Application For Immigrant Visa And Alien Registration In Australia: Fill & Download for Free

I researched this interesting question, because no matter what, when things don’t go the way some people think they should, they are ready to desert their country. And make no mistake, these people are not “noble,” or “suffering” in any way.To emigrate anywhere, you have to fulfill the requirements of that country’s immigration policies, which almost always include (I say “almost” because I don’t have time to research every country there is), having a marketable skill that they need, no defects in your personality—and most likely your person, because they really don’t want another mouth to feed—an employment offer, and a squeaky clean background, among other things.Doesn’t this sound like many, if not most, of your brethren here will be left in the dust while you get to trot off into the sunset to seek new pastures, where you will never have to worry again about anything?Well, yeah. What else is new? The so-called “compassionate justice seekers” will find some of that, but only for themselves. You know. Like they’re always bitching about in the US.So let’s begin, shall we? I wrote a post about this when I read all the #fuckthefourth twit posts on Twitter. I like to call the users twats, but it’s not very polite and it’s a bit misogynistic.Emigration: What's to stop you from leaving the USA if you're fed up, ticked off, and ready for a country where you'll be welcomed with open arms and forever safe? Safe from loss of employment, safe from racism and bigotry, safe from crime? But Mars isn’t open for business yet?Well, I'll tell you. It's pretty simple and can be summed up in three words: Immigration policies.I hate to rain on anyone's parade (Who am I kidding? Like 99% of the population, I thrive on it, at least in my own posts), but it isn't easy to emigrate anywhere, because almost every government on earth is what parents are supposed to be: Disapproving, fact checking, and insistent on independence.Recently, with all the news about black people and the issues surrounding them, I've been reading about disenchanted black folk who are emigrating to parts east of the USA, such as Trinidad and Tobasco (a very spicy country), Ghana, Morocco, and Europe.They feel freer in these other countries, they say. Free from racism and unhappiness, where they'll have free medical care--yippee!--and where there are unicorns, bunnies, and rainbows everywhere.Intrigued, I began to research the places they were emigrating to. I thought to myself, "Self, maybe I should move to these places, too!" I've got FOMO, even if I never intend to leave the country of my birth except to visit. I have to know.Canadians, Brits, and other Europeans are always bragging about how much better they have it than we do, even if their only knowledge of us is what they see on reality television, like Long Island Medium. A typical American if they ever saw one.Ergo, I set out to see how great it was in these braggable places. Trinidad has beaches, after all, and if prices are good, you never know. So I checked out real estate prices, which are so-so at best. They are pretty high along the coast, which shouldn't be a surprise. That's a clue right there that any black people emigrating there, or anywhere else, have the bucks to do it, and most likely a business they can export with them.Since coastal property is the only real estate I would be interested in, I moved on to checking out the immigration policy of T and T. I read the general news first to see if there was peace and quiet there. No, there were violent protests over the shootings of three men by cops. It was old home week in Trinidad and Tobago. I doubt the reasons for the protests and shootings could be blamed on racism, since there aren't any white people on view except maybe at the resorts. No doubt "they" will blame it on that old bugaboo, Colonialism.Here is an excerpt from the enlightened and compassionate immigration policy of Trinidad and Tobego where people will be so much better off than in the US:"8. ... (2), entry into Trinidad and Tobago of the persons described in this subsection...is prohibited, namely-Prohibited classes:(a) persons who are idiots (really, that's what it says, which lets most of us out), imbeciles, feeble-minded persons (again, we're out), persons suffering from dementia and insane persons, and who are likely to be a charge on public funds; (b) persons afflicted with any infectious...disease;(c)persons who are dumb, blind or otherwise physically defective, or physically handicapped, which might endanger their ability to earn a livelihood, or render them likely to become charges on public funds;(d) persons who have been convicted of or admit having committed any crime, which if committed in Trinidad and Tobago would be punishable with imprisonment for one or more years;(e) prostitutes, homosexuals...., or persons reasonably suspected as coming to Trinidad and Tobago for these or any other immoral purposes;.... (Wow. Our gay people are gonna be ticked.) (g) habitual beggars or vagrants; ....