www.CostaRicaTicas.com

I have heard that the ARCR provides cheap international mail service via a PO Box in Miami. Here's a link to their site:

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

They list the service, but do not provide any details. In order to get the service, you need to join ARCR for $100 per year. This sounds pretty reasonable.

Does anyone use this? How does it work? What are the costs? Do they charge like $1 per letter (like some other services) or is it by the pound? If it is by the letter, it could get really expensive. I get a TON of mail including junk mail that I would like to avoid. Do they filter out junk mail? That would be a blessing.

Thanks!

_________________
http://TipsCostaRica.com for pratical advice on living in Costa Rica.
In order to write about life, first you must live it! - E. Hemingway.

I am signed up for their May seminar on my next trip....


I will probably join the organization for their help/advice on such matters as real estate, forming a coporation, etc....


I am curious how many members of this board are also members of ARCR...

I know at least one of our resident members took one of their seminars years ago when it was only a one day seminar....

I am especially interested in their mail services also...

_________________
The difference between a Sea Story and a Fairy Tale is that a Fairy Tale starts out 'Once Upon a Time..' and a Sea Story starts out 'This is no Shit...'

(export version only, some restrictions may apply, some assembly required, not valid where the sun don't shine...

if you live in the states of Poverty, Darkness or anywhere outside of The Blessings of Civilization Trust, Inc...other rules may apply)

ARCR provides that service through Aerocasillas. They charge by weight and you have to go to their office to pick up your mail which I find very inconvenient.

I have my own account with Aerocasillas and they deliver to my house. They have various levels of accounts which include various maximum amounts of weight each month. They range from Gold $12.00 per month to Diamond at $75.00 per month. I have a gold account and have only exceeded my weight limit once, and the charge was nominal, in over 2 years of service.

Their web site is www.aerocasillas.com

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

A better option IMO is jet box or aero casillas. For a small monthly fee you get a Miami post office box address. Then they air mail the letters to CR. With aero casillas you can track your package over the internet.

ARCR is for timid rookies that know nothing about CR. They are not cheap and as I have followed their forum for years. They have told some whoppers over the years, like being a perpetual tourist is illegal and how you would be deported if caught. Of course for a large fee they could arrange residency. And they have always said no US cell phone would work here, of course you could rent one from them etc...

They are a private company also not affiliated with Canada.

To each his own but I would avoid them.

Irish...thanks for the link


and Zman....thanks for your input also....

_________________
The difference between a Sea Story and a Fairy Tale is that a Fairy Tale starts out 'Once Upon a Time..' and a Sea Story starts out 'This is no Shit...'

(export version only, some restrictions may apply, some assembly required, not valid where the sun don't shine...

if you live in the states of Poverty, Darkness or anywhere outside of The Blessings of Civilization Trust, Inc...other rules may apply)

Zman wrote:



While ARCR is a business and it is their best interests to sell their services I think Zman's characterization of them is incorrect.

Being a perpetual tourist is in fact against immigration law and they have right to deport you if they pick you up. Will they? Most likely not but that does mean it is not against the law.

Until relatively recently US cell phones would not work in CR. Many members of this board found that out the hard way when despite assurances from their US cell phone provider they found it would not work when they got here.

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

Well Irish I followed their forum for years and I think they are liars.

They tell people on their forum that they be will arrested and deported if they are perpetual tourists . Name one person who has ever been deported simply for being a perpetual tourist?? I don't think you can. Of course that may change now but I doubt it.

And even recently they have told people no US cell phones work here. Not true. Of course you can rent one from them.

I know you are a stickler for accurate info. ARCR does not provide accurate info IMO.

And why would anyone need their over priced services.

Zman, you're certainly entitled to your opinion. But I've talked to numerous people who've attended their seminars, and used their services. And they were all very happy with ARCR. I believe that one of our members (Californicationdude) is going to attend one of their upcoming seminars.

Please don't mis-understand me, as I've never been to their seminars or used their services. But from everything I've been told and read, they can greatly assist you if you're re-locating to CR, or setting up a Sociedad Anonima, or with banking/investment guidelines, real estate purchases/rentals and especially residency. They are always abreast of changes in legislation.

I've been following another CR Bulletin Board for over 3 years now, and I've read some very useful information about the ARCR organization. Membership may not be desireable for some people, but when it comes to moving your entire life to Costa Rica, the ARCR has made the transition much easier for thousands of people. As always, YMMV.
Respectfully,
MG

_________________
You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

well, personally, I'm taking in the 2 day seminar for a broader outlook on some of the major issues involved in moving/living in Costa Rica...

the cost , $40, for the two day seminar or annual dues, $100, pale in comparison to the costs/investment involved in setting up a presence in Costa Rica....


Some of the members of this board have voiced opinions ranging from outright dismissal to wry remarks pointing out the self serving promotions of the seminar providers...

