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No, I can’t make it under the new law, but I’m not certain that people who apply before it goes into effect will be affected at renewal…
From the AM Costa Rica article:
“Several were livid that those who already live here would have to meet the new requirements the next time they have to renew their residencies. They thought they had some legal claim to a grandfather clause. The draft law does not create a safe harbor for these people, although the courts might. The draft says they must meet the requirements in “the present law.” The phrase is a bit ambiguous, but the draft seems to be talking about the new law when it goes into effect.”I read the article again and I agree with the journalist that it is ambiguous to refer to the “present” law. I would argue that the “present” law is the one we have now, not the future law being proposed. Of course I don’t know what it says in the original Spanish text. Here it is in La Gaceta: http://historico.gaceta.go.cr/2008/10/COMP_27_10_2008.pdf
Able bodied people that are bleeding us dry is the topic… not the disabled… but once again… twist away my dear!
“you only see black and white, or maybe it’s only white! (if you get my drift)”
So now you’re trying to make me out to be a racist? Wow… you’ve got some act my dear… weak position…. start with the name calling… and when all else fails play the race card… NOW that’s REALLY funny!!! LOL
Most likely younger than you Lotus… 48… retired with a great pension that I worked hard for…got an education…. saved… planned… made good sound choices… played by the rules…live well below my means… didn’t try to keep up with the Jones’… never felt I was entitled to anything I wasn’t willing to work hard to get… no matter how long that took… all with the correct results for anyone that wants to make the same effort!
Like yourself… I see the good where it exist… and the bad too. As for being right or wrong… only the big guy judges that in the end… but for now I’ll call them as I see them! Pura Vida!
BTW: Play much golf lately with the rain?
As to the proposed changes we’ll have to see what, when, and how much… but If I read it correctly it seems as if they want to apply these new standards to folks that already have a status when it’s time to renew! Might just be an unintentional error… and one the courts would correct. But it does seem it’s directed at current holders… So trying to get your application in before it’s signed into law might not do the trick. I really don’t see this happening… too many folks would not meet the proposed requirements… so what’s next… they go out and round up these folks and ship them home?
It’s a big wait and see… I would wait until the dust settles and see if it makes sense to apply when and IF the new rules are approved… I’d guess there’s about a 50% chance of a change being made to the current rules…. less than that with the new dollar requirements. The $600/mo is really kind of outdated. It should be increased. As for the increases in the rentista status… that something designed with a purpose… they’re trying to cherry pick those folks they want to let in.
Well I beat you there I’m 44-but started out young I have 2 children in college. I even have a few pics up on the site! Played Sunday-usually avoid the weekends but it’s quite now.
WOW! Someone my age (well almost!!) that did the right thing and got out of the rat race early! Nice to know it can be done and was all worth it isn’t it? There were lots of times the wife thought I was nuts like when I told here out of the blue, after ten years of private research, that I wanted to go to CR and build a home! Her response… they “speak spanish there don’t they?” … but in the end… we’re the folks enjoying the sacrific now! Life is good when you make good choices!
Here is what Javier Zavaleta at Residency in Costa Rica had to say in an email to me last night: “While there is no provision in the changes to grandfather-in existing residents or those individuals whose applications had been filed prior to the effective date of the law (Note that there is no effective date, the law is still at the committee level, is not final at all) — I digress– I was informed by our attorney that it is unconstitutional in Costa Rica for a law to be enacted and applied retroactively. So, as long as the applications are filed prior to the law going into effect, you’ll be fine.
The same principle applies for the renewal; of carnets: if your application for residency was approved under the current, in effect now, rules and regulations, then when it becomes time to renew then it will be renewed under the exact same terms and conditions that were in effect at the time of your approval.. Thus, any changes enacted after the applications are filed will not affect your carnets.–provided, of course, that the apps are filed before the date the new changes go into effect.”
So that’s good news, we will just hope we get our application in before it goes into effect. Zavaleta was guessing it would take at least 4-5 months. Too bad we’ll probably loose a lot on the value of that money over the next 5 years… oh, well, at least we get to live where we want to live.
Imx: Maybe they are trying to cherry pick people, maybe they are just like most Ticos, thinking all Americans have unlimited funds…
I know I couldn’t spend $5000/month here in the States if I tried…
Well I haven’t dropped out, I have always been self employed(still am), not always the easiest path but I have no regrets. Mindfulness keeps me centered in and out of the rat-race.
