Looking for a new home.

James $ Sarah Darling wrote:

Hi
I'm James Darling from Oklahoma USA, Looking to find a new home for Sarah and I, I will keep my political views to ourselves, However I wish to move so Sarah and I can be together, It seams that the immigration service is truly lacking , So I feel we need to find a homeland that will accept us as who and what we are. Sarah is from the Philippines, We Lawfully Married August 29 2017,  We are applying for a spousal visa, However this takes over a year, . We then applied for a tourist visa to be together and to return in the required time, The US Embassy denied her visa because we were Married, This is there words. So in order to be with Sarah, I would like to move to a FREE Country, that accepts us as we are
I am a 100% disabled Veteran of the Vietnam war, Retired, and with a modest income , Sarah is a homemaker.,,
I ask for Ideas and input on how to move for my Beautiful Wife Sarah.
I am a computer illiterate, and know little of computers, Fact is, I don't like computers, so I ask for help.

  Thank you.
Yours
James Darling

Hola James,

Welcome to Expat.com!

First, I totally sympathize with you on the marriage.  I married a Russian years ago and fortunately someone told me before hand the nightmare it could be if I married her and then tried to obtain a visa.  I ended up getting a fiancé visa and although it was quite expensive, it made the process so much easier.

KOLERIAS or anyone that knows:  Do you know if things would be any different under these circumstances?  Would they simply be entering the country as any other married couple even though she'd be coming from the Philippines?  I would think it would be the same as if they were both coming from the States, correct?

And, what is the current income requirement for a Pensionado?

James, I would think that you would be able to relocate here if you have the income requirements.  Wait for a few more posts and you'll have a better idea on your options?

Not a political statement of course, but I can assure you, Costa Rica is a MUCH freer country than what Americans think that they are living in.

- Expat Dave
Expat.com Team Member

James $ Sarah Darling wrote:

Sir,
I thank you dearly for you reply, I total agree with you, as you said, (" What WE THINK we live in).
I am 70 now and, Well lets just say I am looking for peace and a home for my new wife and I,  Before Sarah, I was married to Carol for 42 good years She passed in 2013 of breast cancer, Being alone, Your grieve, but your eyes open, and widened if you marry outside the so called FREE Country of America.
You mentioned income, My income as some of you come from the VA, and SSI. I make a little over / under $55,200.00 a year, and Grateful to have that, So you see, I really don't know who to see,  or in reality what to do now, But all I ask to to live in peace with my Sarah.
Thank you so much for your reply.

Yours
James Darling

James,

You could live very comfortably on that here.  You should take a trip down, explore a bit and see if it fits your needs.  If you both flew here you would be able to stay for at least 30 days initially - to get an idea if you'd want to call this home.

- Expat Dave

kohlerias wrote:

They would apply for Residency as a married couple, however the wife being a Filipino citizen would probably receive a 30 day tourist  visa while the husband being a US citizen would be eligible for a 90 day tourist visa. This would of course make it awkward for them. to renew their visas.

Their application will take longer and would take more work to apply so it may be more expensive.

A guide to Government fees if applying either on their  own or when using a lawyer. Costs will vary from one lawyer to another.
For the applicants, make sure to use an experianced lawyer used to working with citizens of a different country.

The required minimum 'guaranteed for life' pension is at this time,$1000 per month.

Kohlerias,

Even she did get just the 30 day visa, would she be able to simply exit the country every 30 days as they apply for residency?  Same as the 90 day perpetuals do?

- Expat Dave

kohlerias wrote:

They would apply for Residency as a married couple, however the wife being a Filipino citizen would probably receive a 30 day tourist  visa while the husband being a US citizen would be eligible for a 90 day tourist visa. This would of course make it awkward for them. to renew their visas.

Their application will take longer and would take more work to apply so it may be more expensive.

A guide to Government fees if applying either on their  own or when using a lawyer. Costs will vary from one lawyer to another.
For the applicants, make sure to use an experianced lawyer used to working with citizens of a different country.

The required minimum 'guaranteed for life' pension is at this time,$1000 per month.

As to the tourist visas, no one has to leave the country of Costa Rica while applying for residency - EXCEPT to renew their driver's license for the right to legally drive in Costa Rica.
In other words, if they travel only by bus and taxi during this time they would not have to leave the country even once while waiting for residency.

kohlerias wrote:

SamRamon, sorry but I must politely disagree wih your statement hat "... no one has to leave the country of Costa Rica while applying for residency'. Until you have received your 'expediente' meaning a file has been opened for you, and your paperwork has been accepted by immigration, one is required to leave.

Hi kohlerias, maybe I am mis-remembering. How long does it take to get that expediente? I recall (perhaps incorrectly?) that we were told fairly soon after turning in our paperwork that we did not have to leave the country unless we were going to renew our license. I remember asking my attorney if we had to leave and he said "no, not unless you need to renew your drivers license".  I did in fact leave because I did need my driver's license but I know at some point fairly early on I was told I didn't have to if I didn't drive.

I found this same info on several web sites but encourage anyone who is applying for residency or going to apply for residency to check with a Costa Rica immigration attorney:
(click herefor the full page)

"Once one has filed a residency application Immigration will issue the applicant a document stating that their residency is in progress. During this wait time that the residency is being processed one is not required to leave the country, but can exit when needed. When leaving or entering the country simply show this stamped official immigration documents.
[emphasis added by me]

Also found this at http://www.crimmigrationexperts.com/ove … for-fines/ 

"The good news is once you apply for residency and your application is filed, you will have a receipt in hand from Costa Rica immigration, allowing you to stay in the country while the application is being processed. Therefore, you will not be required to leave the country every 90 days to renew the visitor visa."

As always, don't believe everything you read online, so I could be wrong Kohlerias but I don't think so since I do recall (I think) my attorney telling us the same fairly early into our application process.