(i) persons who are chronic alcoholics; (j) persons who are addicted to the use of any drug; (k) persons who are engaged or at any time have been engaged or are suspected on reasonable grounds of being likely to engage in any unlawful giving, using, inducing other persons to use, distributing, selling, offering or exposing for sale, buying, trading or trafficking in any drug; (l) persons who are or have been at any time before or after the commencement of this Act advocates of the overthrow by force or violence of the government, etc." (In other words, dissenters, protestors, rioters, and all Twits on Twitter.)Gee, if we said any of these things in our immigration policy, we'd be shunned.At least we try. We put a big woman wearing a robe out at the mouth of New York harbor holding an unprotected flame near old buildings and a plaque that says, "Give me your tired, your poor, your binge watchers, your over-eaters, your underachievers, your restless gamers, your whiners and complainers...." Etc.She welcomes them all. The ones who are already here would like to blow her butt right out of the water. She's way too complacent for them.So, the people who are leaving the US are the ones we should want to stay. As usual, we have it bassackwards.Image source: Paulina on the Road travel blog.Well, thought I, perhaps I'm being unfair. Perhaps T and T is an anomaly. They're small and they have to be careful with their population. Who needs more nudniks when you have plenty of your own?So, I checked out Ghana. I'm positive that unless aliens landed in the US with a mysterious manual titled, To Serve Man, I will never move to Africa, even though it has beaches, too. All the way around it, as far as I can tell just by looking at a map.Ghana has too many people on its beaches, judging from the pictures on Google. Plus it has dirt roads. And not a particularly rosy reputation for cheats and con men on the streets of Accra. But everyone looks happy, and I suppose that's what counts.Here is what Ghana’s immigration policy states:We have shortly hinted at the immigration policy of the country in our article on working in Ghana. Foreigners are only allowed to take up employment in Ghana within an authorized immigrant quota which regulates the number of non-Ghanaians which may be employed by an enterprise. It is not unheard of that a company may only hire one single foreigner, making job opportunities for expats somewhat scarcer than in other African countries.To work, you gotta be a Ghanaian, which is at least a cool word.Here are just a few of the things putative ex-pats will need:Application letter on company’s letterheadBusiness Registration Documents – certificate of incorporation, certificate of commencement of business, company regulations, form 3&4Tax Clearance Certificate (for existing companies)Letter of employment / ContractGhana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) Certificate (If registered)Letter of support from Ministry, Department or Agency....Curriculum Vitae / ResumePolice Clearance Certificate from employee’s country of origin or current residenceEducational and Professional CertificatesPassport & residence permit copy of employerMedical Report – To be done at the Ghana Immigration Service, Accra...These permits aren't cheap, either.So, even Ghana has standards. Like ex-pats who threaten to flee the US every time a president they don't like is elected, you need money to move there. Lots of it if you don't intend to work in your new country, or you will need a marketable skill, or business, AND a squeaky clean life. Quel surprise.Then a Twit mentioned Morocco. "The US sucks and kills all black people!" he proclaimed. "I live in Morocco!"(I dunno. Is there an HOA here?)Image source: Google images for Ghana.So, I checked out Morocco. Here is an excerpt of what they require:For a business visa, you will require the documents listed above, plus a copy of the invitation letter issued by the company you are planning to visit in Morocco, or a copy of your employment contract if you are planning on starting a new job there.Requirements for obtaining a visa may differ slightly based on your nationality.After moving to Morocco, you will need to obtain a residence permit (carte de séjour) if you are planning on staying for longer than 90 days. You can obtain this permit from the immigration authorities (Bureau des Étrangers) at the central police station in your district. Navigating Moroccan bureaucracy can be a slow and nerve-wracking process....In addition to your entry stamp, you will need the following items in order to apply for your residence permit:two completed application forms (available at the immigration office)ten