www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Just remember these people are trained to "play God"...and if they dont like your attitude or look...they have the power to make your day longer. A smile and straight answer is usually the best approach if you want to get through customs quickly. I dont think there are any laws limiting how often you come and go to the US. Some international people cross borders every DAY. Dont worry...get happy.

Couldn't resist the airline sale. I just booked a 48 hour excursion for the end of the week. I will bring my straight face and business answers for the immigration people.

Thanks for all your good answers.

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Eu gosto de brasileiras...

I have only been five times in three yrs and yes i have been hassled. I have been screamed at and cussed at by the head Customs jerk in Dallas. Got nailed the first time with cigars that were Cuban knock off's(even the fakes will get you nailed) and it has been hell every time except the last one. I have been accused of being a smuggler and accused of living in CR. I was using a wheelchair because the walk from Terminal A to Terminal C was such along walk. The head guy had them search me as well as the K*D pushing my wheelchair. He then pointed his finger at me and said"It doesn't matter to me one God Dammed bit that you are in a wheel chair! Where are the Goddammed cigars! You might as well tell me because we are going to find them! You tried to smuggle the last time! I relpied"i didn't try to smuggle anything. The cigars were on the top in my suitcase in plain sight and i declared them on the customs form." He asked for my Dr Lic and then told a trainee to watch because we are going to write this one up. He then asked if i had ever been arrested in (town name). I said no. He then asked if i knew where that town was and i said yes. He says" So what you are trying to tell me is that you know where this town is and with a unique name like yours that it wasn't you? I replied "No that is not what i am saying. "Just what the hell are you saying'? "You asked me if i had ever been arrested in ******** and i said no." He then proceeded to take everything out of my bags (just had duds washed at the Delrey and neatly packed). Piles everthing back in and takes the gallon zip lock bag with shells and a little sand and dumped them out over my stuff covering all my stuff with sand. Shoved my siutcase at me, tosses me my passport and tells the K*D pushing my wheelchair to get me out of there! I had to ask for my Dr Lc. back. He flipped it at me as well. The last time was in Jan 05 and he he said "We have had you here before haven't we?" I said yes and he handed me over to another agen and told him "Mr ***** is a frequent travelor". The agent the asked me if i had anything to declare and after i said no he told me to go get my bags and off i went. DO NOT ARGUE WITH THEM AT ALL, they want you to argue so they can hold you back and miss your plane. They also looked at every picture i took individually. This is in the USA mind you. A real asshole!

Tagged at JFK about 5 years ago coming back from England with Cuban Cigars... Every return trip for about 3 years no matter where I was coming from was very matter of fact and they busted my chops quite a bit during that time frame never ever finding anything else again.

It appears once you are tagged your Passport is flagged and you will receive a second look or 3rd of 4th look when returning to the US.. Nobody was ever nasty but I did receive the 3rd degree for several years.

When you go through Immigration, Notice how they mark your Customs Declaration ticket.... 1 means US citizen no issues.. Versatile curious as to what yours is marked as Customs has no way to know you have had a past problem unless Immigration marks your Declare form differently.

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The Boss of All Bosses!!! Hey I'm a drunk alcoholics go to meetings!

The very first time i went thru they gave me a card with a big red W on it.I thought it was kinda like the song"Alice's Restaurant" where Odie had to go sit on the group W bench with murderers, mother rapers and father rapers, mother stabbers and father stabbers as well. When they asked Odie what he was in for and he told them Littering then they all moved way down to the other end of the bench! Seriously i think the declaration had noting to do with it the first time. She asked my SS number and didn't even look at the duty form. When they see my passport they shutdown that line and take me away! The only trouble that i have ever been is for not appearing on an illegal left turn and 74 in a 55 mph zone. No felonies ever and never been questioned about anything ever. A Federal Marshall tried to hassle me once over a former employee of mine (they were looking for her boyfriend) and i suspect that maybe the cause.
Let me tell ya those Fed Marshalls will give you aload if you will take it. That is another story within it's self.