Union… good point! I’d lean more towards them cherry picking. Don Oscar and the crew know not all American have a money tree growing back home in the yard… and with the recent economic meltdown… that should be even MORE obvious! Perhaps they’re trying to stay ahead of the curve with these changes… knowing full well that by the time they get the next increases through (perhaps 2030! LOL) a loaf of bread will be 10,000 colones! LOL
I hope Javier is correct on the filing issue and that it locks you in under the current rules. I didn’t think the rules could be applied retroactively… more likely a grammer problem in the proposal that the courts will clarify.
I agree…. $5K/Month does seem WAY out of line…
Edited on Nov 06, 2008 20:16
IF they manage to get these amounts approved, it will kill their economy. Hundreds of expats will leave, just in case the renewal IS at the new level. That aside, no-one except a very very few Americans will even consider it. There will be a significant drop in tourism, as most people intending to retire in another country, make several trips to ensure they are making the right choice. If this gets approval, those people will look elsewhere.
Construction will slowdown to a trickle, as no-one will be buying.That’s two of the country’s main income and employment generators gone…so then what?
I think (and it is just that… my thoughts) is that the amount will increase, but to a more realistic level. $600 a month for a retiree is a little low… maybe $1000 – 1200 would be closer to the mark. As for rentista, I could see that going to maybe $1500 – $1800 per month, maybe not even that high… just my thoughts.
People:
This law is absolutely stupid and will not pass, WHY? because we are not in 2005 we are now in 2008 and close to 2009.
THINK about the wages both in Costa Rica and the USA, they are going and going DOWN. Who makes $5,000.00 a month in the USA and even thinks about going to CR? in today’s market or any other place.
I make $3,500 a month in a stable workplace and can pay all my expenses and more, imagine $5,000 a month. That would be almost twice and more of what I make right now
$5,000 a month X 550 colones is 2,750,000.00 colones a month, with that I would live like a King in CR.
How many of you make $4,999.99 a month and if you did, why would you move outside the USA.
How many of you make $4,999.99 a month and if you did, why would you move outside the USA.
Umm, because of the new Presidents new taxes of “share the wealth”. Only problem is, how do I get MY money outside the US with ME? He is pushing many people with money (and without) to look outside the country as well as many businesses.
Good Point! But no matter how much you make it’s never fun to see your hard earned income taken from you before YOU get it to pay for programs that reward people that DON’T want to work! As for moving out of the US… until the “program” changes and we see some REAL change in the mentality of entitlement in the US… CR is looking better each day!
As for getting your money off shore… leverage your holdings in the US… invest off shore… and wait for the bottom to fall out in the US. This way all your “debts” are in the US and your assets off shore!
It’s going to be very interesting as to how they bail out Detroit next… if my calulations are correct the FIRST $50 billion they’re planning on throwing at the problem (it’s only the start) would buy 1.66 MILLION people nice new $30,000 cars! What a novel idea…. rather than just give the big three a blank check… Uncle Sam buys the cars and gives them to the taxpayers footing the bill for the bail out! Seems like a win-win…. Detroit has a great sales year… and WE THE PEOPLE get new rides! But I doubt we’ll be seeing that bailout cash benefit the taxpayer…. it will more likely just get sucked down the blackhole like the wall street bailout… but I ask… why not buy the cars?
it’s amusing how some of you think Obama is going to take all our money away or give it to people “who don’t want to work”. Look at the 100’s of billions of dollars that corporate America gets in welfare. And this goes well beyond the scope of what is currently happening. There are many more US citizens that need some help and work very very hard than there are people sitting around asking for “hand outs” doing nothing. I would rather see my tax dollars go to help other US citizens than the billions a month going to fund a war in Iraq that is baseless. Remember the terrorists came from Saudi Arabia why didn’t Bush attack them? I don’t even want to start on this whole war thing because if you really think US soldiers and dollars belong in Iraq you are too delusional to reason with. For the record I work hard, earn much more than 5k a month and also “play by the rules”. I am also a business owner, entrepreneur that no one has given any hand outs to and believe me I bet I pay a lot more in taxes than many of you whiny Americas going to collapse and Obama is a socialist(please look up this term before applying it to Obama, you only look foolish) crowd. You make it sound like people are living high on the hog on welfare programs…look into it they are not. As of 2004 .08 cents per federal tax dollar paid went to food stamps, assistance to people with a disability, help the poor with utility bills and temporary housing assistance for needy families, .42 cents for every dollar paid in federal tax went to military spending, about .02 cents went toward environmental programs and energy conservation programs. There are complex social reasons why people, any people can fall into poverty and maybe one of those reason is “laziness”, but for the vast majority it is not. I don’t suggest just throwing money at the problem but initiating programs to help get people back on the right track. But first we have to be compassionate and try and understand the vast majority of the poor don’t want to be poor but they need some help up and out. I live in Washington Heights, in NYC not one of Manhattans more upscale neighborhoods and I can tell you first hand the poor and working poor don’t just want handouts. But the fact is if you are a minority that was born into a welfare family in the projects up here it is no easy ride out. So to just utter sound-bites about not wanting to have your tax dollars go to people who don’t want to work hard like you do is simply being ignorant of the big picture…by the the grace of god, this easily could be you. The problem of social in-equities and the reasons behind them are far to complex to address in this thread, and for one to truly have a real grasp on the subject would require many months of study. But just like Limbaugh on the radio this so called “right, conservative” thought is a shallow ideology created for a population with a very short attention span. Then again if you are a true anarcho-capitalist I won’t waste my breath, but the A.C.’s that I know back up there political/economic theories with long, detailed treatises-not whiny rants about” don’t give my tax dollars to the lazy poor”, the small portion of your “tax dollars” going to the poor is nothing compared to the over 50% that goes to running government(.16 cents as of 2004) and funding our war-chest. I see the psychology in this class divisiveness though, the real elites keep you thinking the “poor” are bleeding the middle class-makes you feel good about yourself that you are economically/morally “superior” to someone else…a new type of class war.
