There is an article in today's
Inside Costa Rica that is more informative about the possible effects on gringos then the AM Costa Rica article.
Quote:
New Costa Rican Immigration Law Approved!
In second and final debate, the new immgration law was passed by the country's legislators Tuesday evening. But, it won't be until next year and the next government to apply the new rules.
The approval vote for the new Ley de Migración , that bolsters the powers of the PolicÃa Migratoria (immigration police), increases immigration controls and forces foreigners to immerse in Costa Rican culture, came at 7pm Tuesday night.
Although the complete text of the law approved is yet to be made available, the main changes are the criminilization of the trafficking of persons, creates a tribunal for complaints and appeals of the immigration service decisions and forces hotel operators to maintain a register of all their guests.
The new immigration law also increases the montly financial requirements for pensionados to us$1.000 from the current us$600 and legal residents will have to join the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS).
The new law, once it goes into effect, will ask Rentistas to demonstrate a permanent fixed income of at least us$2.500 monthly from the current us $1.000, marriages of convenience will also come under attack, with the immigration having the authority to investigate arranged marriages for the sole purpose of obtaining legal residency.
Under the new law, foreigners will have to prove that the marriage is a bonafied union, that the parties know each other and may be subject to a joint interview by immigration officials, who will also interview people who are said to know the couple and the marriage.
Foreigners detained for immigration irregularities, under the new law, can only be held for a maximum of 24 hours, the time the immigration service has to demonstrate that the detained foreigner is in the country illegally or set him or her free.
Questions to how the new immigration law affects foreigners living in the country, who have obtained their legal residency or an in the process, as well as those considering moving to Costa Rica, can only be answered when the full text of the new immigration law is published in the official government publication, La Gaceta.
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