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Your new iPhone 4S [u]is fully compatible[/u] with the cellular systems in Costa Rica [b]with one caveat[/b].
Cellular phones purchased in the U.S. from carriers (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, et al) are “locked” into that carrier’s system. In order for them to be compatible with Costa Rica’s cellular systems, they must be “unlocked” (that’s a technical term).
In the case of your AT&T-sourced iPhone 4S, you may be able to get the staff in the AT&T Store to unlock it for you. It’s a matter of knowing which buttons to push and in what order. Otherwise, you can search online for instructions which you can purchase. Ebay is a typical source.
Costa Rica’s cellular system uses GSM technology, as does AT&T and others in the U.S., but Verizon and (I think) Sprint use CDMA technology which is totally incompatible with GSM. So if you have a cellphone (iPhone or otherwise) that you obtained from Verizon or (I think) Sprint, there’s nothing you can do to make it compatible with Costa Rica’s system.
If you are buying a cellphone in the States to use in Costa Rica, it must be “[u]unlocked[/u]” and, to be safe, it should be “[u]quad-band[/u]”. The quad-band feature assures that it will work on whichever of the four GSM frequencies is used here in Costa Rica. The ad for the phone should also specify “3G”. Not all GSM phones have 3G capability. Most modern cellular phones are quad-band and 3G, but check to be sure.
Unlocked, quad-band, 3G cellphones can be bought from Amazon and others.
Danny, your iPhone 4S takes a cut-down SIM chip. The staff at the ICE offices have the cutter to trim it down. The staff in the kiosks at the airport may have the SIM trimmer, too, but I’m not sure. As for Movistar and Claro (competitors for ICE), I just don’t know.
When we bought our iPhone 4S, the woman in the ICE office was adamant that, when installing or replacing the SIM chip, the “release” hole on the side of the phone [b]MUST[/b] be “penetrated” with the tool that Apple supplied with the iPhone and [b]NOT[/b] with a paperclip or the like. She said that could ruin the phone! You can buy a replacement release tool from Amazon for about $.50US.
We, too, have had good luck renting our fully furnished, all-inclusive guest house outside Grecia on the strength of our ad among the “Long/Short Term Rentals” which can be found in the lefthand column of the Home page on this website.
For the purposes of qualifying for and remaining eligible for [i]pensionado[/i] residency, there is no restriction on where your income, guaranteed for life, must be deposited by the payor. It can go to a U.S. bank or credit union, or (I think) your railroad disability can be deposited to an account at [i]Banco Nacional[/i] or [i]Banco de Costa Rica[/i] here. I know that Social Security checks can be directly deposited to your BN or BCR account for a monthly fee of $6.00US.
[quote=”maravilla”]the review process has no bearing on whether your SSD qualifies you for residency. [/quote]
Social Security DOES, in fact, conduct periodic reviews of all disability insurance recipients’ continuing eligibility. See paragraph 1, line 1:
http://www.ssdrc.com/disabilityquestions4-7.html
An update to Social Security’s previous findings may not translate into a direct impact on one’s Costa Rican [i]pensionado[/i] residency status, but if Costa Rican Immigration is aware that, as the citation above states, the award of a disability claim is not guaranteed for life, they may not recognize that award as being guaranteed for life which, along with the income minimum, is the primary criterion for acceptability.
The reviewability of your Social Security Disability award may not matter depending on just what your Social Security award letter says. You might request a new award letter and read the wording carefully. If there’s no mention of a review, you may be on solid ground.
The answer to your question depends entirely upon your needs (and maybe physical limitations) and your wants. If you seek them out, you can find rental homes in the $300 – $400 per month range, but they will be “typical Tico” and not what you’re used to.
You may not get hot water. The wiring may not be up to your expectations. There probably won’t be kitchen cabinetry. The house is not likely to have screens. You’ll have to provide your own appliances and probably your own furniture, etc. The neighbors (and likely the traffic) will be nearby and noisy.
Bear in mind, too, that Costa Rica generally is not up to North American standards as far as accessibility for handicapped persons is concerned. Curbs are not all ramped. Sidewalks are mostly rough and uneven. And the Central Valley generally is hilly which may pose a problem for you.
On the other hand, if you’re frugal, you can keep utilities to a minimum. Public transportation (if you can use it) is inexpensive. Fresh food is reasonably priced.
Be prepared to pay a premium for everything that’s imported.
In order to remain in Costa Rica long-term and legally, you will have to apply for legal residency. The primary qualification is to have an income of $1,000US per month that is guaranteed for life. I wonder if your disability has been determined by Social Security to be permanent and beyond future reconsideration?
All that said, the areas outside any of the towns and small cities in the Central Valley should be good places to look. Consider Atenas, Grecia, Sarchi, Naranjo, Palmares and San Ramon.