passport photos (with your face taking up three-quarters of the photo)a work permit (attestation de travail)a criminal record check from your previous home country, which can take up to 40 days to process. (My, my. All this insistence on not being a criminal, is criminal.)a statement from your Moroccan bank as proof of your local bank balancea medical certificate completed by a local doctor, certifying that you have no contagious diseases (Is being a douche who insists their home country is horrible and wants to tear the whole thing down, considered infectious?)If people hate living in a Christian country, ie: the US, or don't believe in the mating of Church and State, what makes them think living in Morocco will be aces? It's 90% Muslim and their laws apply. I wouldn't try wearing short shorts, or pants that fall down under your butt, there.Let's check out some Muslim laws and traditions, shall we?Morocco is a Muslim country which follows Islamic laws and customs. Be aware of your actions to ensure they don’t offend (we wouldn't want to offend anyone but our Fellow Americans, now would we?), especially during the holy month of Ramadan or if you intend to visit religious areas. You should respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times. (I know, you've never had any practice at this, but you'll have to learn or die.)Avoid public displays of affection, particularly outside the main tourist areas and near religious places.Sexual relations outside marriage are punishable by law. It’s not uncommon for hotels to ask couples to show evidence of marriage at the time of check-in, and if such evidence is not available, to insist on separate rooms. (This could lead to a pretty funny Blake Edwards comedy, starring Peter Sellers, of course, with lots of sneaking into hotel rooms.)Homosexuality is a criminal offence in Morocco. (Oh, dear. What was that about the west being so awful, again?)Be sensitive to local laws and customs and avoid public displays of affection. Complaints can lead to prosecution. (Ah. At last, here is something that is right up a Twit on Twitter's alley.)Women, especially when traveling alone, may receive unwanted attention from men. To minimize hassle, you may choose to wear loose-fitting clothing which cover the arms, legs and chest. (If you like nightmares and think it is really so awful here, read the account of the Western female journalist who was LITERALLY pulled limb from limb on the streets of Egypt by Egyptian men. Top it off with a beheading or two.)To prove I wasn't biased in my research, I compared these immigration policies with Germany's. Just to see if it's any easier to move to Mein Mutterland. (Where genocide was NEVER practiced, according to one German acquaintance.)And don't correct my German. It's been 40 years since I studied it. I gave it up when I had to learn single words that took up an entire paragraph.Here is a short list of Germany's requirements:....applicants must prove that they are able to finance themselves in Germany. (Uh-oh!) Even if you will be working in Germany, you must have the initial funds to cover your expenses until you get your salary. (How long is that going to take? Can I afford a bratwurst and a place to crash meantime?)....You will not be able to immigrate to Germany without a valid health insurance coverage. (Whaaaat? But, but, I thought Germany would be HAPPY to take my temperature!) The recommended way is to get German health insurance, since you cannot be sure whether German authorities will accept foreign health insurance.Have at least basic proficiency in German. To be able to live in Germany, you will need to know German. The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages has three levels of language proficiency, A, B and C. Each one has two parts. So the language proficiency is divided in A1/A2 or basic, B1/B2 or proficient in the language, and C1/C2 or advanced language skills. To be allowed to immigrate in Germany, you will need to enter the exams and pass them up to either A1 or B1. If you want to get a permanent residence, you will need a higher proficiency of C1 or C2.And if you've ever studied German, it's not exactly a romance language. Good luck with that. Imagine if we required fluency in English before someone gets to live, work, and play here.I threw in a little about Australia, too, just to round things off. I can do any country, though, and will take requests. I know how to Google stuff:General skilled migration, for skilled workers who do not have an employer sponsoring them. Migrants are selected on the basis of their nominated occupation, age, skills, qualifications, English language ability and employability. (Which means? And why do I hafta speak English? Are you prejudiced, or something?)Employer nomination, for those who have an employer willing to sponsor themBusiness skills migration, which encourages successful business people to settle in Australia and develop new business opportunities, andDistinguished talent, a small category for ‘distinguished individuals with special or unique talents of benefit to Australia’ such as sports people, musicians, artists and designers, who are internationally recognised as outstanding in their field. (Well, yeah. Only invite celebrities. That’s fair.)What's ironic is that the black and white people who tout the wonders of changing living quarters don't see the irony of having to be successful, independent, and of "good" character before they can even think of moving.This all leaves me with a feeling that we need to be more like the rest of the world.

