last, in a change to the policy "aimed at strengthening borders to preventing the influx of illegal immigrants."
Panamaamerica.com reports that "On 12 October, on the same day as 'Día de la Hispanidad' Panama will hold for the last time the fair for mass regularization of foreigners, known as the 'Melting Pot'."
The government of Panama has reduced from seven to two years the timespan for granting Permanent Resident immigration status to professionals in the country.
As explained by the Director of Immigration, Javier Carrillo, the measure seeks to reduce the timeframe and make the process easier. It applies to foreign personnel hired by private companies within 10% of the regular staff and contracted for their technical expertise or within 15% of specialised personnel allowed by law.
The increasing international mobility of "business travelers" does not have adequate regulation in terms of taxes or migration.
From Deloitte Costa Rica’s Tax Column:
Considerations for business travelers
By: Mr. Diego Padilla Duran
Junior consultant
From 2013, the Directorate General of Immigration will be taking measures for a more efficient implementation of the sanctions provided for in Article 33 of the General Law of Immigration, Law No. 8764. According to these rules, the sum of one hundred dollars in U.S. currency ($ 100) will be charged for each month of illegal stay in the country to people who do not meet the requirements of the law in this area.
Faced with the offensive represented by Barack Obama's immigration reform project , Central American countries must strengthen their own policies in order to retain their most valuable and scarce human capital.
Elnuevoherald.com reports that " President Barack Obama's immigration reform plan includes a large increase in visas for foreign students graduating in science and engineering, which will pose a huge challenge for China, India and Latin America: these emerging countries will have to get their act together if they want to retain their best brains, or suffer the highest brain drain in recent history. "