There are set rules for getting a work permit, but they are not always followed, EVERYONE has a bit of a different experience. We just went to The Director after being in the country just a very short time and had our work permits in a few days, it took about 3 weeks for our second permit we got our residency without being in the country 12 months, I was only here 3 months of the year and I got my husbands for him while he was out of the country, again because I went and spoke to the director. So my advice would be not to take any advice, make a trip to Belmopan and speak to the Director of Immigration. I have heard so many different accounts of what people went through its staggering.