www.CostaRicaTicas.com

From Inside Costa Rica this morning.

Marriages of Convenience A Big Business
An organization, headed by a notary in downtown Heredia, visits poor neighbourhoods in that province and in Alajuela and San José, looking for takers of their offer to lend their name on a marriage certificate in exchange for between ¢20.000 and ¢50.000 colones (us$38.50 and us$96).

The willing person is then married off - legally - to a foreigner who is looking to use marriage as a means of obtaining residency in Costa Rica. Both men and women are sought in a legal manoeuvre that has become a cause of concern for immigration officials.

In all cases, the person granting permission for using the signature, with the promise of a quickie divorce, is fully aware that marriage is involved but never do meet or know the nationality of their spouse. However, divorce laws in Costa Rica do not allow the filing of a divorce before three years of marriage.

However it is not all roses for those who accept the tempting offers.

The immigration service reports that they have currently six complaints by women who are attempting to have their marriages annulled, which has become a nightmare for some as it affects their ability to obtain "bonos de vivienda" - housing bonds granted to those in a low income category. Because their marriages are to persons with financial resources, they do not qualify for the bonds, leaving them a complete disadvantage and looking for legal remedies.

In some of the cases where individuals are affected, they have kept their silence in fear of being involved in a legal problems, being warned by the organizers that they will all go down if they talk.

The phony marriages are one way for many foreigners to obtain their residency and citizenship in Costa Rica. The Dirección de Migración y Extranjería (immigration service) does not have the power to investigate these types of marriages and confirm if they are legitimate or of convenience, even in cases where the convenience is quite evident.

The director of Migración y Extranjería, Mario Zamora, is quite firm that in cases where there is a complaint, though his department is not involved in the divorce, it will annul any residency granted on the ties of matrimony.

Zamora added that few have the courage to step forward and denounce the practice like the cases of 23 year old Cindy Quesada Céspedes; Karen Zapata Cruz, 25, and Stephanie Uribe Monge, 18, who are all married to foreigners, people they have never met in their life.

According to Registro Civil records, all the women were married on September 3, 2004 and have yet to have received the promised divorce. "I am not afraid, I should want this over with", Zapata told the La Nación, not fearing reprisals for speaking out.

Foreigners of all nationalities, including those from the United States, Canada and Colombia take advantage of the current marriage laws to establish a tie to Costa Rica by marrying a Costa Rican national. These type of marriages of convenience can cost the foreigner from hundreds to thousands of dollars paid to notaries for their services, which may or may not include the process of filing for residency and obtaining their residency cedulas.

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

yes, i spoke with a woman from another country that had married a Tico on paper.

she was granted a work permit soon enough, but she complains that her paperwork for permenent residency is taking forever and the lawyers and notaries all had their hands out.

she has never met her tico husband.

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The difference between a Sea Story and a Fairy Tale is that a Fairy Tale starts out 'Once Upon a Time..' and a Sea Story starts out 'This is no Shit...'

(export version only, some restrictions may apply, some assembly required, not valid where the sun don't shine...

if you live in the states of Poverty, Darkness or anywhere outside of The Blessings of Civilization Trust, Inc...other rules may apply)

Very common amongst the Colombianas.

dapanz1

And very common Lawyer scam. Buyer beware.

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All that a man achieves and all that he fails to achieve is the direct result of his own thoughts...

I was with an El Salvadorn girl who was doing this.

For me the nightmare goes the other way. What happens when your wife of three years decides she wants half of everything you have. I bet you can find some lawyers and judges who like that deal. Remeber if you live with a woman in CR for 2 years and a day then it constitutes Comon law marriage. I have heard of a few guys losing their houses on that one.

Leagaly it is three years, But there is this staute that goes like the US courts when it comes to giving you time. What would you rather have life in prision or 40 years and a day? Me I would rather have life. Because that is normaly reconised as 33 years and you are eligable for parole in a third. But 40 years and a day means you are going to stay for forty years so you can do that day. Just a thought.

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Take a walk on the wild side.

Not usually a problem with this type of marriage arrangement. She signs a pre nup disavowing any claim to your property.

You never even meet her, no less live together, and since you are legally married she would never get common law status anyway.

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