Also the tax policies and clamping down on the movement of US citizens money is a product of the Bush administration and so-called homeland security. ask Scott if he will manage your “off-shore” account or try and open one in Switzerland, unless you have say 1 million US most Swiss bankers will probably get a good laugh.
Lotus…. the handouts started a long time ago with the “New Deal” and FDR! The BIG difference was that to help the nation recover we had massive WORK programs that the government funded to get people back on their feet, put money in their pockets, gave them a sense of pride and self worth, pushed the economy towards recovery, and benefited the nation! People WANTED the work and were HAPPY to have a job to earn their keep and feed their families. THAT was the right idea…. not programs that just hand out money like this “Tax stimulus” garbage! Just handing out money is NOT the answer… even to over taxed working people paying taxes! Just like throwing money at Wall Street and Detriot will NOT be the answer to those problems!
FDR knew that not only did we need to put money into the hands of the people to get the economy going…. but we needed to keep the “work to get ahead” idea alive! Some how that morphed into the problem we have now…. people feeling they’re ENTITLED to a living at the expense of others, without the need to work or make good choices.
There will always be the poor and others that need our help… and we must provide for them… that’s what makes us human…. but we need to STOP the tidal wave that’s hit the US! It has nothing to do with class war… just a desire to see government require that people make GOOD choices and not reward folks that do otherwise. Why do folks in the social safety net seem to have no problems bringing more into the world when they can’t even provide for themselves? You have to rent the movie “Idiocracy”… it really hits the nail on the head… and will make you laugh while providing a VERY sobering view of where we’re headed if nothing changes in the US!
What do you honestly think would happen in the US if Obama came out with massive WORK programs like FDR’s on Jan 20th to get the US moving? There would be lawsuits…. legal challenges…. cry’s from the masses that they can’t do it… but would rather stay home (insert your excuse here) and have the check mailed to the house!
Welfare and other programs were NEVER intended to become a lifestyle…rather a safety net to get you back on your feet! Good hardworking people that have fallen on hard times NEED that help… and those that ARE of the right mindset work hard to get off that assistance and get back to work…. because it’s the right thing to do! Bogus claims of disability are all over… just look at what’s going on back in NY with the railroad…. 90% of their retirees are going out on “disability” when in fact they’re NOT! Collecting inflated pensions and not paying taxes. And that’s the TIP of the iceberg when you look at what’s going on nationwide. Some people have no desire to work when they have the choice to do otherwise.
Having paid over $30,000 in taxes last year to dear Uncle Sam (and that’s not even attempting to calculate out all the OTHER taxes they get via other streams…. yes they hit you from so many angles it’s IMPOSSIBLE to nail it down) I for one would LOVE to know where my money is going…. and as for the new administration… I’m sure (infact I have NO doubt) they’ll be looking to take a BIGGER bite (not ALL) of my income to make it all right! But if the current mindset and plan is followed we’re just in for MORE problems! I refuse to continue to support a failed system that makes bad choice after bad choice…. should we see a works program that gets people back to work and addresses energy issues… I’ll write the check now!
We can agree that war and other expenses the US is footing right now are a big drain… we’ve been the world’s policeman for too long… time to give up on some areas of the world as we did in Somalia… others such as the middle east present a different problem with the our oil based economy… moving the US toward energy independence would kill two birds with one stone… time to let the WORLD deal with their problems and let the chips fall where they may!
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