www.CostaRicaTicas.com

This is certainly going to put a crimp in the Columbines who come to CR to work at the HDR.

Inside Costa Rica this morning:

"Marriages of Convenience At An End in Costa Rica
The Sala Constitucional or Sala IV as it is often referred to, has given the immigration service the tools to put a stop to marriages of conveniences and the lucrative business surrounding it during the last several years, where in some cases, foreigners have reported paying up to us$10.000 to marry a Costa Rican.

The Constitutional court decision is clear that the Dirección de Migración y Extranjería can scrutinize applications for residency based on the families ties provisions.

The director de Migración, Mario Zamora, said that the immigration service now has, based on the court ruling, the legal basis to demand that applicants for residency based on a marriage to a Costa Rican, proven that the marriage is real and can refuse residency if otherwise.

The court ruling also puts an end to lawyers charging high fees to arrange such marriages of conveniences.

Marriages of conveniences, that is a marriage where a foreigner legally marries a Costa Rican national based on a business arrangement, in most cases, the two parties to the marriage never meeting each other, solely for the purpose of obtaining legal residency in the country.

A loophole in the legislation left the immigration service with their hands tied in the face of a residency application based on such marriage, clearly evident that the couple had no ties to each other whatsoever.

Reports of foreigners contracting nuptials to a person who they had never met, and would never meet, to obtain residency were common, starting with a contact with a lawyer or notary public, who recruited Costa Ricans on the lower end of the economic scale, to provide their "cedula" (identification) for as little as ¢10.000 colones.

Marriages in Costa Rica are as simple as signing on the dotted line at the lawyers of notary's office and the document registered with the Registro Civil (Civil registry).

Once the document is filed, the foreigner could then apply for residency with the immigration service, which by law was impeded to investigate the marriage, even if the signs are clear that it is a marriage of convenience.

Zamora added that a network of lawyers and notaries was operating freely and openly providing foreigners the service.

The immigration director called the Sala IV decision a "historic" decision."

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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

Just out of curiosity, what happens if you marry a Tica in the US? Can you get CR residency? It's a serious question.

try this link

i am almost certain you are eligible for permanent residency

just as the tica is eligible for permenent residency in the united states.

you may be able to file the paperwork at a CR consulate.

http://www.costarica.com/Retirement/Rel ... Documents/

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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)

This could get very interesting for the DR in the near future. Either the chicas from other Countries (NAMELY COLOMBIA) will either stop coming here,or raising their prices to justify the short visits allowed.

Tourist visas are now more difficult to obtain for Colombianos as of the 1st of this year. In the past, a Colombiano could obtain a 30-day tourist visa to CR simply by sending his or her passport (with proof of reserved accommodations) to the CR embassy in Bogota. Now, the rules are changed. A Colombian citizen must appear in person before the consulate office in Bogota.

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Blue Devil

Pura Vida...enjoying life to the fullest...

I think the only one who can give you worthwhile advice is a Costa Rica attorney who specializes in immigration law. The immigration procedures in CR are ever shifting and changing.

My understanding of the courts ruling is that it now allows immigration to determine whether they feel the marriage is legitimate or it is a marriage of convenience to allow a foreigner to obtain residency. Prior to the ruling immigration could not challenge the intention of the marriage and had to issue residency.

I really do not see any difference in the way they would rule based on where the marriage was entered into but rather why the marriage was entered into.

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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

They'll never have the money, manpower, intelligence or know how to enforce it. It will go on the books but in practice nothing will change.

Except as a harassment tool for selected individuals as an added charge (deportation device). As happens with many laws in the U. S.

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"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

Have to disagree with that. As I understand the ruling immigration now has the right to say "we do not believe this is a real marriage and therefore will not issue you residency"

I have personal knowledge of a female arriving from Columbia on a 30 days visa getting married within that 30 days to a Tico she never met nor will ever meet then applying for residency. Immigration knew the marriage was a sham but were powerless to deny residency.

That has changed with this court ruling. Immigration can now say "we know this marriage is a sham and will not approve your residency"

None of that requires money, manpower, intelligence or know how to implement. The manpower is in place and there is no additional expense. Lack of intelligence and know how may in fact help them implement the policy. It's easy to deny.

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

I think I will still be ok. If I do this I'm gonna marry a friend. We know each other, I can learn more. I do think you are right that the days of people not even knowing their spouse will be over..

It's kind of scary to think that some underpaid beaurocrat will now have the power to deem a marraige appropriate or not for purposes of immigration. If the laws which are being passed,and the people who are passing and enacting them had any visual signs of intelligence this plan might work. As of now I forsee just another layer of bearocrat who needs "to be taken care of".

With all due respect VB that is rather naive thinking.

Underpaid low level government employees are making those kind of decisions in almost, including the United States, every country in the world.

Want a visa? Who makes the decision?

Want a green card? Who makes the decision?

The list of things decided by bureaucrats every day is endless.

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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

Damn, no kidding.

If you can curb or eliminate the Colombian element you can probably curb alot of crime as well.Since drug distribution seems to be the primary occupation for them overseas.Anything that limits or eliminates the Colombia element is all the better for CR.

Why such a ruckus over this? Marriages of conveniences happen here in the US all the time facing a similiar approval process. The going rate here in FLA is $5000 on the wedding day and a another $5000 for the green card. The couple just has to make sure they answer the interview questions correctly, like, "What color is your husband's toothbrush?" and "When did your wife last have her period?" The Colombianas will find a way around this minor roadblock don't worry.

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