www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I guess the difference of opinion between those who choose to be Perpetual Tourists and those who choose Residency has blown up to all out warfare. Will it be armed or unarmed warfare. ID...as unofficial spokesman for the Residency proponents,(I choose NOT to get into a typical CRT pissing contest) If you could pay some $500/year and not having to leave every 3 months for 3 days,would you still choose Residency? 4 years ago I went thru the agravation of going thru hoops to apply for Residency and the lawyer lost all my papers. The ONLY reason I went thru all the bullshit was that I was involved in a project of building a Hotel and condos. The project went South and it tooik me some time to get my investment back. Since I don't need nor do I want the Caja,I choose not to pay into the system. So the bottom line for me is that I prefer the status quo to going thru the Residency wringer AGAIN. I am NOT a criminal,can certainly afford to get Residency,but since I enjoy visiting family in the States a few times a year,I just follow the law.

My point here is that the Perpetual Tourist classification is stupid because CR gets nothing from it. On the 90 day outs that I don't go to the States, I would rather give the CR powers that be,a non-repundable contribution so they could fix the infrastructure here.

So ID,and others who have picked up arms in this feud....... Why did YOU get Residency?

I too follow the law faithfully and have no intention whatsoever in getting residency in this country.

To ID and Bob, thank you for answering my question - as a long time visitor, I've always been curious about the process, as well as the pros and cons.

On a certain level, Bob, your plan makes sense for all parties - however, you have a better chance of seeing Jesus than seeing it put into effect because - the vast majority of governments/countries have residents, citizens, and visitors (as a resident of Miami, where this subject is more prominent than other places I am AMAZED at the number of classifications - student, tourist, investor, etc et al - basically at the "visitor" level). I also think waiting a while before appling once you have made the move is smart - why apply just to find out 6, 9, 12 months down the road Costa Rica is not for you.

To do what you suggest, Bob, would require a "wink wink" clause to the immigration laws - "We know you really do reside here, but you are not 'offical' residents, but OK, pay a fee and you don't have to leave the country for 72 hours"

Personally, I think the current law gives an "out" to all parties - you don't need to become a legal resident, and CR allows you to leave and return unlimited times while still claiming "tourist" status.

You can't be a little pregnant - you are either a (legal) resident - or a tourist (except perhaps in this instance in Costa Rica!) - a political subdivision HATES anything squishy, not all spelled out - so I don't see CR creating a twilight category anytime soon.

Again, thank you for responding to my question

I really do not understand that comment. I reread all the posts in this thread and see a discussion taking place about perpetual tourism. If there has been name calling or insulting posts I guess I missed them. If you choose to categorize a discussion as a "pissing contest" so be it.




Absolutely. If for no other reason then the economic one. At $500.00 a pop four times a year, and taking into consideration I would have to put another $500 in the pot next month, my expenditure would be $15,000. Rather staggering considering my initial cost for residency plus various renewal fees is a bit less then $1750 and my next renewal (cost $130) is not until February 2013. By that date I would have had to put another $3000 into that $500 pot.





That is your opinion and certainly you are entitled to it but it certainly does not make the procedure stupid. It makes it a loophole in the tourist visa category that people like yourself avail yourself of. I again say you chose the path of perpetual tourist knowing full well that you had to leave for 72 hours every 90 days. Now that you are tired of that you want to change the procure to cause less inconvenience to yourself under the guise of helping the CR economy.



Again I do not see this a feud or warfare. It is a difference of opinion that is being discussed in an adult manner.

I chose the path of residency for a number of reasons. The primary one being that I believe in living within not only the letter of the law but also the spirit of the law wherever I choose to reside. My opinion is that perpetual tourist violate the spirit of the tourist visa classification. I like to freedom of not having to walk around with my passport or a photocopy and not being concerned that some police officer is going to stop me and tell me my photo copy is not acceptable and want some cash. Sure you can refuse. The Mad German did until they told him to get into the car so they could drop him off, in the middle of night, in a very bad neighborhood.(You can search for his post about that incident in case you have forgotten it) I also like not having to worry every time there is a new immigration law about to be passed and everyone worries about what is going to happen to perpetual tourists. You remember your posts expressing your concerns the last time they changed the law don't you VB? Then of course there is that wonderful advantage I have when I do leave the country and return. When you do that the migracion inspector stamps your passport and write 90 dias when I do that he writes CRR on the stamp meaning Costa Rica Resident stay as long as you want. As to the CAJA I joined that in 2004 long before it was required. It has saved me literally thousands of dollars in medical costs so why should I complain about that. I am, as you are, happy with the path I have chosen.



So you once applied for residency, only because you were interested in making an investment in Costa Rica, and the attorney lost your paperwork. So in reality you never really went through "all the bullshit". Can you enlightened us what "bullshit" you are referring to? As I pointed out in a previous post once you file the papers you never have to leave the country again and don't even have to pay the mythical $500.00 fee you would like to see established. Your poor choice of an attorney while unfortunate is really not a problem most folks encounter when going through the "bullshit". As to the CAJA that is a recent requirement and certainly has not played a large part of your decision to remain a perpetual tourist for some seven years.