Versatile, that's insane my friend. It's fine if they want to search a person(I suppose) but to degrade people or their property is just plain wrong and unnecessary.

Nothing so far! There will be a day when gringos will have to stand behind the foreigners
Guys, if you don't want to be hassled due to your frequent travels, do like I do, travel once a year!

To Whom It May Concern:


Over the past few years I have entered the country by way of Atlanta many times. For the most part I find immigration and customs are little or no hassle. There is always more than 12 lanes open to US citizens. I find that I wait longer for my luggage than anything else. The only time I was ever stopped for anything was to have the handle of my luggage tested for unlawful chemicals. It was new equipment and they were having fun playing with it. Frankly I found it kind of interesting.
Lee

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PS: DO NOT SEND MONEY!

Two notes.
I live in Atlanta so I've played their silly game a few times.

When returning from CR after Labor Day (about 8PM) they indeed at only 1 "Citizen's" line and about 6 "Visitors" lines. There was a young lady, not even wearing a Custom's or TSA uniform, walking along the lines telling citizens to move down to the visitor's lines. Her voice could be heard only if you were within about 10 feet of her.

I moved down to the visiter's line and I noticed she was now talking to a Custom's Agent. I looked back at the Citizen's line and it was still growing with incoming passengers.

I have no idea why they can't seem to get their shit together.

Now as to Versatile's rendition of "Alice's Restaurant". It was "Arlo" who was told to sit on the Group W bench and the cop's name that busted him for littering was Officer Obie.

Just wanted to clear that up.

My mom shared a hospital room with a Customs woman last year. This woman very boldly announced that " If I have to go to work on any day, someone is going to jail!"

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Why Chicas Come to CostaRica:

"Predators gather where prey abounds"

Whoa Scuba, thats some food for thought.....
Only problem I ever experience is whenever I go TO the states and use American Airlines. Wherever I check in for the return to SJO, the American agent asks if I'm a resident of Costa Rica. When I tell her no, she demands to see an exit trip OUT of Costa Rica within 90 days of my arrival there. She says that the airline could be fined because without the onward ticket exiting CR, the govt would fine AA for letting me in. She tells me that I would be a burden on the govt. of CR.
Any way, I now have my next trip information with me whenever I fly north.
As far as customs, never a problem in over 40 trips.
LVSteve
PS: Other carriers like United, Delta & Continental never hassle me. Personaly I think its just another way for American to sell another ticket.

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Just an old horney, fat gambler.

I totally agree with you. This is how it is though. I guess that what happened is better than getting the finger wave. No wantee finger wave!

Now as to Versatile's rendition of "Alice's Restaurant". It was "Arlo" who was told to sit on the Group W bench and the cop's name that busted him for littering was Officer Obie.

DOH! Arlo you have my apology!

Never been hassled.

I have stamps in my passport from several countries showing frequent travel, including Europe, Asia, Africa and South America.

Back in the younger days I was married to an employee of an international airline and we travelled the world frequently using free or near free airfare.
Once upon returning to the states the immigration officer noticed the frequent stamps and asked "Which one of you works for an airline?"

I do believe it helps you image in the eyes of the customs and immigration officer to travel with friends or a group.

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PacoLoco: "You pay for it one way or another."
Ace: "Rent everything, do not buy in Costa Rica"

For me twice in my travels. Once coming back from Colombia after being there 18 months and briging 10 pieces of luggage home, go figure. And last April I got a hey you sir after I was on my way out of Miami Int. Customs from an evil eyed female officer I had already passed. I turned around and she got to within a foot of my face asked me a bunch of questions, staring at m, and then saaid have a nice day. This is all random i think unless of course you are traveling solo from Colombia and bringing back alot more luggage than normal. If your not doing anything wrong you have nothing to worry about, don't sweat it. DRD

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Go Dolphins!!!