www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Our reader's opinion

Support for a longer stay for snowbirds

Dear A.M. Costa Rica:

I agree small tourism is better, but less tourism is worse. One big step is to increase the length of stay allowed for snowbirds from the north.

By allowing those who are escaping the winter in North America to stay six months (rather than 90 days) you will increase the number who come here and how much they spend.

The 90-day visa requires that the person leave, likely to Nicaragua or Panamá. They may just discover they like it better, and it is a consideration for staying.

The best part is they will spend in the local economy, renting a condo for six months means they will be buying locally. They will go to the local grocery store, they will try the farmers market, and they may even sign up for Spanish classes.

When they do small trips away from their temporary home base, they are more likely to stay at a little local hotel they heard about from another expat. If they wish to take a tour, they will probably go to the tour booking office down the street, since they pass his shop nearly every day. If they travel a distance they probably use the local transfer company or the local buses, because they have had time to get comfortable with the neighborhood.

The population is aging, and tourism has to look towards this potential income and accommodate for it. If the retired parents own or rent a house in Costa Rica, it is more likely that their Ch*ldren, grandchildren and friends will come to visit, thus more tourist dollars in the local areas rather than the big hotels.

Patti Fraser
Tamarindo


EDITOR'S NOTE: A.M. Costa Rica has supported editorially longer stays for snowbirds. The 2006 immigration act that is now law contained a provision for a $100 renewal of a tourist visa without leaving the country. That provision was voided based on the way the text was worded

As per usual, Greengo puts you right in the picture. Unfortunately that picture is a '50's era poorly-run mental hospital (droolers sitting in corners, babblers everywhere, etc) . Time for another ECT session, guy. Jolts of volts for you. Problem is that even this type of response gives him the attention he so desperately craves and lends him a measure of credence--lose-lose, but sometimes I can't help myself.

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

What the hell is a garch?

_________________
Take The Highway To The End Of The Night...The Doors

You're undoubtedly correct in this context but it is also a math-modeling acronym--with Greengo, you never quite know: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autoregres ... city#GARCH As for the H word on the end: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heteroscedasticity
You just can't make this sh!t up...

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

A Greengo post is just average if the word "cumdrunk" is not included in his rants

Oh absolutely, Bro. I believe I once counted 3 in one post--I'm surprised the Heaven's didn't quake. And if he ever gets to 4, look for the Ark. Coded messages to his Lords & Masters, dontcha know? Ha! And I was deluded into thinking it was just wack shtuff...

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

Thank you, Seahawk, for posting something useful to many CRT members (too bad it turned into a discussion of whether that's snot dripping from Aqualung's nose.)

Although I have permanent residency, and none of this really concerns me, here's some more practical information from Inside Costa Rica regarding the current situation for folks overstaying their tourist visas:


"August 4th, 2014 (InsideCostaRica.com) After a one-year extension on their implementation, new laws regarding those who overstay their visa in Costa Rica came into effect last Friday, August 1st.

"Effective as of last Friday, August 1st, those who overstay any type of visa, including tourist visas, must pay a fine of $100 for each month they remained in the country after the expiration of their visa.

" Those who are unable or unwilling to pay the fines will be barred from reentering the country for a period equal to three times the length of time they overstayed. For instance, a person who overstays a tourist visa by three months can be barred from reentering the country for a period of nine months.

" Fines must be paid 48 hours in advance of departing the country at any Banco de Costa Rica (BCR) branch.

"However, those who are already in the country past the expiration of their visa will apparently not have to pay the $100 per month fine for months before the law came into effect – thus, the first fines come into place starting September 1st. As such, immigration authorities are urging those who are over their allowed stay to renew their visas or change their immigration status by the end of the month to avoid having to pay the fines.

"Other immigration laws came into effect on August 1st as well, including a fine of two to twelve times the base salary for hiring a foreign worker who does not have a work visa, as well as fines for people or businesses that provide accommodations for foreign nationals who are in the country without a valid visa."

I also was told that the ninety day extension as described in the letter above does, in fact, exist but only applies to citizens of other Central American countries. Can anyone confirm that?

_________________
It's faster horses, younger women, older whiskey, and more money--Tom T. Hall
No man is a failure who is enjoying life--William Faulkner

Quickly, QUICKLY--Alert the media world-wide: Greengo has issued a positive statement about CR and resident Gringos. It was tepid but it's a start...

_________________
"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED