daveandmarcia
American expat in Costa Rica
Forum posts
298
Contacts
4
About me
American
Registration: 03 February 2023
Activity
Latest updates in labor regulations in Costa Rica by Cheryl
Hello everyone, Labor laws and regulations are constantly evolving. Staying informed of these updates as an expat in Costa Rica helps you in navigating your professional experience and expat career. We would like to invite you to share the ...
Above, you wrote "Labor laws and regulations are constantly evolving."Could you please tell us what changes you are aware of? What laws have changed? Read More
HOW (step-by-step instructions) to apply for a pensionado visa by dwilhelms1
Hello all,I cannot find any information on a goverment or otherwise reliable-appearing site on how to apply for a pensionado visa. And the consulate in Denver is evidently closed. Any ideas on where to find such a place? Or is that not even ...
I think your paralegal friend could handle all of this without any participation from an attorney. Applying for legal residence is a simple and straightforward process as long as you adhere to the details. Read More
HOW (step-by-step instructions) to apply for a pensionado visa by dwilhelms1
Hello all,I cannot find any information on a goverment or otherwise reliable-appearing site on how to apply for a pensionado visa. And the consulate in Denver is evidently closed. Any ideas on where to find such a place? Or is that not even ...
rainagain, above you wrote, ". . . or you could even do it yourself... but that would most likely require excellent Spanish skills . . ." and you're right on all but one detail. The documents submitted to Immigration in support of a residency ... Read More
HOW (step-by-step instructions) to apply for a pensionado visa by dwilhelms1
Hello all,I cannot find any information on a goverment or otherwise reliable-appearing site on how to apply for a pensionado visa. And the consulate in Denver is evidently closed. Any ideas on where to find such a place? Or is that not even ...
Dunno about a "Residency Service" (see above), but an experienced attorney, one who has done a number of residency applications for others before you, will save you a lot of headaches. One slip up and your application will expire (remember the ... Read More
HOW (step-by-step instructions) to apply for a pensionado visa by dwilhelms1
Hello all,I cannot find any information on a goverment or otherwise reliable-appearing site on how to apply for a pensionado visa. And the consulate in Denver is evidently closed. Any ideas on where to find such a place? Or is that not even ...
There is an international treaty that forms the basis and establishes the requirements for the apostiling process. Many, but not all, countries have signed on. This treaty is a relatively recent development. It's come into existence during the ... Read More
HOW (step-by-step instructions) to apply for a pensionado visa by dwilhelms1
Hello all,I cannot find any information on a goverment or otherwise reliable-appearing site on how to apply for a pensionado visa. And the consulate in Denver is evidently closed. Any ideas on where to find such a place? Or is that not even ...
When you order the new documents you'll need (birth and marriage certificates, a FBI criminal record check, income verification, etc), you're likely to find yourself dealing with a company who has exclusive access to those records -- at a fee. They ... Read More
Questions for retirement scouting visit in March by bpwald
Hi, my husband and I live in the Washington DC area and are considering retirement locations. We're looking at not-too-hot and humid places like the central valley in CR. Anyone with suggestions of towns to consider, places to go during our visit, ...
Rule of Thumb: The lower the elevation, the hotter it will be; the higher, the cooler. At any particular location, the temperature doesn't change much from one "season" to the next. At about 4,200 feet above sea level, we have neither heat nor air ... Read More
Visiting CR at end of March 2925 by bpwald
Hi, my husband and I live in the Washington DC area and are considering retirement locations. We're looking at not-too-hot and humid places like the central valley in CR. Anyone with suggestions of towns to consider, places to go during our visit, ...
Grecia, San Ramon and Palmares, among other towns, should fit your needs. Any of those, and many others, will be much more comfortable than Washington, DC in the summer months. Been there . . done that.I always recommend that potential newbies like ... Read More
Private jet from IAD to SJO - Anyone interested? by SuzP
Hello. My partner and I and our three dogs are moving to Atenas at the end of the month. Due to a variety of reasons, we have decided to go the private charter flight route. We'll be flying on February 27 from Washington-Dulles to San Jose and are ...
Cennis, there are a number of professional animal transporters who do what you need all the time. In the U.S. (and maybe elsewhere), you must be licensed to put an animal on a plane if you do not actually own that animal. So anyone who offers this ... Read More
How to adapt to the expat challenges of everyday life in Costa Rica by Cheryl
Hello everyone, Adapting to everyday life as an expat in Costa Rica can be both exciting and overwhelming: different habits, systems, and sometimes even unexpected surprises! Simple things like paying bills, using public transport, or even ...
Writing from the perspective of a reformed government bureaucrat, I think the greatest challenge any newcomer will face is the foreign (to us) bureaucracy. Whether you're dealing with the national or a local government, the bank, the health care ... Read More
HOW (step-by-step instructions) to apply for a pensionado visa by dwilhelms1
Hello all,I cannot find any information on a goverment or otherwise reliable-appearing site on how to apply for a pensionado visa. And the consulate in Denver is evidently closed. Any ideas on where to find such a place? Or is that not even ...
A couple of additional details . . .First, it will be easier if you deal with an attorney/notary close to where you live in Costa Rica. Post a question in this Forum asking for an experienced (it's important) representative near you to handle the ... Read More
recommendations for dental care in San Jose by virginiadodgemarvin
Hhi. My name is Heidi Vardeman, a retired Presbyterian minister who is located in the San Jose area. My husband has a spinal cord injury and uses a wheelchair, so our life in Costa Rica makes a huge difference in his quality of life. I'm going to ...
Here in Grecia, we have a good general practice dentist and her brother who is a periodontist. Their brother is a clinical professor of dentistry at Baylor in Texas. He frequently returns to Grecia and is available for consultation. These three ... Read More
Question- 3 things by LiveWire11C
I thought it might be fun to ask this question of those who have made the move to Costa Rica. Name 3 things: 1 thing you wish you had known before going to Costa Rica, 1 thing you wish you had brought and 1 thing you wish you had left behind.
We use a transhipper who charges $6US per pound to bring things from Doral, Florida to Heredia. That's the total cost. His brother will put your packages on the bus to your nearest bus station for a very modest fee. Bus transportation is widely used ... Read More
How did you decide to be expat? by procella
Hi, i wonder that what kind of circumstances caused you have left your place and become expat? Are you happy with living in your current place as expats? Did you leave anyone as you move abroad?
My wife and I were profoundly offended by Bush the Lesser's, Cheney the Elder's and Ronald Dumbsfeld's pursuit of not one unjustified war but two in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2003 and beyond. For years, I've told people "I'm from Toronto, eh?". To ... Read More
Contacting me
Dottie,This Forum has me blocked out for reasons I cannot imagine, and so far the Moderators have not resolved the problem. Please contact me via WhatsApp at **** or call me at ***/. My conventional email address is: ****Dave Read More