www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Does anybody know what the "police letter" "police clearance letter" is? That would be one of the documents required for Pensionado status...And application can be made at the C.T.I in San Jose?

If I stay in Costa Rica for 120 days, am I just able to cross the border north or south for a day or two and then re-enter the country? Or does it mean coming back to the good old U.S.A?
thanks, you guys...

A police clearance is a letter from the police department in the town you live stating that you have no criminal record in the ideal situation or detailing your criminal history in the worst case. It must be notarized and then sent to the Secretary of State in the state where the police department is located for validation.



The maximum legal tourist visa you can be issued is valid for 90 days not 120. You can then go to Panama or Nicaragua and theoretically stay for 72 hours and the renter the country and get a new 90 day tourist visa. I say theoretically because there are those who say that the 72 hour requirement is a Customs requirement if you want to bring things back not an Immigration requirement. That may or may not be the case I do not know but if I were planning to apply for residency I would play it safe and stay out 72 hours.

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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

Thanks, I appreciate the answer...I spit on a guy in Chicago...He deserved it..lol.

That would be a basic misdemeanor..Hmmm, I wounder how they feel about that in Costa Rica?

Spit and run?

Nah, spit in front of a witness...but he deserved it, glad I didn't spit on the witness..

Irish Drifter is spot on. I might add that your police record/documents are VERY important for pensionado status. If you have moved in the last few years, you may be required to provide police clearance from your previous city as well.

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Voted San Jose's #1 Maripepino

Do we want these sorts of hardened criminals associating with us in Costa Rica? They might tempt those of us with only a felony or two (or three or...) to living a life of crime. Shame, shame.

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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

I have no problem with associating with harden criminals. But I draw the line at those who post about carousals.

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

Or whistlers

Its all a matter of perspective - if you were six when it happened, you are probably Ok - if it generated an arrest and a conviction (ewwww - spitting - yuck) and it shows up on your record - its gotta be "explained"

While awaiting sentenancing; standing next to other prisioners before going in for trial:

(Huge black guy) "What 'choo in fo muthafucker"
(You) "Uh, I spit on a guy"
(HBG) "You guan get the muthafucking chair, 'cept you short the mothafucka out"
(Judge) "10 days for spitting - 2 years for making me puke"

I swear I should write comedy

[/quote]

...and I said "spittin' on a guy" and they all moved away from me on the Group W Bench there, and the hairy eyeball and all kinds of mean nasty things, until I said "and creatin' a disturbance" and they all moved back....

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"Buy the ticket, take the ride." --Hunter S. Thompson

and we had fun there on the Group "w" bench talking about mother raping, father stabbing - father raping and all sorts of groovy things there sitting there on the group "w" bench smoking cigarettes and all other sorts of other groovy things until the Sargent came over. he had a piece of paper in his hand and he said " we wan.........................................

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My best friend was the clock on the wall, and he turned out not to be much of a friend in the end