Moving to Dangriga or placencia or Corozal

2POSTS

12 years ago

I am a NJ/NY plumber I have 20 years experience in all phases of plumbing, as well as experienced in building. I am also now working as a union stagehand in NYC. I want to start my own business in Belieze and get a permit immediately as we have some savings but really need to have a steady income ASAP. We have 3 dogs as well and need to know if there is a limit to how many we can bring. They 25LBS. all together.
I love the feel of Dangriga or placencia or Corozal if the best place.
Need info fast. We are coming down in two weeks to find a place to rent and will be back no later than a month for good.
We also need to know about shipping our personal stuff that we are bringing as my husband has his tools and we do have furniture of our own. It may not be cost effective.
Any help you can give will be appreciated

See also

Accommodation in Belize - Guide
Corozal - 42 Replies
Moving family to Corozal - 4 Replies
Corozal rentals - 20 Replies
Corozal, Belize - 25 Replies
New to corozal - 28 Replies
Coming to Corozal - 7 Replies

richthebuilder Member

12POSTS

12 years ago

Contact shandamac@gmail.com聽聽She has a very nice 3 bedroom for rent in Sittee River.About 5 minutes from Hopkins,40 from Placencia and 25 from Dangriga.

4evrHawk Contributor

176POSTS

12 years ago

Contact Rosie at hotel Maya, she has a 2 bedroom furnished. Tell her Mr. Bruce sent you.

Corozal Belize

4evrHawk Contributor

176POSTS

12 years ago

I should add the department of labor is located right behind the hotel Maya.

tonymarsico Active member

43POSTS

12 years ago

You can contact me at vacation_belize@yahoo.com for info on rentals and the business climate here in the Hopkins/ Sittee River area if you need quick info.

kristinanadreau Guest

0POSTS

12 years ago

I do not wish to rain on your parade.聽聽When you come to reconnoiter, plz be realistic.聽聽You may become unhappy if you do not get your permit to work before you think you will work.聽 The standards for the trades are low here and wages are not good.聽 I have a man who would be a master electrician in the USA, he works for $65 a day for regular construction.聽 Labor is generally $2.00 an hour, skilled labor is $2.50 an hour.聽 unemployment is a problem.聽 the expats would welcome your skills but most of them appear to be unwilling to pay US wages .

kristinanadreau Guest

0POSTS

12 years ago

I was told that all the airlines now require animals to be flown in the hold, no longer under the seats.聽 you are getting different info than I have gotten.聽 I am confused .聽 I sent you a message about contacting our local US Embassy representative.

karen ViP

4030POSTS

12 years ago

Hello sharonarfmann.

A new thread has been created on the Belize Forum for more visibility.

Thanks

Karen

kristinanadreau Guest

0POSTS

12 years ago

I guess it is just Delta that would not let us put our crates under the seat.聽 I will keep that in mind for the future.聽 If I bring a dog from the US, I will fly out of Miami on AA.聽 the thunder shirt is a great idea.聽 fortunately the flight is short.聽 best luck.

beachcat New member

4POSTS

12 years ago

#10

You have to have a work permit to work (even volunteer) in Belize.聽 NEVER on a visitor visa.聽
Which means you have to become a resident (one year in Belize BEFORE you can apply for residency) or citizen (longer stay) before you can get a work permit.聽 Especially for a job that will be taken away from a local worker.
You should make an exploratory trip to find where you want to be and then rent somewhere for 6 months to a year before you even think about giving up your stuff in the US.聽 Put your US life in storage for a year and make sure you really want to be here.聽 It is not as easy as some make out.
Don't be misled by those who say they will help you illegally get the work permit. They and you will be subject to prosecution and deportation and you will be very unpopular with the locals if you work illegally.聽 It is now the VERY slow season (until December) so every dollar taken from a local worker and their family will be taken very seriously.

kristinanadreau Guest

0POSTS

12 years ago

#11

to sharon arfmann聽 plz see Beach cats reply to your questions.聽 first it is important that you explore, know and understand this country before you relocate here.聽 then the issue of a work permit is a big one.聽 We know of a pediatrician who has been trying to get a work permit for over 2 years.聽 I doubt they would give a trades man a permit at all.聽 come spend a month or 2 or better 6 and then see

beachcat New member

4POSTS

12 years ago

#12

You will get lots of advice from real estate and rentalagents and others with something to gain. Beware.

4evrHawk Contributor

176POSTS

12 years ago

#13

beachcat wrote:
You will get lots of advice from real estate and rentalagents and others with something to gain. Beware.

I have to say your comments really rubbed me the wrong way.

Most people here seem to try and give good advice...I know that's my intension.

There are rental agents in Corozal and they might be the right people to talk with. But I found my first聽 place here, by just taking with people on the internet.

I found my second place by getting out and talking with the people who live here. You can't live your life thinking everybody has a hidden agenda. But I also have nothing against people making a living by helping others.

canoe-mom Member

20POSTS

12 years ago

#14

There are some restaurant owners in Placencia who have been there less than a year and already own a business and work it well.聽 Apparently there are some twist and bends to the work permit rule.聽 Although I don't live there yet, I would not be discouraged by the experiences of some who haven't obtained permits yet.聽 One thing I have noticed is that Belize is for those with an adventurous spirit and and a can do attitude.

kristinanadreau Guest

0POSTS

12 years ago

#15

when I ask someone for a place to stay or a competent electrician, I would like the answer to come from their personal experience.聽 I am uncomfortable with getting information from people who make a recommendation because they will get a financial kick back from the person recommended.聽 I am especially uncomfortable with this practice when it is unknown to me.聽 I expect a Realtor to get a fee for a rental or for a purchase.聽 I do not expect the gas installer to get a kick back from the painter, unbeknownst to me.聽

The kick back system was prevalent in Atlanta and seems alive and well here in Corozal.聽 So i am careful and always consider the source, when getting information.

