PLEASE turn of that spinning avatar?

Under the Laws of Belize, the person you describe needs proper immigration status if he is not a tourist. For the most part, a "work permit" is required. You are here, transacting business here, on Belizean soil.

Certain structures have been set in place to accommodate the various facets of international trade including the International Companies Act and the creation of the Export Processing Zone and Commercial Free Zones. These structures can be created with the host of international services companies here in Belize.

Imagine hundreds to thousands of folks working from locations within Belize, breaking the law of their host country, not going through the procedures (by getting their paperwork together) and evading the very small income tax of 1.75% on sales. Wow? We should be so honored to have them.

You would figure the $US750 for a self employed permit, $US250 for a Trade License and the 1.75% on sales would be worth AT LEAST, the garbage removal, the street sweeping, having a Police Station and Fire Department a phone call away - most of the time, wouldn't you? For these techies it should be a breeze.

ok -what an interesing conundrum
I believe if someone lives here and makes his income outside of Belize -even while working on a computer in Belize is not breaking the law-added to this he/she is bringing money into the country.
what about all the people who work in bars restaurants start their own businesses with virtually no capital and use the excuse -we just cannot afford a work permit but we will apply for residency when we have been staying and working here for a year-if we have made enough money to pay for the permits.
the people who called people cowards etc. for not bringing in the police against corruption -is this just not another case of corruption-if you want to see how many people work without papers go and sit at Island Perk and see how many people go and have their passsports stamped each month.

but immigration won't let you stay as a perpetual tourist getting stamp after stamp. at some point won't they force you to either leave for awhile or apply for a work permit?

I believe Pedro1 is not asking us to debate the legalities of those
"grey area" virtual worker bees, but rather the in your face, blatantly working, setting up shop, actively competing sons of guns that are reaping the rewards and income with complete disregard to the laws of the land and demanding the benefits that the town and country has to offer without putting their tax dollars into the pot.

I for one and sick to death of coming into town every day to toil away at my office, knowing how high my overheads are & how many times the tax man will come in and audit my books and have to compete with a bunch of illegal immigrants that don't pay into the tax system and mislead and even scam unsuspecting real estate investors and buyers who assume that if somebody has an office, a cell phone and business card that they must be legitimate and know what they are doing.

I believe that anybody that works in Belize should have legal work permits and pay income tax/business tax and have trade licenses etc. And that includes foreigners from all nations. Yes, even those that have the ability to make a capital investment. For people to come into the community and disrespect the laws, assume that the services are to be taken for granted, and in many cases take their profits out of the country is low down, unethical and illegal.

And to top it all of, many of these people are the biggest complainers about lack of services and they are the ones that expect the most from our government.

I am all for encouraging and welcoming new investors and workers to Belize - and I also aid them in getting the right knowledge and following the current procedures to legitimize themselves in the correct manner.

You are supposed to leave for 24 hours every 6 months.

There is no reason why visitors cannot perpetually renew their visitor visas every month - many of these people are retired and spend their money in Belize.

If people apply for and obtain work permits the immigration department only renews these permits for a few years before they expect the person to apply for permanent residency.

i knew there was a limit, but i didn't realize it was 6 mo.
I'm getting the impression you have an awful lot of 'offenders' up that way!

I know people who live in PG for over 2 years, just renewing every month, never applied for residency or work permits. When we came we renewed our passports every month for 2 years before getting our residency granted.

I don't follow this at all. How would a US citizen working for a US company via telecommuting over the internet be breaking any US laws by working from Belize? Also, how would they be liable for any sales tax if they are not selling anything?

These people are collecting income from their employer while in a foreign country and spending that money in that country. The money they spend is not exempt from any sales tax charged.

And hundreds of thousands of telecommuters would be an amazing boon to the economy of belize. You should be honored to have them. It's free money pooring into the country that wouldn't be there otherwise.

"I know people who live in PG for over 2 years, just renewing every month, never applied for residency or work permits."

And YOU didn't turn them in to authorities even though it was illegal?

Immensing (sp?), bywarren, grand master of _ _ _, where are you guys? These folks need to be lambasted immediately. Break out your name calling and baiting, what are you waiting for? Call the Sun and post a public notice.

Remember, "this behavior will not be tolerated"!

Oh, and don't forget to say "JUST STAY HOME!".

And "we don't need folks like you here!"

Did I leave anything out?