www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Brother Johnarizona has stated THE cardinal rule. Heed it.

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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 second that!

I agree....I rent my house AND my chicas here in CR. I see no advantage of ownership of either.

Sounds like a good concept.. until that day arrives when your finally nabbed at immigration when they do decide to implement the abuse of this system. until then.. pura vida

i have lived here for 7 years and have known 4 people that this has hapened to..

If the Legislature has passed the new Immigration bill,and it is about to be implemented , and they purposely avoided any changes in the status of we "Perpetual Tourists",I would assume that we are pretty safe for quite a while. I wonder what your 4 friends did to "getted nabbed" by immigration. Simply leaving the Country for at least 3 days every 90 days is legal.

Because I live in CR, my flights generate from Costa Rica then return to and terminate in Costa Rica.

The last time I flew back to SJO from the US, I was asked a question I have never been asked before. The Continental ticket counter representative asked to see my residency card since I fly using my US Passport. If I used a Costa Rica passport, there would have been no question that I have the right to fly to Costa Rica and stay. The question was asked because my travel plans ended in CR.

The counter representative advised me that if they (Continental or any airline) flew me to CR and I did not have the right to stay (residency or citizenship) then they (Continental) could be fined up to $25,000. He did not know if the fine would come from the US or the CR government but he knew there would be a fine plus the airline would have to pay for the person (ostensibly me) to return to the US.

Anyone have any knowledge on this?

I just thought of an additional concept. With the new changes in the ICT taxes ($15 added travel tax) the government is obviously able to determine whether or not a traveler starts in Costa Rica.

It is a lot more difficult, Recently a couple in Ezcazu were arrested and deported. They had used the "services" of a get your passport stamped for a fee. Unfortunately for them the color of the ink did not match the color that was used for that entry point. Immigration is using more sophisticated tools to reduce the use of fraudulent entry stamps.

A real case of "buyer beware"

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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

ID, didn’t they get deported? I think they had a business in the west side of the valley (Santa Ana or Escazu).

Yes they were deported for violation of immigration laws. I think she sold real estate not sure what he did for a living.

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

My understanding is that the only provisions for banning anyone for a period of years is for criminal activity.



They would need to make it illegal first and since it is not addressed in the proposed immigration bill, this is highly unlikely.

I don't think the government has a problem with people doing this. They just want to retain the right to throw your ass out if they do not like having you in the country. Essentially, you are reappling for entry into the country every 90 days.

If they decide that don't want you in the country you do not even get to come back and empty your refrigerator. You are done. What ever you left behind, you leave behind.

If you are breaking immigration law (not just a civil regulation), then it is a criminal offense, the penalty for which is barring you for a term of years. I don't know if it's a civil or criminal offense, and don't plan on finding out the hard way. It's a "risk/reward" question--and one's tolerance for psychic pain. Oh, and the possibility of being barred re-entry on a whim? I don't plan to any kind of permanentize until residency is obtained.

_________________
"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

A question has just popped into my head. Todays amcostarica has reported that the immigration bill is on a fast track to passage with a special session of the Legislature. If the new $1000and $5000/month rules are passed as it looks like they will be, and effective for existing "residents at renewal time, "can a person with "residency" go back to being a "Perpetual tourist" and just adhere to those rules? somehow I bet ID will know the answer.

If I could answer the many questions that this proposed legislation has created I could claim the status of being a prophet.

I would guess that a person who currently has residency but can not meet the new requirements could become a perpetual tourist.

However, in spite of AM Costa Rica continual printing that "The bill also seems to say that current pensionados and rentistas will be required to meet the new financial requirements when their term of resident is renewed." many point out that in Costa Rica laws can not be applied retroactively.

Also while no mention is made of "perpetual tourists" in the new legislation that is no guarantee that immigration will allow the practice to continue. It simply defies logic that they would kick out people who acquired residency legally and allow those who are "borderline" legal to continue to skirt the requirements. But, then this is Costa Rica.

The simple truth is I do not believe anyone has specific answers and the only thing to do is wait and see what develops.

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

And it might be prudent to at least make preliminary plans to liquify your "hard" assets. While it may not be Constitutional here to apply laws and regs retroactively, it's not legal in the U. S. either yet there's a multitude of "look-back" provisions sprinkled throughout the Tax Code, Medicare Regulations, etc. the net effect of which is retroactivity. I am not trying to spread the FUD Factor here--if our worries come to naught, what have you lost in planning? Then look at vice versa. What is it that Newbies are told?--do extensive homework then forget about it and enjoy yourself? Or enjoy another Chica or something.

_________________
"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