www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Dr. Mario
Thanks for the offer of help, and you are right, I need to be specific about my questions.
My Dad is 88 years old and has a finca in Southern central mountains. Costa Rica seems to have worked for him. He has been "living" in CR since '85.
I also have been going down there since '85, but only once or twice in the last 10 years and just to visit my Dad. Truthfully, I have always wanted live in CR.
Unfortunately, maybe it's the hype, but I keep hearing bad things about higher costs and crime in CR. And since I am not a young man anymore, and I am not really "street" savy, I am little concerned about these things.

So here's some specific questions for you:

Should I start working the pensonado process before I go down or do the 90 day thing first ?

Should I keep a place in the US until I settled my living situation there ?

Can you recommend a good cosmetic dentist and surgeon ?

Can I find short term rentals, that are safe and don't break the bank, until I have a more permanent location ?

Thanks again for the reply, it helps more than you might think.

I'll stop thread jacking and Thanks for the advice after years of dealing what you say is not new or wrong but I really just wanted my question answered bro. Not saying I don't want advice but would prefer it over a cold drink after the move, After 30+ docs and hundreds of friends giving advice I mean no dis respect but heard it all before which is why I asked a specific question! I know I can get meds done it before but the talk of greengo had me worried so I asked a plain question. Back is a good portion of the problem not the only one but as I said I really don't want to get to personal and just wanted to know what the scoop on dealing with chronic pain with MEDS living in CR not just visiting.

There is literally nothing anyone could advise that I have not heard or in some cases tried. Meds is the question and are they safe! production and purity wise! Also is there chronic pain docs and or clinics.

Thanks

Dave

PS
Thanks my response does not mean your advice is not good advice just not what I need to know now as I said if I move I would love to hear it all in person.

_________________
LOL I would Love to never hear the word game used again ever again! :)

To be honest with you. The answer to all your questions is yes. As long as you can afford to a place in the states until you feel settled I strongly suggest you do. The pensionado process will take longer than you might think normally, so if you can start on it now you are better off. There are several options for dental work. So that is not really a problem. As for short term rentals you should be able to find something within reason. The guys on this board can help you out with that for sure better than me because I have been here so long I have not had to look into short term rentals for a while. I do know of a couple aparthotels that you might be able to check into, but my suggestion is to post about that on here and you will get a lot of responses. If I can help with anything else just pm me.

the DR

<------recognize----OG in this spot.......

_________________
“In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity"

The question was what actual fact do you have to back up your assertion? Paraphrasing Greengo as a source is hardly comforting. Greengo spends his time penning deprecating posts about various facets of life in Costa Rica but provides no empirical evidence and in spite of his obvious dislike of Ticos and life in Costa Rica he continues to live here. If I lived any where in the world and found the conditions there as unappealing as Greengo paints CR I would be out of that local in a flash.

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

ID quote:

".....Paraphrasing Greengo as a source is hardly comforting."

I think that you MUST do the application for residency from the U.S. Only exceptions to that is if you have family (Ch*ld,wife) who is a CR citizen.

_________________
The only thing that matters is happiness in all it forms...

PVT,

I applied for mine down here after living here 5 years. I did not have a daughter at the time. So I think it does not matter, but a very good idea because 90 days will not do it.


the DR

_________________
“In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity"

For a period, approximately from 2007 to 2010, the then immigration law required you to start the process at a Costa Rica consulate in your home country.

With passage of Ley 8764. the new immigration law which took effect on March 1, 2010. you can apply either in your home country or in Costa Rica. Once immigration accepts your application and assigns you a folio number you are not required to leave the country and renew your visa every 90 days. Depending on the speed ln which your attorney processes your paper work you might have to make 1 trip out of the country to renew your visa but unless he is totally incompetent you should not have to leave again unless immigration denies your request for residency.

I think it is best to apply at the consulate in your home country as you will need some documents, certified copy of your birth certificate and current police report, that would be more difficult to get once you are in Costa Rica.

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

Yeah, I was not sure because it has been so long since I originally applied. Thanks for clearing that up.....


the DR

_________________
“In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity"

Slinky,

I do not live there and can not answer your questions about the subject of living there.

Please feel free to contact me via PM about any of your dental needs. I have had multiple procedures done in CR, from Root canal, cavity filling and maintenance, to Dental Implant surgery. Based upon what your needs are I would recommend different dentists.

I have nothing but good things to say about the dental work in Costa Rica and would happy to share information via PM or here.

Irish Drifter:
I just want to clarify what you said. Get together the docs needed, (i.e. birth cert., criminal records, pension $, etc), get a CR lawyer (I could use a recommendation here), and apply for pensionado from the states via the CR lawyer. Once the CR Immigration accepts my application and provides me with a folio number I can go/or stay in CR without needing to leave within 90 days. I assume, that if I show CR immigation my folio number and acceptance, should I need or desire to leave and return before I am actually granted the pensionado, they will not have a problem when I leave or return.

El Silencioso:
I am a newbie, I don't know what PM means and how to do it. BTW: I am also looking to get some cosmetic work done on my face, so if you also have a recommendation on that...
As for what I want to do, not sure but I want to make my teeth look alot better so ?

