Well, at least we're going to get a clarification. In Bulgarian terms though, you never really know if it will clear things up, or make them altogether worse.

The beginning of October is supposed to bring a clarification from the Ministry of the Interior on the Law on Foreigners. Chances are, though, that it will just clarify what most people already know - the law is beyond absurdity and does not have a place in any democratic, Western-oriented country.

The government has pledged to be foreign investment friendly, to open up the doors for more money to come into Bulgaria and help the economy grow. Yes, they're new and haven't had much time, but in this part of the world things need to move fast, and frequently do, unless you're standing in line at the passport office.

There have been many cases recently of foreigners being stopped on the street by police and asked for their passport, address registration and whatever else. Policemen have even apparently started to come to people's apartments to check up on them in a manner which can only be described as harassment.

There isn't anyone from Western Europe or North America coming to Bulgaria to declare refugee status and live off the country's welfare system. People from Eastern Europe are not flocking to Bulgaria to live here illegally and milk the country's resources. In fact, there are very few countries in the world where people would even think about coming to Bulgaria to do anything less than put money into the country in some form or another.

So why then is this such a problem? Why isn't this law eliminated? Why isn't there at least an explanation for why a tourist or businessperson who is not staying in a hotel, must go to the local passport office to declare their presence in Bulgaria? A normal tourist or businessperson probably spends at least two or three average Bulgarian salaries ($100) in the space of a week.

Right now, if someone were to want to come and retire in Bulgaria and buy a house or flat, they would have huge problems. First, there's the issue of having to leave the country every month, or three months (depending on origin). Then they'll need to consult someone to figure out some creative way of bypassing the law to allow them to actually buy a piece of property in Bulgaria. Then, they'll have a residence and be able to apply for a residence permit. Then, about a year and a half later, they'll be able to comfortably retire.

The only high point that has come of the past few months of residency uncertainty is the creation of what appears to be a new industry in Bulgaria - trying to subvert the ridiculous by doing things which are frequently even more so. In search of ways to get around this new law - a common and necessary practice in Bulgaria - efforts have jumped to a new level.

People are offering to make blue passport-hungry Europeans trade representatives of Western European firms. New NGOs are being formed specifically for the purpose of someone being able to reside in Bulgaria. While the "Society for the Granting of Residency" might not be successful in getting its founding president a residence permit, more and more ways are being devised to do so successfully.

With all this effort spent on being allowed to live here, who has time to get any work done?