From my book, Bug Out to Belize by Lan Sluder, 2018>>Options for Living in BelizeThere are three basic options for those wishing to live or retire in Belize or to spend extended periods of time in the country. Each has advantages and disadvantages.TOURIST PERMITThis is the easiest, cheapest way to live in the country for a while, and it requires no long-term commitment. The procedure is simple: You get a 30-day entry free (via a passport stamp) when you arrive in the country by air, land or sea. After 30 days, you can go to an immigration office (or police station in remote areas) and renew the tourist card monthly for US$25 a month for up to six months, and then US$50 a month after that. After six months, generally you also must register as an alien. Citizens of the U.S., European Community, the U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Colombia, CARICOM member states and many other countries get a tourist card without having to apply in advance for a tourist visa. Nationals of some 75 other countries must apply in advance for a tourist visa, and there is a fee. See the Belize Tourism Board web site, www.travelbelize.org for details.As a tourist permit holder, you can enjoy Belize without a long-term commitment. You can buy or rent property, but you cannot work for pay. In theory, when you renew your tourist permit, you are supposed to be able to prove that you have sufficient resources, set at US$60 a day (a credit card usually suffices), to stay in Belize, but this requirement is not usually enforced.Of course, there is no guarantee that you will be able to renew your tourist status indefinitely, as rules and conditions can change, as you have no official residency status. If you fail to renew your permit in a timely way, or if you overstay your allotted time, technically you are in violation of Belize law and can be deported or even jailed. As a practical matter, if you can offer a good reason why you failed to follow the law, and are very friendly to Immigration officers, you’ll probably be let off with a short lecture from the official, and perhaps a fine. However, some people who overstay their tourist cards are sent packing.QUALIFIED RETIRED PERSON STATUSThe Qualified Retired Persons Incentive Act passed by the Belize legislature in 1999 is managed by the Belize Tourism Board. The program is designed to attract more retirees to Belize. The program has attracted considerable interest and a number of applications. However, the Belize Tourism Board hasn’t publicly stated how many applications it has received in total and how many have been approved. Interest in the program appears to be fairly high, but because of the income requirement, inability to work for pay in Belize, lack of official true residency status and other factors, the actual number of retirees under the program in Belize is as yet relatively small and far fewer than are in programs in Costa Rica, Panama, Mexico and elsewhere. For several years, the BTB has said it was reviewing the program to see how it can be improved, but so far no significant changes have been made.For those who can show the required monthly income from investments or pensions, this program offers benefits of living in Belize and tax-free entry of the retiree’s household goods and a car, boat and even an airplane. This program also eliminates some of the bureaucratic delays built into the permanent residency program. The BTB guarantees action on an application in no more than three months, but we have heard of qualified retirees getting approval for this program in only a few weeks.Who qualifies? Anyone at least 45 years old from anywhere in the world can qualify for the program. A person who qualifies can also include his or her dependents in the program. Dependents include spouses and children under the age of 18. However, it also can include children under the age of 23 if enrolled in a university.Main benefits: Besides prompt approval of residency for qualifying applicants, import duties and fees for household goods and a late-model vehicle, airplane and boat are waived.Duty-free import of personal household effects: Qualified Retired Persons under the program can qualify for duty and tax exemptions