In addition to the timer, your tank-type water heater, gas or electric, will be much more efficient if you wrap it in an additional insulation blanket. It takes a lot of energy to heat water. Once heated, it pays to retain that heat energy for as long as possible.
The shortcoming of the timer aproach is that while it may only heat the water at peak usage times, the remaining heated, but unused, hot water cools off during slack usage times and must be reheated. Heating the same body of water twice runs up the cost. That’s why the additional insulation pays off. And it’s cheap and easy.
Friends who live in Atenas were having performance problems with an older Toyota they brought from the States. I hooked them up with our local mechanic here in [i]el Cajon de Grecia[/i] who got the problem sorted out quickly. He takes care of our car and those of a lot of our friends. Send me a PM if you want details.
baontheriver, you’ve corrupted the direction of this thread, so I’ll chime in and make it worse . . .
We’ve had solar water heating systems on our homes since 1980 and I wouldn’t build again without including one (or more). In our home outside Grecia, we have two solar panels and an eighty-gallon storage tank with an electric backup. It’s been virtually flawless for six years.
If I had it to do again, I’d opt for two solar heaters of the “everything on the roof” design. They incorporate a single panel and a fifty-three gallon storage tank. In our house, the hot water run from the storage tank to the kitchen is overly long, so I’d put one on the roof over the kitchen and a second at the other end to serve the bathroom and laundry.
The dilemma, I think, is that sooner or later somebody has to pay the bills. Sr. Pharg may be pursuing his science unpaid and in retirement, but I’ll bet somebody is helping feed him whether that’s Social Security, a pension, or whatever. By a very long shot, not every dedicated scientist can afford to both work for free and also provide his or her own material resources. The days of the nobleman scientist are far behind us. Just ask the physicists working on the super collider. Sooner or later, somebody has to pay the bills.
And that’s where the sponsors come in whether they’re government or the private sector. Fer shure, money will dictate the research priorities and, to some extent, the findings.
Here’s the link to George Lundquist’s website:
http://www.costaricaretireonss.com/index.php
Any Spanish you can learn will be a big step forward. Just don’t underestimate how much there is to it. A fair number of Costa Ricans speak some English, and they are very patient and accommodating, so getting along won’t be terribly difficult if you’re not fluent in Spanish. Still, learn all you can.
Much of the Central Valley, the Grecia area included, is hilly. Only you can determine how easily you’ll be able to get around. Maybe some time at one of the local gyms will help.
Yes, most of our needs can be met locally. We do shop some in Alajuela and Escazu, and we get some of our medical care in Escazu, too. Some of that is by choice.
Oh! And taxis are everywhere. Getting around by cab will not present a problem.
You’re right on every point, Tom. Costa Rica is “. . . without a doubt one of the greenest countries on the planet.”
Now if they’d just clean up tailpipe emissions, we could actually see all that green.
It’s difficult to give any concrete advice unless we know more about your wants and needs. Some three quarters of Costa Rica’s population live in the Central Valley where the climate is generally milder than on either coast. There, too, you’ll find the widest array of amenities such as medical and dental care, shopping, etc. If, on the other hand, it’s a beach environment you’ll be seeking, it would be good to know that.
Many folks, ourselves included, have benefitted from George Lundquist’s three-day tour of the Central Valley that’s designed for aspiring relocators. George will show you more than you’re likely to see on your own and he’s a wealth of practical knowledge and experience. Here’s a link to George’s website:
The CAJA takes no account of pre-existing conditions, age, or any other factor. If you’re a legal resident, you are required to enroll. If you’re not a legal resident, you are not supposed to be able enroll, but I’ve heard of exceptions.
It’s important to understand, however, that the CAJA’s resources are limited. While emergency care is said to be pretty good, ongoing primary care may not meet your needs. They offer, for example, one anti-cholesterol medication which my endocrinologist says isn’t worth swallowing, and one form of injectable insulin. Similarly, getting sophisticated tests and lab results can take a very long time.
It’s a long way from perfect.
The CAJA is the national health system. As a legal resident, you are required to enroll in it and pay the monthly enrollment premium whether you elect to use its services or not.
If your question is about an actual health insurance policy, that’s a somewhat different matter. At the present time, only INS is offering an actual health insurance policy in Costa Rica. INS will exclude pre-existing conditions from coverage and may surcharge you to cover conditions related to whatever pre-existing conditions you may have. Their premiums are based upon your age and sex. INS’ premiums could not be mistaken for “cheap”.
If you have a commercial health insurance policy in the U.S. now (a Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna, etc policy, but NOT Medicare or Medicaid), that policy may afford you some coverage in Costa Rica. The only way to know is to consult a senior manager for the truly straight information.
