Good news for United States permanent residents who want to visit Belize: things just got a little easier for you. As of November 2014, visitors with U.S. permanent residency no longer need a visa to enter Belize.
Of course, becoming a permanent resident of the U.S. is a lot more difficult and time-consuming. Perhaps you should look into Belize.
Belize permanent residency takes time, but Belize is known as the easiest country in the Western Hemisphere to establish foreign residency in. (It’s much easier with a Belize lawyer at your side, naturally).
The application process for obtaining permanent residency in Belize generally takes from a few months to around a year. The basic requirements include:
- Complete a Belize permanent residency application form
- Undertake an HIV test
- Submit a recent police certificate showing you have no criminal convictions
- Provide two recommendations from individuals you have known you for at least a year (a reputed lawyer qualifies, hint hint)
- Pay the application fee, which varies by country
- You cannot leave the country for a period of more than two consecutive weeks during the previous year (because you are showing that you are in Belize often)
Applications need to be submitted in person at the Immigration and Nationality Department Ministry of National Security and Immigration in Belmopan City.
Once you receive permanent residency, you can work in Belize like any citizen of Belize, and you can travel to and from Belize without any restrictions. And after five years of being a Belize permanent resident, you will be eligible for full citizenship.
Fairly simple, right? You might be able to navigate the process for yourself, but as a law firm in Belize with a deep level of experience on immigration matters, Wrobel & Co. Attorneys at Law is here to help. Our Belize retirement lawyers know the ins, and the outs of the Belize immigration process.
When you have any question about becoming a permanent resident in Belize or retiring in Belize or buying land in Belize, please think of us as your go-to Belize legal firm for answers. Contact our Belize attorneys today.