Certainly, I expect any business to promote their services...and take any claims/offers with a grain of salt...it's not like they're VB pointing out $40 little darlings at the BM.....


Now, I have had the pleasure of discussing such matters as real estate, residency, insurance, where to buy boots, etc....with not only members of this board, but also some of the old timer residents that frequent the New York Bar, local business owners both gringo and tico and others...

I just think that this seminar is worth attending and the organization possibly worth joining for the additional information/opinions and assistance given...

_________________
The difference between a Sea Story and a Fairy Tale is that a Fairy Tale starts out 'Once Upon a Time..' and a Sea Story starts out 'This is no Shit...'

(export version only, some restrictions may apply, some assembly required, not valid where the sun don't shine...

if you live in the states of Poverty, Darkness or anywhere outside of The Blessings of Civilization Trust, Inc...other rules may apply)

C-Dude,
This statement is EXACTLY the point that I was trying to make. Cheers!
MG

_________________
You ALWAYS have an option ....... "NEXT" !!!

I am a registered member of their forum and do not remember every seeing a posting there telling people "they will be arrested and deported simply for being a virtual tourist" Could you point me to that post in their forum?

I just checked their list of services and did not see that they rent cell phones so I called the ARCR office and was told "no, we do not rent cell phones"

As to why anyone would want their overpriced service I disagree that it is overpriced.

I pay $50.00 a year which allows me to join the CAJA health plan under the ARCR group for $37.00 per month. For that they process all the paperwork, forward the premium to CAJA, intervene for me if I have a problem with the system. I do not consider that over priced.

I do not use their services for my immigration needs or my other insurance needs but find their pricing competitive in those areas.

I am neither encouraging or discouraging people from joining ARCR. That is a personal decision but I certainly recommend their seminar from those thinking of moving to CR. They also provide valuable lobbying services on behalf of expatriates. It was ARCR that lobbied successfully against the raising of minimum pension income from $600.00 per month to $3000.00 per month. It was ARCR that lobbied successfully against the removal of the Rentista category of residency. If you want an effective lobby voice you have to pay to support them.

For the group health benefits, for a voice to be heard by the CR government for $50.00 per year....priceless....in my opinion.

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

Well for me it is a little personal I guess. I have challenged them on their forum and they removed some of my posts.

The adminstration of the forum TG rents the phones and as of 3-4 months ago he was telling people that NO US cell phone would work in CR. Obviously a lie. And good for his little business. Maybe he is more honest now, I hope so.

I had an ongoing thread going on with piercy the director about perpetual tourists. This was a year ago. He said it was illegal and you would be arrested and deported. My girlfriend called immigration 3 times and talked to 3 different people and they all said it was not illegal. I dared him to name one person who was ever deported for simply being a perpetual tourist , he couldn't. But I would not own property here unless I had residence. But before I got residency I would spend at least 1 yr here to see if I really liked it.

It all started when a young man (35) wanted to live in CR for a few years and did not have the money to get residency. I answered him , just come down and leave the country every 30 days. They deleted the post and answered the young man that he would get arrested blah blah blah.

IMO they distort the truth and scare people to make a buck. That is wrong.

But it is a little personnal with me.

I have not followed the forum in the last 6 months.

Zman wrote:



Well it seems there is a serious discrepancy between the opinion of ARCR and yourself on the legality of the "perpetual tourist". I have a plan to get a definitive answer to the question.

Call Jay Brodell, editor of AM Costa Rica, and ask him to assign a reporter and photographer to accompany you to the office of Immigration. Once there get a meeting with a high ranking immigration official and tell him you are a perpetual tourist and what is he going to do about it?

If it is illegal they most likely will give you a free ride to the airport saving you the $12.00 taxi fare.

If it is legal they will tell you no problem and you will have single handily struck a blow for all perpetual tourists.

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

Very funny. I don't think that is a good idea.

I guess the immigration law has changed now so we will see what will happen in the future.

But I challenged Piercy the director of ARCR to tell me of ONE person who was deported simply for being a perpetual tourist and he failed. Better to scare people into using your services than to be truthful.

Post a question on the ARCR forum about bringing a US cell phone to CR on the tech branch and lets see what TG( tico grande) is now saying about this subject.

I wish you guys would stop fighting over the issue of "residence vs. perprtual tourist" because it is very important to me. I still haven't decided whether to go through "All the bullshit" in the States necessary to get residency or not bother.
Also on the issue of mail delivery here in CR, I have lived here for 2 years now and used the normal PO Box system in Escazu with absolutely NO problems. It takes around a week for my mail to get to my box from the States. I pay $10/year for the service. My box location happens to be right on my taxi route going into SJ. If I need to mail things I go 5 minutes out of my way to the local Post Office. I also have some medicine sent here once a month with no problems.It is just marked "for personal use only".