Panama tourist visa takes up to 90 days to process?!!

[srileo]

*crossposted at Horizons Unlimited as well *

Hi,

I just heard that for those of us not fortunate to be citizens of the first world, (i am an indian citizen) tourist visas to Panama need to be obtained beforehand.
I just did the rounds of some central and south american consulates and they all claim to be able to process a tourist visa in 2-3 days. However, i hear that Panama takes up to 90 days to process a tourist visa.
Is that true?
Would applying for a tourist visa in costa rica allow me to enter panama directly without this waiting business?

I got a couple of replies on HU, and one guy says that it is possible to easily get them at the border itself (he has an EU passport though). the other guy (from south africa or Zaire) spent a full month in costa rica trying to get an Panama-ian tourist visa to no avail. He ended up flying his bike from CR to Quito for $2000. OUCH!!!!

I tried calling the Panama-ian consulate in San Diego. No reply.
Advise from 3rd world citizens?

[j_seguin]

Being from the states and having only talked to people from the first world about this I have no idea. However should I come across someone that can answer your question I will certainly ask them!

[Leaky_eddie]

We just crosed in panama from CR with no problems, but have USA passports. I was concerned beforehand that we would need our visas before leaving the states and I had a hell of time getting anyone to answer a phone at their emabssies but finaly got through calling the embassy in NYC. I got the number from their website. The lady on the phone was very helpful. You might try calling there instead.

[bananaman]

I'll do what I can but I can't make any guarantees. Panama has always been funny about visas for parts of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

Since I'm a law-abiding Panamanian, I have to be kind-of formal about these things. I start with a regular-mail letter from the traveler. They have to promise to me that they're not going to be a drug smuggler, criminal, terrorist, or republican. Then I reply, regular mail, with an invitation in spanish. After that, it's up the the Panama government. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. A few years ago my dad tried to get a visa for one of his buddies, but the guy was from Iran, and no matter how much they tried, Panama just would not give him a visa.

I'm pretty sure that most of the denials have nothing to do with the actual applicant, that it's just politics.

I almost couldn't get into Ecuador from Panama, because I was travelling on my Panama passport. Panamanians need a visa to enter Ecuador, and they can't get it at the border. I solved the problem with a $50 bribe, and a quick switch from Panama passport to US passport.

[srileo]

Thanks for the tip. I called the NYC office and they answered the call even though they are on holiday. I called the Philadelphia office as well.
There are definitely different takes depending on who you talk to.

NYC was quite sure that they could get me a visa in 24 hrs (provided all documentation is available) and that i need not be a Permanent Resident in the US. Unfortunately for me, i live outside their jurisdiction.

Philadelphia office said that if i do not have US permanent residency, and only had a valid US work visa (which i do), it would take up to 60 days to process the tourist visa! 24hr processing is only if i had a permanent residency in the US.

I'll call San Diego office day after tomorrow and see what they have to say.

Ah, the charms of paperwork. I'd rather be working on my bike.

Shridhar

Originally Posted by Leaky_eddie

We just crosed in panama from CR with no problems, but have USA passports. I was concerned beforehand that we would need our visas before leaving the states and I had a hell of time getting anyone to answer a phone at their emabssies but finaly got through calling the embassy in NYC. I got the number from their website. The lady on the phone was very helpful. You might try calling there instead.

[bananaman]

You might be able to get one quicker if you don't mind asking them if they have a "special fee" for "expedited service." Chances are you'll be able to "negotiate" it. You're dealing with a Panamanian consul. These are the people who taught the pirates how to be pirates.

In the interest of full disclosure, my mother used to be consul for Panama. Most of the work was boring- birth certificates, visas, import/export stuff. She pretty much set her own fees. Any "jurisdiction" stuff was just a gentleman-pirate agreement between consuls. All you need is that stamp and a signature.

[theturtleshead]

I read your PM there matey and I,m in aggreement with Bananaman.It,s a pain in the ass I know,but like he said there are ways and ways!!! to get things done and the guys on a land border are much more likely to be,lets say "able to negotiate" in an airport you,re screwed.
So go for it mate,best of luck.
Al theturtleshead

[srileo]

Heheheheh, as an Indian, i am in full eagerness to try it. But is it even possible if the consul is in the US office? I can imagine at the land border it might be a matter of expedited negociation...

gotta love the adventure before it even begins. there are some lovely things i'll learn on this trip. hehehehe

thanks guys ;-)

Originally Posted by bananaman

You might be able to get one quicker if you don't mind asking them if they have a "special fee" for "expedited service." Chances are you'll be able to "negotiate" it. You're dealing with a Panamanian consul. These are the people who taught the pirates how to be pirates.

In the interest of full disclosure, my mother used to be consul for Panama. Most of the work was boring- birth certificates, visas, import/export stuff. She pretty much set her own fees. Any "jurisdiction" stuff was just a gentleman-pirate agreement between consuls. All you need is that stamp and a signature.

[bananaman]

On the Colombia/Ecuador border, I was offered one option: wait for the Ecuador consul, who was closed because it was a Friday afternnoon. I could wait until Monday. So I "negotiated," and $50 later (paid outside, around back, in $US), I had my stamps.

As for Panama consulates, my bet is that you could get something expedited if you were there in person, but by phone you can still try. I'd bet that it'd be a legitimate expediting, meaning that they'll actually speed up the process. Kind of like here when you want a US passport. Last I heard, it was a couple of hundred for normal service, or up to $700 for next-day-air service. You still got a legitimate passport. I'm not sure if I'm being clear... I'm not trying to be coy at all. Call the closest consulate. Offer to pay extra to have it expedited. Don't let them rape you. Maybe it works, maybe it doesn't. Otherwise, you ride to the Panama border, and maybe you get in, maybe you don't. Worst case, you get to ride a nice chunck of Costa Rica, TWICE!

Heck, when I screwed up leaving Chile, I had to ride 100 miles back from Jama to San Pedro de Atacama, get my stamps, then ride 100 miles back to Jama- and it was below freezing and up around 16,000 feet. It turned out to be one of the highlights of the ride.

[srileo]

So i got a call back from the Panamanian consulate in San Diego. A very nice lady explained to me that its a mere 3 day process and that i should just send them my indian passport via fedex and they'll stamp it. Also said that its for 30 days and i would have a comfortable 90 days to get to panama to use it.

So, thats definitely good news. I just hope the indian consulate hurries up and gives me my indian passport back!!
phew!!

[bananaman]

[bananaman]

I am delighted to invite this handsome young man to visit my warm country. Heck- I'm happy to invite any rider interested in discovering Panama.

Srilo- I got your snail mail! With any luck, you'll be able to get into Panama!

[srileo]

Thanks ;-)

Looking forward to your recommendation letter.

[srileo]

And likewise, should you ever want to visit India, you have but to let me know.

Originally Posted by bananaman

I am delighted to invite this handsome young man to visit my warm country. Heck- I'm happy to invite any rider interested in discovering Panama.

Srilo- I got your snail mail! With any luck, you'll be able to get into Panama!