on new and used personal and household effects admitted as such by the Belize Tourism Board. A list of all items with corresponding values that will be imported must be submitted with the application. A one-year period is granted for the importation of personal and household effects.Duty-free import of a vehicle, aircraft and/or boat:Motor Vehicle: Applicants are encouraged to import new motor vehicles under the program, but the vehicle must be no more than three years old. (Occasional exceptions may be made in the case of an older vehicle with low mileage, but this would be decided on a case-by-case basis.) A Qualified Retired Person may also buy a vehicle duty-free in country.Light Aircraft: A Qualified Retired Person is entitled to import a light aircraft less than 17,000 kg. A Qualified Retired Person is required to have a valid Private Pilot license to fly in Belize. This license can be obtained by passing the requirements set by the Civil Aviation. However, if the participant has a valid pilot’s license, that license only has to be validated by Civil Aviation Department in Belize.Boat: Any vessel that is used for personal purposes and for pleasure will be accepted under this program. If for whatever reason a Qualified Retired Person decides to sell, give away, lease, or otherwise dispose of the approved means of transportation or personal effects to any person or entity within Belize, all duties and taxes must be paid to the proper authorities.The Belize Tourism Board states: “Qualified Retired Persons must note that only after three years and upon proof that the transportation that was previously imported to Belize was adequately disposed off, will another concession be granted to import another mode of transportation.”Income Requirement: To be designated a Qualified Retired Person under the program, the applicant must have a monthly income of at least US$2,000. A couple does not need to show US$4,000 a month – just US$2,000, as the applicant is normally an individual and the applicant’s spouse is a dependent under the program. The income rules for Qualified Retired Persons are, like many things in Belize, a little confusing. On first reading, it looks like the income must derive from a pension or annuity that has been generated outside of Belize. The rules do not specifically say so, but according to Belize Tourism Board officials U.S. Social Security income can be included as part of this pension requirement. Pension and annuity information then has to be substantiated by a Certified Public Accountant, along with two bank references from the company providing the pension or annuity. These substantiations may not be required if your pension and/or annuity is from a Fortune 500 company. Several retirees have said that they were able to include other forms of income, including investment income, in the US$2,000 figure, if supported by a CPA’s statement that the income would continue indefinitely. In this latter case, the US$2,000 a month income (US$24,000 a year) can be substantiated by showing records from a bank or other financial institution in Belize that the retiree has deposited the necessary money.Other Documents and Procedures:Background check: All applications are subject to a background check by the Ministry of National Security.Application: Applications for the program must be made to the Belize Tourism Board in Belize City and include the following:Birth certificate: A certified copy of a certificate for the applicant and each dependent.Marriage certificate, if applicable.Passport: Color copies of complete passport (including all blank pages) of applicant and all dependents that have been certified by a Notary Public. The copies must have the passport number, name of principal, number of pages and the seal or stamp of the Notary Public.Proof of income: The current QRP information states that there are two ways to prove that your income is sufficient:1) An official statement from a bank or financial institution certifying that the applicant is the recipient of a pension or annuity of a minimum of US$2,000 per month.2) A financial statement from a financial institution, bank, credit union, or building society in Belize certifying that the applicant’s investment will generate the sum of a minimum of US$2,000 per month or the equivalent of US$24,000 per year.Medical examination: Applicant and all dependents should undergo a complete medical examination including an AIDS test. A copy of the medical certificate(s) must be attached to the application.Photos: Four front and four-side passport size photographs that have been taken recently of applicant and dependents.The application form for the Qualified Retired Persons program is available for download from the Belize Tourism Board at www.belizetourismboard.org (visit www.belizetourismboard.org/programs-events/retirement-program/#1490202032346-1e76d79c-10c0. There