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Contact shandamac@gmail.com   She has a very nice 3 bedroom for rent in Sittee River.About 5 minutes from Hopkins,40 from Placencia and 25 from Dangriga.

Contact Rosie at hotel Maya, she has a 2 bedroom furnished. Tell her Mr. Bruce sent you.

Corozal Belize

I should add the department of labor is located right behind the hotel Maya.

You can contact me at vacation_belize@yahoo.com for info on rentals and the business climate here in the Hopkins/ Sittee River area if you need quick info.

I do not wish to rain on your parade.   When you come to reconnoiter, plz be realistic.   You may become unhappy if you do not get your permit to work before you think you will work.  The standards for the trades are low here and wages are not good.  I have a man who would be a master electrician in the USA, he works for $65 a day for regular construction.  Labor is generally $2.00 an hour, skilled labor is $2.50 an hour.  unemployment is a problem.  the expats would welcome your skills but most of them appear to be unwilling to pay US wages .

I was told that all the airlines now require animals to be flown in the hold, no longer under the seats.  you are getting different info than I have gotten.  I am confused .  I sent you a message about contacting our local US Embassy representative.

Hello sharonarfmann.

A new thread has been created on the Belize Forum for more visibility.

Thanks

Karen

I guess it is just Delta that would not let us put our crates under the seat.  I will keep that in mind for the future.  If I bring a dog from the US, I will fly out of Miami on AA.  the thunder shirt is a great idea.  fortunately the flight is short.  best luck.

You have to have a work permit to work (even volunteer) in Belize.  NEVER on a visitor visa. 
Which means you have to become a resident (one year in Belize BEFORE you can apply for residency) or citizen (longer stay) before you can get a work permit.  Especially for a job that will be taken away from a local worker.
You should make an exploratory trip to find where you want to be and then rent somewhere for 6 months to a year before you even think about giving up your stuff in the US.  Put your US life in storage for a year and make sure you really want to be here.  It is not as easy as some make out.
Don't be misled by those who say they will help you illegally get the work permit. They and you will be subject to prosecution and deportation and you will be very unpopular with the locals if you work illegally.  It is now the VERY slow season (until December) so every dollar taken from a local worker and their family will be taken very seriously.

to sharon arfmann  plz see Beach cats reply to your questions.  first it is important that you explore, know and understand this country before you relocate here.  then the issue of a work permit is a big one.  We know of a pediatrician who has been trying to get a work permit for over 2 years.  I doubt they would give a trades man a permit at all.  come spend a month or 2 or better 6 and then see

You will get lots of advice from real estate and rentalagents and others with something to gain. Beware.

beachcat wrote:

You will get lots of advice from real estate and rentalagents and others with something to gain. Beware.

I have to say your comments really rubbed me the wrong way.

Most people here seem to try and give good advice...I know that's my intension.

There are rental agents in Corozal and they might be the right people to talk with. But I found my first  place here, by just taking with people on the internet.

I found my second place by getting out and talking with the people who live here. You can't live your life thinking everybody has a hidden agenda. But I also have nothing against people making a living by helping others.

There are some restaurant owners in Placencia who have been there less than a year and already own a business and work it well.  Apparently there are some twist and bends to the work permit rule.  Although I don't live there yet, I would not be discouraged by the experiences of some who haven't obtained permits yet.  One thing I have noticed is that Belize is for those with an adventurous spirit and and a can do attitude.

when I ask someone for a place to stay or a competent electrician, I would like the answer to come from their personal experience.  I am uncomfortable with getting information from people who make a recommendation because they will get a financial kick back from the person recommended.  I am especially uncomfortable with this practice when it is unknown to me.  I expect a Realtor to get a fee for a rental or for a purchase.  I do not expect the gas installer to get a kick back from the painter, unbeknownst to me. 

The kick back system was prevalent in Atlanta and seems alive and well here in Corozal.  So i am careful and always consider the source, when getting information.

The information & suggestions that appear on these blogs comes from peoples personal experience and opinions, and almost exclusively with no prospect of financial gain.

That was good advice.  There is a saying here - "They come and they go", which means they come with stars in their eyes and $ in their pocket and they go in a year or 2 or 5.  No stars, no money.
Just the reality.

"There are some restaurant owners in Placencia who have been there less than a year and already own a business and work it well.  Apparently there are some twist and bends to the work permit rule.  Although I don't live there yet, I would not be discouraged by the experiences of some who haven't obtained permits yet.  One thing I have noticed is that Belize is for those with an adventurous spirit and and a can do attitude."

Please don't come here with that attitude.  Belize does not need anyone else twisting and bending the work permit rule.
Can do attitude is good if you respect the people of Belize by respecting their laws.

How do you leave Belize with a $1,000,000? Come with $2,000,000..

So who pissed in your Belize breakfast beach cat? I was simply says that these work laws aren't written in stone.  They are a general rule that changes according to person and situation.  Talk to expat business owners....dont take my word for it.

beachcat wrote:

That was good advice.  There is a saying here - "They come and they go", which means they come with stars in their eyes and $ in their pocket and they go in a year or 2 or 5.  No stars, no money.
Just the reality.

Wow is that a saying by a secret organization....Because nobody ever told me that saying. Now you have made me really felt left out:(

thank you beach cat and the builder.  while it is possible to come and start a business here, it is wise to respect the laws of this little, not rich country.  We gringos are GUESTS HERE.  even the slightest marketing experience indicates the first rule of a business is to know your market.    Come here, learn about all of us, and make your decisions wisely

When you've been here for a while ,maybe your knowledge will be greater..

I have seen most of your posts and generally you are factual and helpful.    Your remark to Beach Cat is neither.  Courtesy, respect for the others opinion even when it differs are needed here.   We ExPats are a tiny  minority in a small country.  you have been here less than 6 months.

perhaps you will be happier in Mobile.

sharonarfmann, I personally think you have to slow down.  First you can not work legally in Belize without a work permit, to get one you either have to, become a resident and then apply or start a business with a person from Belize. Not an easy thing when you are talking trades that a person in Belize can easily fill the position.  Unemployment is very high in Belize, they don't need trades people from other countries to fill the jobs.
Importing your stuff from the States will be extremely expensive, by the time you pay the taxes and duty, not worth it.  However, if you live there for a year and get your residency, you can bring your stuff into Belize for free.  Pay for a top notch plumber is about $65.00/day BZD or $32.50 USD/day.  You need to do a lot more research, to insure you are making informed decisions.  Not as easy as pack up all your belongings and head off to Belize, get a job, a house and live happily ever after.  Anymore than someone from Belize packing up and showing up at the USA boarder.
I do wish you the best of luck, and hope all works out for you.

thank yu Beach Cat, Corozal Dave and the Builder.  well said.

kristinanadreau wrote:

thank yu Beach Cat, Corozal Dave and the Builder.  well said.

This is supposed to be a site where people can get good info. Why do you want to turn it into I'm right you are wrong site.

I was out today among the people who really do things here. You can't just sit here on the computer acting like experts and nobody really sees your face in Corozal.

Everybody knows me...woopy do...but at least I'm inter-acting with the real people in Corazal that get things done.

Well said Hawk!  Its suddenly feeling like a do-gooder club.

Hawk,  you are blowing off people who have been here for many years and have useful experience to share.   The only people to be discourteous and argumentative are yourself and Canoe mom from Mobile.

I am now unsubscribed from this topic............

kristinanadreau wrote:

Hawk,  you are blowing off people who have been here for many years and have useful experience to share.   The only people to be discourteous and argumentative are yourself and Canoe mom from Mobile.

I am now unsubscribed from this topic............

Thank God