www.CostaRicaTicas.com

It appears that the obtaining of Residency is now a little less cumbersome. A lawyer can do most of the gathering of info necessary. Maybe a good idea would be to have guys who are interested form a group and we can present us as a group to get better service and rates from a lawyer specialising in Residence.

I just returned from a short visit to the States. For the first time, an agent asked me if I had a return ticket. He didn't ask for proof, only if I had one. Isolated incident or trend?

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Voted San Jose's #1 Maripepino

A first for me .... last entry to CR in late December I was asked why I was coming to CR. I told him that I lived here and was working towards residency. He asked how much money I had with me - I replied that I had $3000 USD. He asked to see it and I showed it to him. I asked if there was any problem with a 90 days visa and he said no problem at all. Very pleasant but certainly a first to be asked about money.

I meet with my attorney later today to see about moving faster on residency - just in case.

Woozo

Mr. Srilm:

In regards for your proof of a flight leaving, yes, they follow up on it 'bought every time. Try visiting CR on a r/t ticket, then going somewhere (Panama or Colombia) r/t from there. On the way back in you'll be arriving by, say, Copa with no onward travel with that airline or on that itinerary. I've done this maybe 7 - 8 times over the last 3 years (with my little Tica). Been hounded about it every time. Once I had to make a an international call to Continental, give them my FF number so they could look up my e-ticket number to give back to the agent. After that everybody was happy. Don't know what they'd say if you were just planning to leave by bus. This is also often done by the airline when you leave the other country en route to CR; happened that way earlier this year leaving Lima on Copa. No issue for my Tica.

/dddick

For the 1st time in 15 years and 40 trips the agent really broke my balls this past week

He was in uniform and looked like a police officer / wanted to see my return ticket and asked a lot of questions vs the routine stamping of my passport with a 90 day stay I was allowed in for 2 weeks which was plenty for this trip.

Guys tolm me they want to crack down on sex tourism but I don't know Told him I was there to see my dentist.

I've also heard other theories but you hear so much BS in CR I don't want to spread rumors.

If I lived in CR and was a perpetual tourist I might look into residency especially if I had made the decision that CR was "it" for the forseeable future But again, who knows

The 2 week stamp really does not change my life as I was only in for 6 days If I lived here it would be a different story.


DON'T KNOW WHAT I HIT SORRY FOR THE DOUBLE POST TRIED TO DELETE SORRY

Last time I entered (a week ago) I got stamped for 10 days. No questions. If they crack down on sex tourism I just wonder how it affects the economy, I mean there must be thousands of dollars a day spent on girls, the there is food, hotels, tours, taxis, airport taxes, and on and on. I mean that has got to all add up to something they are using. Then if they kill the business all of those girls are immediately unemployed. I simply wonder just how well thought out this attack on the perpetual tourist has been made.

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--==xpatriot==--

I think it is good that they are cracking down. How many other countries in the world allow 'perpetual tourists'?

The 'sex tourism' business really isn't as big as you all seem to think it is. Its not going to make or break the country. Its also not going to go away anytime soon because of issues with 'perpetual tourists' as most 'sex tourists' aren't in the 'perpetual' category to begin with.

Yes, residency (despite what they say at immigration) is still very difficult and cumbersome to obtain even with the help of an expensive lawyer. However, there are only a handful of countries that make it easy to obtain, and only after significant investment. Why should CR be any different?

Ok but, I will never buy the argument "since everyone else does it, it must be the right thing to do", you will never hear those words from an innovative mind. You failed to articulate exactly what makes this good?

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--==xpatriot==--

Getting residency is not difficult and cumbersome. I brought my required documents from the US. Summitted them to an attorney at ARCR. Within three weeks I got a letter saying I was in system and did not have to leave the country every 90 days. I then just waited and about 10 months later I had my cedula. This is a very simple process and painless.

I think you got lucky!

Looking for some info. How much does the ARCR lawyers charge to do your residency from soup to nuts. I have my paperwork from 2008 that was NEVER FILED (so no good now) Also does anyone know how much the lawyers who advertise in amcostarica charge for the same service?

I've heard that both ARCR and those that advertise are high. ARCR does a great job though, very thorough and by the book.

A referral is best. My lawyer is based in Atenas. He's well connected all over CR. PM me if you would like more info.

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Voted San Jose's #1 Maripepino

I got my residency through ARCR. I started the process July 1, 2010. My total bill was $1600. Within a few weeks got my letter saying I did not have to leave the country anymore. It tool about 10 months to get my cedula. Everything went smoothly with no glitches. The folks at ARCR were very professional.

I sent an e mail to the lawyer who advertises in amcostarica. ALL he wanted was $2600 PLUS I pay all the fees which he said were in the $400 range. I have one more Attorney to check then maybe the ARCR