Thread: New Pensionado Ready To Move To Panama

Glad that I found a website that does encompass subjects that I really need to know about. I am 62, know that sounds ancient, single, retired blues musician, no children but have a nice older Bichon Frise dog that is a very good buddy. Will be moving to Panama in the near future - need to go to immigration with my abogado to pick up my approved pensionado visa card - then onward and upward to find a place to live. Would be intrigued in talking to anyone that has a good handle on the rental scene in several parts of Panama - have not made a decision in exactly where I will live as yet - have looked around a little the last time I was there. Thanks in advance for any help that anyone could give me - would appreciate that a lot!

Hi and WELCOME to the forum!

Do research on old threads. You first need to narrow down (city, mountains, beach, or somewhere in between) where you want to be. Rent for a while before making anything permanent. Might be a problem finding places to rent because of your "buddy".

Good luck!

Mary
www.whypanama.com

Originally Posted by jclassguy3

Glad that I found a website that does encompass subjects that I really need to know about. I am 62, know that sounds ancient, single, retired blues musician, no children but have a nice older Bichon Frise dog that is a very good buddy. Will be moving to Panama in the near future - need to go to immigration with my abogado to pick up my approved pensionado visa card - then onward and upward to find a place to live. Would be intrigued in talking to anyone that has a good handle on the rental scene in several parts of Panama - have not made a decision in exactly where I will live as yet - have looked around a little the last time I was there. Thanks in advance for any help that anyone could give me - would appreciate that a lot!

If your lawyer represented you well at a fair price, please share his or her name with everyone. It's one of the most common questions on this forum.

Thanks for the advise from Mary - have been looking at old threads - am narrowing places down a bit. As far my abogado - his name is Pedro Penalzer - paid him $1750 - got good service from him with somewhat regular updates - had prices quoted much higher - think that I did not get too bad of a deal. But with government grinding so slow for immigration there - did take me 8 months to get approval of the pensionado visa - but it's not the US - things do move a lot slower there - good and bad in that.

Jclassguy3:

You paid close to double for the pensionado visa - most are between $750-1000 and it takes between 6 and 8 months. I keep track of this via the lawyer we used 9 years ago. I have sent a lot of people to Myra Ruzzi since then and everyone complements her on her services. I know she does charge less for the 2nd pensionado if there are 2 or more people applying at the same time. NEVER have I had 1 complaint about her looking at real estate contracts or pensionados because of the timely replys to all calls or emails!

Mary
www.whypanama.com

I paid 250 up front and 250 upon getting it. Most recent guy I know that filed paid 400 up front and will pay 400 when it has been issued. You should ask for a breakdown of the bill - that is and sounds like a rip-off. Sometimes they can bill a 250 fee and 800 fee on top and pocket the money themselves. Pensionados are not required to pay those fees (repatriation deposit and extra fee).

Originally Posted by whypanama

Jclassguy3:

You paid close to double for the pensionado visa - most are between $750-1000 and it takes between 6 and 8 months. I keep track of this via the lawyer we used 9 years ago. I have sent a lot of people to Myra Ruzzi since then and everyone complements her on her services. I know she does charge less for the 2nd pensionado if there are 2 or more people applying at the same time. NEVER have I had 1 complaint about her looking at real estate contracts or pensionados because of the timely replys to all calls or emails!

Mary
www.whypanama.com

Mary, Is Myra Ruzzi's office in PC? Just want to inquire, so when time comes I know where to contact her.

Hi Panama Dreamer!!

Here is the contact information for Mayra:

Lic. Mayra L. Ruzzi Attorney
Calle 50 # 117 San Francisco
Panama, Republic of Panama
Tel/Fax:5072701469
Tel: 5072269523 Cell:50766185436
E-mail: 1crisma@gmail.com
www.panamalawyermayralamboglia.com

Mary
www.whypanama.com

Originally Posted by EdBowers

I paid 250 up front and 250 upon getting it. Most recent guy I know that filed paid 400 up front and will pay 400 when it has been issued. You should ask for a breakdown of the bill - that is and sounds like a rip-off. Sometimes they can bill a 250 fee and 800 fee on top and pocket the money themselves. Pensionados are not required to pay those fees (repatriation deposit and extra fee).

Was wondering if you can start the process pre retirement still living in the states ? Of course I could provide the retirment info from the Gov.

Hi jimmy!

We started the process before we came down here. We contacted Mayra and asked her what we needed to do before we came down. She provided a list of what we had to get "apostled" in the states from the Panamanian Consulate and brought it down. The paperwork should be "apostled" just before you schedule to come to PANAMA to start the paperwork.

We actually got our pensionado almost 3 years before we moved down here. We met the financial aspects when my husband turned 62 and got the letter from s.s. at that time.

Mary
www.whypanama.com

Thanks much !