is a non-refundable application fee of US$150. Upon acceptance, there is an Applicant Program fee of US$1,000 US$200 for a QRP membership card, plus US$750 for each dependent (including spouse). Thus, the application fee and member cost for the QRP program total US$1,350 for an individual or US$2,100 for a couple. There is an additional fee of US$750 for each qualifying dependent child.Renewals of QRP must be made annually. There is a US$25 fee for renewal. Each year, you must demonstrate that you have deposited US$24,000 in a Belize bank and converted the money into Belize dollars and also that you have lived in Belize for at least 30 consecutive days in the past year.For information on the program, contact: Belize Tourism Board, P.O. Box 325, 64 Regent St., Belize City, Belize, Central America, 501-227-2420 or 800-624-0686, fax 501-227-2423, www.belizetourismboard.org/programs-events/retirement-program/. If you have questions or problems, try contacting the Program Officer for QRP at the BTB.In 2010, the Belize government introduced a new program, the Diaspora Retirement Incentive Program, directed to Belizeans who wish to return to Belize. Is is open to Belize citizens who have lived outside Belize for a minimum of 10 consecutive years. The benefits include the importation of personal/household effects, a personal vehicle and the tools of one’s trade free of all import duties.OFFICIAL PERMANENT RESIDENTApplication requirements and most benefits are similar to those of the Retired Persons Incentive Act, but there are some important differences. The application process itself and the supporting documents needed are similar to those for the QRP, although the applications are processed by different governmental departments.Here are the main differences: As an official Permanent Resident, you have two major advantages over a participant in the QRP program. First, you do not have to deposit annually any particular sum in a bank in Belize. However, you do have to show financial resources sufficient to obtain residency status. Second, as a Permanent Resident, you can work for pay in Belize. You also enjoy some advantages as a resident rather than a “long-term visitor” as you are considered in QRP status. As a permanent resident, you can vote in some local (not national) Belize elections.You must live in Belize for one full year before you can apply for regular Permanent Residency. During this period, you cannot leave the country for more than 14 days. Even a short, two-hour visit to Chetumal counts as one day’s absence. Note, however, that the Immigration and Nationality Department sometimes interprets this requirement only as meaning that you cannot leave the country for 14 or more CONSECUTIVE days. Yes, this is a little confusing; this is Belize.Documents Needed for Permanent ResidencyApplicationHere are the documents you must have to apply for Permanent Residency (photocopies of original documents must be submitted along with the original documents). The exact forms required may vary depending on the official with whom you deal and are subject to change:Application form.Copies of all pages of passport.Evidence, such as passport pages with immigration stamps, that you have been in the country for one year.Police record from Belize within past six months and from last country of residence, for yourself and all members of your family over the age of 16 who also wish to apply for Permanent Residence.Statement of financial stability – this can be in the form of a recent bank statement.If applicable, proof of employment or self-employment (letter from employer or Certificate of Business Registration if self-employed).Evidence you have acquired property in Belize if you are claiming that you have – but owning property in Belize is NOT required to obtain permanent residence.Certificate of health including HIV, venereal disease and tuberculosis tests for you and all members of your family – these tests must be conducted in Belize.Two passport-size photos of yourself and all members of your family,Original or certified copy of birth certificates of all applicants.Marriage certificate (if applicable).Income tax form.After approval, you have up to one year to bring in household effects duty-free, on a one-time basis. However, the duty-free exemption does not apply to a vehicle, boat and airplane, as it does for the Qualified Retired Persons program.It is somewhat expensive to apply for regular permanent residency.Application fees for Permanent Residency vary by nationality, ranging from US$250 to $5,000. For U.S. nationals, the fee currently (fees may change) is US$1,000 per person; for citizens of most British Commonwealth countries, the fee is US$750; for citizens of CARICOM countries, the fee is US$250; for citizens of other Central American countries, Mexico and the Dominican Republic, the fee is US$375; for citizens of EU countries, the