www.CostaRicaTicas.com

This time I am booking a one way ticket from the US, and don't plan to return for awhile. In SJO they require me to show proof that I am leaving the country for 72 hours after a limit of 90 days. I was thinking of booking a ticket to Bocas del Toro for three days and returning to CR. Does anyone have any other suggestions, what about MDE ? ... How long does it take to apply for residency in CR and what is the process ? Appreciate any input.

You do not have to stay-out of the country for 72 hours unless you plan to bring back dutiable items and want to be exempt from customs charges on the first $500.00. There is a service advertised in AM Costa Rica that offers a one day flight to Nicaragua to get a new 90 stamp or you can take a bus to either Panama or Nicaragua cross the border have lunch and come back to Costa Rica. A caution however. 90 days is the maximum for a U.S. citizen but it is not mandated. Immigration at the border, at the sole discretion of the agent you are dealing with, can give you less then 90 days.

There are various types of residency programs. Check out this site for an explanation of the requirements for each type:

http://www.arcr.net/residencyincostarica.html

Time necessary? Areal crap shoot. Some people have gotten approval in a matter of months and others much longer. There seems to be no reason for the difference. Good luck.

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

This last trip the agent gave me 14 days....he was being an asshole...I told him I needed more time because I was going to spend 2 weeks in Pal Mares at the "Tope"...He looked at me and then stamped me for 14 days...I.D. is correct ...they do as they please and they dont have to give you 90 days....this is the first time they did this ,all prior trips have been 90 days....Dont know if he woke up on the wrong side of the bed or WTF....Ive talked to guys living down there and they all seem to get 90 days, so maybe they tell them they need 90 ...you may want to seek advice from those guys and ask how they are wording thier permits...

my last time in i was asked if 14 days was enough. and it was so it was no big deal. but that was the first time i had been asked the question.

_________________
im way deep into nothing special
riding the crest of a wave breaking just west of hollywood

My stamps have always been different, 90, 20, 30.... I only stay a week so no big issue for me. What I did find strange was on my flight there from the US JetBlue was not allowing anyone to board without proof of returning to the US. Was the only time I've seen them do that in the 4 trips I have taken. They made a real big scene with one K*D because he only had a one way ticket and did not know where he would be going next (he was backpacking and just winging it).

I have never been asked for proof of a return ticket at SJO.

_________________
Not banned yet...

I know it's discretionary with the Immigration Officer, and it never really matters to me either, last time I told him 10 he gave me 10, but I wonder why they care as long as it's 90 or less which is what their law is for tourismo.

Back before you needed a passport and could enter with your DL and birth certificate, the green tourismo visa was auto stamped 90 days. I wonder why that auto-90 has changed, it's clearly a policy decision by someone.

Airlines are getting stricter enforcing the return ticket regulation. Most likely because immigration at SJO is asking to see return tickets more frequently then in the past. If immigration refuses you entry because you do not have a return ticket you either have to purchase one or the airline has to take you back to the country where you boarded and they are fined.

The easiest solution if you are asked for proof of a return ticket by the airline is to purchase a one way refundable ticket. When you reach SJO go to the airline ticket office and cancel the ticket and get a refund. There might be a small service fee but it is far less then loosing the money it cost you for the ticket you could not use because you did not have a return ticket.

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

Im flying on a cheap one way ticket with jet blue into san jose. I did however, book a bus ticket to managua with "a safe passage" for 3 days after my arrival. The good thing is that I can change my bus date when I decide if I want to stay longer. I have a receipt for the bus ticket and a letter stating that immigration has my information. I just hope it works...

Interesting...

LeadB: How do I change the text on a PDF file ? Brilliant Idea by the way.

That will probably work (and obviously does) at SJO but I'm note sure it will in the US. I have been asked in the US and CR for return tickets and always had them so no problem. However in Houston once they asked for my return ticket at check-in and they actually went to a computer and looked up my flight.

Hope this helps.

Woozo

To clarify, I was on the return portion of a SJO-IAH-SJO ticket when I was checking in for the flight and was asked for my return ticket to the US.

Sorry if that was confusing.

Woozo

Thanks for the valuable information guys. Hopefully I can run into some of you at the SL on Thursday Nights.

Cheers

Get someone to get you an exit bus ticket for about $30 on tica bus. That will show your exit. they are correct, you do not have to stay out for 72 hours. When you are close to 90 days, I can help you with a same day flight and back from Nicaragua (about 5 -6 hour tour) that will get you another 90 days. Good luck'

_________________
Add a little spice to you life.This post is provided purely for entertainment purposes and free of charge on the part of the author. No "Sex tourism or travel" promotion is expressed or implied. The author of this post was not provided any compensation for this hopefully entertaining contribution. Any posts regarding any event or hotel item are just my humble opinions only.

Do they guarantee 90?

Is it just SJO airport immigration that is being funny about the days?