Update on Residency

Since I've been here a little over four months it seems like the right time to give you an update on my quest for Residency.

On March 30, 2017 I wrote my blog about all the different types of Residencies you can file for and what the requirements were for each. I filed for the Pensioner Resident. (If you want to read this blog just go to the bottom left side of my blog and click on the date listed under "Blog Archive")

I turned all my paperwork in to my attorney, Roberto Umana, a couple of weeks after I moved here. I had gathered up everything I needed for all the proof required before I left Texas. The only thing I had to do once I got to Costa Rica was to be finger printed and have my photo made. I took care of that when I met with Roberto. At this time I had read on the government website that it took around three months. Roberto let me know that it was more like 6-9 months.

There is also a law that most people do not know. If your Passport is going to expire within 6 months it cannot be used to travel to Costa Rica. I cannot speak to other country's laws, but here 6 months or less and you are not getting in. I think it probably has to do with the fact that you can stay in the country for 90 days at a time, cross the border, have your passport stamped and return. A 6 month Passport would not last long here.

My passport was due to be up in December. I did get a new one, but my Residency request was filed with the December one. Well, guess what? That's right, my Residency was held up because as the papers were going through all the channels my passport came up on the 6 month rule. It was an easy remedy. All I had to do was copy all the pages of the new passport and send it to Roberto to file with my papers. In the mean time, I do not have to worry about the 90 day stays because I have the paperwork proving I am in the process of getting my Residency.

Patience is the name of the game! If you cannot develop patience and just go on with life you will be doomed here. It is actually a really good trait to grow. This country is not called the Happiest Place on Earth for nothing. You have to work at learning to be laid back. I am still working on it. It is going to take a while, but I'm better....

Just hanging out on top of Cerro Potenciana

Pura Vica!