All in all VB we differ in opinion. There is no warfare. I just get annoyed when those who take advantage of the loopholes complain about the hoop they have to jump through to take advantage of that loophole. The bottom line is that Costa Rica has, by design, chance or some other reason, one of the most liberal interpretation of what constitutes a tourist. Rather then complain about the minor inconveniences you have to endure to meet those liberal requirements just suck it up and comply or find a country that will allow you to stay forever as a tourist.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Most of our residential friends have sold everything and moved to Costa Rica and have no reason to return to the states. They have no choice, they have no place to go. and feel they are free with a CR ID card.

I my not be right, but this is my opinion

can not speak for others but for my self,

You got this right:



You got this wrong:

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

I surrender,but I still think CR would be better served if they could benefit somehow by charging fees which could be used for making CR a better place for all of us. My getting Residency doesn't do anything to improve the quality of life here for lifelong citizens,visitors,Perpetual Tourists,Residents and everyone else.

ID,not to get into a feud or warfare BUT using expressions such as "suck it up and comply or find another Country to live in that will allow you to stay forever as a tourist." Think of your lengthy comments as to why you get involved in "pissing contests trying to defend your opinions. I have given my opinions and I am done defending them.

VB,

If you are going to quote me the least you can do is to make it an accurate quote. What I said was:



That was far less inflammatory then the way you worded it.

I regret that you consider debate and dialogue between parties as a pissing contest. On CRT many threads do turn into ugly confrontation. One only has to look at the current thread concerning Walmart for an example of that. I do not believe that is the case with this thread.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Thought this thread was great - very informative - and VB and ID outlined their positions very well - as the present laws stand, both of you are in compliance.

The difference is, one went through the hassle once, the other goes through the hassle every 90 days and has for the past 7 years SORRY - Could not resist In all candor, as I posted previously, I'd stay a PP until I was damn sure CR was for me; at least a year, possibly 2 - until I was for sure - then I'd seek residency - not that leaving is THAT big a hassle; it just comes up at likely the worst times in your life; I also want to "do things once" and hate uncertainity that you can prevent, changing laws, etc.

( ID - not that its ever going to go anywhere, VB's proposal was to collect $100 per PP each 90 days vs making them leave, not $500 each time - 3 months in a quarter, 4 quarters in a year = $400 per year to the CR gov - thats what I think he was proposing )

General comment - like smoking (limitation) laws, Immigration laws are more than likely to get tougher, not easier going forward.

PS Re the "WalMart" thread - I have some responsibility for posting a reply to a post I did not like - I also did not like a response I had received in another thread, again directed towards me - but it was "solved" (not that it was THAT big a deal) through PM's - like you, ID, I call 'em as I see 'em -

I may be a fairly new poster, but I've been a CRT member for almost 5 years, and a reader of the board for 2 years before I joined (I hate the term "lurker" - sounds like a deviate of some type so I will not use it ) - plus I have over 30 trips over the the past 15 or so years.

You know - since I started posting, it kinda reminds me of the classic "Andy Griffith Show" eposode whereby a young guy, a stranger, shows up in Mayberry, and seems to know everyone; even to the point of greeting them by name, knowing about their families - on a real indepth basis - this freaks out the whole town (almost inciting a mob - or what passes for one in Mayberry ) until Andy gets to the bottom of it; seems the young man was in the service w/ a guy from Mayberry, and he shared a lot about the town w/ him.

To be honest, I can´t really blame the people who are perpetual tourists and don´t want to get residency. I´m currently in the process of getting my residency for my work. And I have to say, its a real headache..

When you say "getting my residency for my work." can you advise what residency category you are applying for?

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Ding Dong is the #1 Lurker. He has to keep his Talley up on his posts.

I think I understand the comment. Three reasons ID states that people go the perpetual tourist route instead of residency is that they:

won't go through a process that is "neither a great burden nor a major inconvenience"
do not think they "can afford it"
are "hiding something in their past"

It's reasonable to infer that ID is categorizing perpetual tourists as either not smart enough to realize how easy and inexpensive obtaining residency is, or that they have a criminal past. Not exactly high praise.

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Sex with Gringas in the U.S. is like modern art. Most of it is pretty bad, and the good stuff is out of your price range.

That is a far reach and completly distorts what has been said.

I was asked a question



and I answered that question as follows



It is not reasonable to infer any of the things you have from that answer. I pointed out that I did not have the answer to that and simply stated the reasons I have heard expressed by others. To reach a conclusion that those are my thoughts on the matter is simply not supported by anything written in this thread.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

ID, do you really wonder why VB refers to the style of some of your "debate and dialogue between parties" as a pissing contest?
If not, I don't think you recognize your own fondness for hyperbole and semantic infiltration.

I chose my words carefully, notice I said what could be inferred, not that you had implied, in fact I believe
your intentions are generally absent of malice.

If I were to respond to your post in the same way, I would in part point out that you state:
To which I would reply that I never stated that those are your thoughts on the matter.

You also state:

I never said that I inferred anything. I pointed out that it was reasonable for someone to make such an inference. To reach
a conclusion that those are my thoughts on the matter is simply not supported by anything written in this thread.

I think I made my point.

_________________
Sex with Gringas in the U.S. is like modern art. Most of it is pretty bad, and the good stuff is out of your price range.