The information & suggestions that appear on these blogs comes from peoples personal experience and opinions, and almost exclusively with no prospect of financial gain.

beachcat New member

4POSTS

12 years ago

#16

That was good advice.聽 There is a saying here - "They come and they go", which means they come with stars in their eyes and $ in their pocket and they go in a year or 2 or 5.聽 No stars, no money.
Just the reality.

beachcat New member

4POSTS

12 years ago

#17

"There are some restaurant owners in Placencia who have been there less than a year and already own a business and work it well.聽 Apparently there are some twist and bends to the work permit rule.聽 Although I don't live there yet, I would not be discouraged by the experiences of some who haven't obtained permits yet.聽 One thing I have noticed is that Belize is for those with an adventurous spirit and and a can do attitude."

Please don't come here with that attitude.聽 Belize does not need anyone else twisting and bending the work permit rule.
Can do attitude is good if you respect the people of Belize by respecting their laws.

richthebuilder Member

12POSTS

12 years ago

#18

How do you leave Belize with a $1,000,000? Come with $2,000,000..

canoe-mom Member

20POSTS

12 years ago

#19

So who pissed in your Belize breakfast beach cat? I was simply says that these work laws aren't written in stone.聽 They are a general rule that changes according to person and situation.聽 Talk to expat business owners....dont take my word for it.

4evrHawk Contributor

176POSTS

12 years ago

#20

beachcat wrote:
That was good advice.聽 There is a saying here - "They come and they go", which means they come with stars in their eyes and $ in their pocket and they go in a year or 2 or 5.聽 No stars, no money.
Just the reality.

Wow is that a saying by a secret organization....Because nobody ever told me that saying. Now you have made me really felt left out:(

kristinanadreau Guest

0POSTS

12 years ago

#21

thank you beach cat and the builder.聽 while it is possible to come and start a business here, it is wise to respect the laws of this little, not rich country.聽 We gringos are GUESTS HERE.聽 even the slightest marketing experience indicates the first rule of a business is to know your market.聽聽 Come here, learn about all of us, and make your decisions wisely

richthebuilder Member

12POSTS

12 years ago

#22

When you've been here for a while ,maybe your knowledge will be greater..

kristinanadreau Guest

0POSTS

12 years ago

#23

I have seen most of your posts and generally you are factual and helpful.聽聽 Your remark to Beach Cat is neither.聽 Courtesy, respect for the others opinion even when it differs are needed here.聽聽We ExPats are a tiny聽 minority in a small country.聽 you have been here less than 6 months.

kristinanadreau Guest

0POSTS

12 years ago

#24

perhaps you will be happier in Mobile.

corozal dave Active member

66POSTS

12 years ago

#25

sharonarfmann, I personally think you have to slow down.聽 First you can not work legally in Belize without a work permit, to get one you either have to, become a resident and then apply or start a business with a person from Belize. Not an easy thing when you are talking trades that a person in Belize can easily fill the position.聽 Unemployment is very high in Belize, they don't need trades people from other countries to fill the jobs.
Importing your stuff from the States will be extremely expensive, by the time you pay the taxes and duty, not worth it.聽 However, if you live there for a year and get your residency, you can bring your stuff into Belize for free.聽 Pay for a top notch plumber is about $65.00/day BZD or $32.50 USD/day.聽 You need to do a lot more research, to insure you are making informed decisions.聽 Not as easy as pack up all your belongings and head off to Belize, get a job, a house and live happily ever after.聽 Anymore than someone from Belize packing up and showing up at the USA boarder.
I do wish you the best of luck, and hope all works out for you.

kristinanadreau Guest

0POSTS

12 years ago

#26

thank yu Beach Cat, Corozal Dave and the Builder.聽 well said.

4evrHawk Contributor

176POSTS

12 years ago

#27

kristinanadreau wrote:
thank yu Beach Cat, Corozal Dave and the Builder.聽 well said.

This is supposed to be a site where people can get good info. Why do you want to turn it into I'm right you are wrong site.

I was out today among the people who really do things here. You can't just sit here on the computer acting like experts and nobody really sees your face in Corozal.

Everybody knows me...woopy do...but at least I'm inter-acting with the real people in Corazal that get things done.

canoe-mom Member

20POSTS

12 years ago

#28

Well said Hawk!聽 Its suddenly feeling like a do-gooder club.

kristinanadreau Guest

0POSTS

12 years ago

#29

Hawk,聽 you are blowing off people who have been here for many years and have useful experience to share.聽聽The only people to be discourteous and argumentative are yourself and Canoe mom from Mobile.

I am now unsubscribed from this topic............

4evrHawk Contributor

176POSTS

12 years ago

#30

kristinanadreau wrote:
Hawk,聽 you are blowing off people who have been here for many years and have useful experience to share.聽聽The only people to be discourteous and argumentative are yourself and Canoe mom from Mobile.

I am now unsubscribed from this topic............

Thank God