Daniel--you are young and educated, why not give it a whirl. If you just listen to your lawyer or your banker, you will never do anything.

Do your research, develop a plan, work hard, be honest, treat people right, and give it an honest try. The worst that can happen is that you will fail. Most successful people have done that many times. The only way you can be guaranteed not to fail is if you never do anything. Of course the odds are against you in Belize or in any foreign country, or for that matter, in the U.S. That is why most successful people have to try more than once.

I do not agree with some of the posters that you are somehow doing something morally wrong to the people of Belize by trying to make a living there. That kind of logic assumes there is a finite amount of employment and opportunity available. That is never true, anywhere. You are not hurting the people of Belize if you follow the Belizan law and contribute to the Belizan work force. In fact, if you are able to establish some type of business that can offer employment to Belizians or contributes to the economy and growth of the country, you are doing a good thing for its people.

Daniel, I just visited AC last week, whoever wrote there are no jobs there is crazy. I hope to move there in Dec.
Keli

Keli,
Good luck in your endeavours. I simply posted my own observations based on tourism and that industry. I realize that there are many Gringos working in Belize. I also know what the cost of living is, and what the laws are. So, if you have a particular niche, then you may make it. But don't go thinking that there are "plenty of jobs". It simply isn't true. I don't know your educational background, but maybe you have a particular skill that is coveted there. If not, be prepared to compete with Belizeans for that job. And that's when the law will kick in.
But just beware.... I still love that saying "If you want to make a small fortune in BZ, start with a large one".
Now, this is all just my opinion. I have a small staff of 15, all Belizean.

Read what the stamp says in your passport. It says you may not work without a work permit. You may not even work without pay. Ask Jackay at immigration, I lived on the island for 4 months, I intended to get my residency the legal way because just before the elections they stopped selling residencies which was illegal but it had been going on for a long time, so it takes a year of getting your passport stamped every month for a year to get your residency then you may work. I was supervising as an owner of a condo and was detained at the jail house because jackay said I was working and if immigration says you are guess what, you are. I writing from California.

they must have given you a Special Stamp, Cambria, I've got at least 12 of them in my current passport and not once do those words appear

Wow will ya look at this thread! That boy Daniel and his friends are long gone...and we keep posting! Long gone because he was only looking for fun in the sun! "I can assume that since I'm a college gal too...hehehe." SO anyways look at these posts...it is really quite interesting to see. I dont understand what Patiaryl is going on about...nor do I agree with it! But I am glad to see so many are interested in saving jobs for true Belizeans that need to be able to find work in their homeland since travel is usually out of the question.

klcman: After taking a close look at my passport I have found that I had 9 stamps in my passport without the no work clause, the last one being 10/17/02, when I went back for my 30 day extension and everytime thereafter I got the no work stamp. Interesting, I hadn't noticed that.

Daniel, We have moved here from Austin and are legally able to work. Since moving here we have gotten at least half a dozen job offers. Although there are plenty of Belizeans out of work, the reality is sometimes employers prefer to hire a gringo/gringa for certain jobs. Gringos who want to come down here and become divemasters, for example, may feel a little (or a lot) of resentment. The fact is, if you want to work here and don't mind making little money, I'm sure you can find a job. Whats encouraged is for you to come here, open a business, and hire Belizeans. This island is still lacking in some areas and the right businesses can only improve island life.
When you come, remember to bring lots of money with you because it is more expensive than you might think to live here.
Good Luck to you, and Welcome

Well Seabreeze, just how areyou able to work legally, did you buy your residency? Cambria

What, like "buying your residency" is a bad thing??? The one thing I have found is that NOTHING is free in BZ, except the mosquitos and the breeze (just like JJW says).
I was just re-reading the above posts and I want to comment on one thing... one of the reasons many people want to move to BZ is the treatment in our own country. Our government is corrupt, the law is almost totally ineffective, the crime rate is high, education has gone to the dogs, poverty is rampant,pollution, everything is SO expensive, jobs-- yeah whatever... So, of course, BZ looks perfect.
Well, DO NOT ever assume that BZ doesn't have these same issues. And don't ever assume that you will EVER be more than "another Gringo in BZ". That's just the facts. Yes, it's a great place to be. Yes, they love tourists and tourists money. Yes, they love anyone who comes in with alot of cash to invest.
But unlike the States, when foreigners need assistance, BZ doesn't rise to the occasion. Can't afford to get the operation you need? Sorry! Can't afford housing or electricity? Sorry! Got let go from your job because high season is over? Sorry!
So, in that respect, I think BZ may have a good idea. If they protect their people's jobs as much as possible, protect their rights, and just reap the benefits of their capital and investments, they may actually still be a "great place" to escape to years down the road.
And No, I am not an authority on BZ. And no, I don't live there, not full time anyway, and I never will. I do however own a business there, my husband is there full-time. But my system allows me to have the best of both worlds.