Expat Files - 04/27/14

Many touring and long-term gringos are technically illegal aliens. That’s what gringos become if they stay beyond the 90 day tourist visa. It’s very common and generally nothing to worry about. Normally you have to pay a nominal fine at the boarder the next time you leave. It’s a dollar or so each day you run over the 90 day period, and unlike in the USA, you don’t get black marks or end up on any feces lists, etc. You are welcomed back with no problems at all. However, if you ever get stopped at one of those pesky cop roadblocks and do happen to produce your passport and the cop is smart enough to see you are over the 90 days allowed, you can be sure you will have to pony up a nice bribe, or they may just keep you on the sidelines for hours. Even though it’s out of the cop’s jurisdiction and really no big deal, the cops will make it seem serious and scare a bribe out of you. I’ve been there, I know.

-How to use your gringo advantage along with some neat tips to avoid getting stopped at police transit roadblocks

-Keeping a low profile in Latin America is one of the keys to remaining free and unbothered. A low profile allows us gringos to mingle with all classes of people as well as go anywhere- and in great measure- do and say pretty much anything (non-aggressively) we feel like without annoyance or offense. But once you lose that anonymity your life here will become vastly more complicated and stressful. Ask any gringo who has slowly let his anonymity slip away. If so, then what happens and what can you do to regain it? And is that even possible?

-My upcoming JULY, 2014 "Expat Wisdom” seminar is set to go so. The dates will be Saturday, July 12 thru Thursday, July 17. The agenda and complete signup details are on the www.ExpatWisdom.com website main page. Just click the Latin American Seminar link on the top of the main page and check it out.

-Do follow the link on the main page at www.ExpatWisdom.com to schedule a private consultation with me. If you want to discuss the details of living, working, playing, doing business and/or retiring in Latin America, now you and I can talk about your situation one on one.