Thanks for the info
Slinky

I agree with pretty much everything that you have been told so far in this thread. I have also lived here for over 7 years. Originally came here on an 24 month contract with intentions to stay somewhere between 18 to 24 months before being transferred to another country (was in Southern France and then Dubai before CR). The recession came to full effect and I was doing very well (one of our other hotels was closed for almost 3 years due to massive hurricane damage, another the owner went bankrupt, and then add in the swine flu in Mexico and our Costa Rica property was doing very well despite the slow down in high luxury travel) so I stayed and through my employer received permanent residency. On the side I started helping a Costa Rican developer with marketing of first a condo project and then a new CIMA and joining medical plaza. We have become very successful and I was made a partner of the group. I have since resigned form my position with the hotel management company and we have now branched out into a couple of other businesses; solar panels, eco-water heaters using the hot air return from your air conditioner, bio-diesel, a water purification product that has done very well in Hati, as well as one big venture that could go to contract in the next 30 days or so.

Should I start working the pensonado process before I go down or do the 90 day thing first ?
I am lucky that my originally employer applied for and helped me get my residency.... at first it was temporary and with restrictions of working for them, but after being renewed for the third time I was given permanent with out restrictions, this allows me to stay for as long as I would like as well as the work visa.... I have no idea what this process is like and was also very lucky that we were moved to the front of the line and I would only have to show up each year to take a new photo and the company lawyers would have us sign all paperworks in advance and the longest line I ever waited in was for the restroom at the Immigration office. I am grateful for this!

Should I keep a place in the US until I settled my living situation there ?
If you can do it, I would ABSOLUTELY do this.... you never know, we are each different and you may not find living here as enjoyable as I do.

Can you recommend a good cosmetic dentist and surgeon ?
There are many good ones. I agree with El Silencio and would trust his recommendations..... the brother of one of my partners is a cosmetic dentist and I have had one implant replaced by him (I got elbowed pretty hard playing college basketball and lost one tooth when I was 20, had an implant installed and I believe it was about $1,500 to have it done then.... two years ago I broke that tooth chewing a piece of ice and had it redone by my partner's brother and it was less than $200 with the "family" discount but would normally run about $300 or so.)

Can I find short term rentals, that are safe and don't break the bank, until I have a more permanent location ?
There are several available, including at Amistad a couple of apartment efficencies. That could be a good starting place for a couple of weeks to a month until you get the lay of the land and find an area you are comfortable with and in your price range. There are others available as well. I will reach out to a couple of people I know who have chosen this route and ask them to PM you details if they can.

One side note from a previous question regarding transportation.....
This CAN get expensive. The prices of cars in CR is very high compared to the U.S., thanks to a hefty import tax laws. However, after the original sticker shock the car WILL hold value and the used car market is pretty solid. Try crautos.com for reference. Keep in mind that buying an older car (as long as it is not just a piece of shit) is not a horrible idea. Labor for repairs is low relative to what you would pay in the U.S. and parts are about the same, especially if they import parts from China. You may be thinking taxi fares in your transportation line of your budget. I personally think if you are living in the surrounding areas it is actually cheaper to take a taxi to SL, DR, HLH, etc. Parking costs add up quickly and you also have to deal with the daily restriction zone depending on the last digit of your license plate number.

I also, along with those who have already responded, would be happy to help with any additional questions you may have.

The statement I can agree with more was Dr. Mario's to just go ahead and do it! Try it and see if it is for you. The short term apartments make it something that is very easy to do.

The lawyer that handle my immigration matters for a number of years has retired and I now go without a lawyer and handle renewals myself so I can not recommend lawyer I have actual experience with.

From reading Yahoo discussion groups the two most used are the Association of Residents of Costa Rica (ARCR http://www.arcr.net/) and Residency in Costa Rica (http://www.residencyincostarica.com/). Have heard mixed reviews of ARCR. Residency in CR is generally reported as very quick and efficient but more expensive then most others. I would suggest you join the Yahoo group called "Costa Rica Living" and post asking for recommendation for a lawyer to handle a residency application. You will get a number of recommendation to choose from and most likely some advice on who to avoid.

Yes once immigration accepts your application they issue a folio number and give you a receipt with that number. That serves as proof you are in the process of applying for residency and you can stay past the 90 days stamped in your passport without any penalty. You can come and go as you please there is no requirement you stay in Costa Rica during the processing of your paperwork.

Hope this answers your questions but if not or if you have any further questions let me know and I will try and answer them.

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

Is residency still worth it as I had heard many of the benefits of the Pensionado program had gone away?

_________________
“Good people sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf.” And we are the guys that keep them in Eggs & Grits

If you mean that you no longer can bring in household appliances, furniture and a personal vehicle without paying taxes that program expired so long ago I doubt many who who are currently legal residents benefited from that program. There are a few however as every once in awhile I see a car with a pesionado license plate.

As to the question is residency worth it that is an individual decision. I have no desire to reignite the resident vs perpetual tourist debate.

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