fee is US$1,500. There is also, upon approval, a fee of US$150. In addition, if you use an “expediter” in Belize to help you with the paperwork, which is NOT required, you'll likely pay a fee of around US$1,500, plus several hundred dollars in travel and photocopying fees and taxes. Note that these fees are per-person, not per-application, as is the case for the Qualified Retired Persons program. For example, an American married couple applying for Permanent Residency would pay US$2,000 with the application and US$300 for residency stamps after approval. Residency cards are no longer provided -- instead, your passport is stamped.You apply to Belize Immigration and Nationality Services rather than through the Belize Tourism Board. For information and application form, contact: Department of Immigration and Nationality Services, Attn: Permanent Residence Services, Mountain View Blvd., Belmopan City, Belize, Central America, 501-828-5247, www.ins.gov.bz, email [email protected]. Besides the Immigration Department main office in Belmopan, there are regional offices in Corozal Town, Orange Walk Town, Belize City, San Pedro, Benque Viejo (border), Dangriga, Big Creek and Punta Gorda.The Permanent Residency application form is available in PDF from www.ins.gov.bz/images/Oldforms/APPLICATIONFORPERMANENTRESIDENCE_1.PDF.It is wise to go in person to Immigration in Belmopan to apply for Permanent Residency. Applicants usually find that several trips are necessary, to check on the progress of the application and to keep it moving. Again, being friendly and showing respect to Belizean officials is vital. Getting angry with any delays will probably be counter-productive.Time for approval of a Permanent Residency application varies. Some find that the process goes fairly quickly, taking only a few months. Others say it took up to a year, or longer, for approval.Pros and ConsEach option has pluses and minuses. The main advantages and disadvantages are as follows:Tourist PermitPros: No commitment, no financial requirement, flexibility, little red tape.Cons: No tax advantages, no official status, inconvenience of having to go in person to extend, possibility rules may change, can’t work for pay in Belize.Qualified Retired Persons Incentive ProgramPros: Quick approval, application through Belize Tourism Board rather than Immigration Department, some residency-style rights (except voting), tax-free entry of household effects, car, boat and airplane, only have to live in country for one month a year.Cons: Must deposit US$24,000 a year in a Belize bank, somewhat costly application process, can’t work for pay in Belize, must be 45 or over.Official Permanent ResidencyPros: Full residency rights (except voting in national elections), can work for pay, open to anyone regardless of age, tax-free entry of household effects.Cons: Year-long residency in Belize before applying, more red tape, costly application process, and some people are turned down for minor details; you can bring in household goods but NOT a car, boat or airplane free of duty.For more information, get in touch with the Belize Tourism Board (www.belizetourismboard.org/programs-events/retirement-program/), Beltraide (www.belizeinvest.org.bz) or the Belize Immigration Department (www.ins.gov.bz).Other ProgramsThe controversial Economic Citizenship program, under which foreigners were able to buy a Belize passport and residency rights for a fee of US$25,000 to $50,000, was discontinued in 2002. Some dated information on the internet still suggests this program is in effect. If you need a second passport, you might looks at investment/passport programs in St. Kitts and some other Caribbean countries.Belize CitizenshipIn addition to the programs discussed above, regular citizenship in Belize is a possibility for those living in Belize over a long period. To acquire citizenship, applicants must have residency status for a minimum of five years. Applicants for citizenship need to provide essentially the same supporting documentation as those applying for Permanent Residency. Applicants also must demonstrate knowledge of Belizean history. Note that for citizenship residency purposes, stays in the Belize under the Qualified Retired Persons program currently do NOT qualify, although there have been discussions about changing this. To become a citizen, you would have to give up QRP status (perhaps having to pay back the duties you escaped under QRP), apply for Permanent Residency and begin the five-year residency from scratch.Caution: Rules and regulations and the interpretation of them change frequently in Belize. Do NOT assume that this information is the last word on any matter pertaining to entering or staying in Belize.This is worth repeating: CAUTION: RULES IN BELIZE CHANGE FREQUENTLY. What is true today may not be true tomorrow. Do not assume that everything you are told will apply for you.