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There are hundred of them around here in San Jose. Since this is the capital of language schools for missionary I am sure we can find you one around here.
I live in the Tres Rios area and I would say that I meet at least four couples a week that are attending the language schools here before they go to their next country.Or after you find one… go to Stewert title or Chicago title and they can do alot of the work… it might even be cheaper and a lot more trustworthy!
My understanding is that his income is generated outside of Costa Rica, he still would be considered a tourist but here for work relation. Since he is not being employed by a company in Costa Rica just contracted (if this is what you are referring to when you say “His opportunity is with an asset management firm that is working for a foreign company
Other wise he has to obtain a work permit from the Costa Rican company if he is to be employed by them. At that point it has to meet the requirements.Well in Costa Rica Black Nissan Sentras are all over the place. Where my robbery took place was in the burbs of San Jose a long ways a way from Quepos. Yes, what happened to me can take place anywhere in the world and it does every day. I am sure that if you take any major city you will find it happening. Its just that here it is a much smaller country and things get more micro. If the police force and the citizens just keep their heads down instead of doing somthing than it gets worse.
This is why the Ticos would rather live in a gated community than a ungated.
We found out that later that night after we got robbed that in the same area someone else was robbed but they were shot.
I guess we were just lucky that the kid was as stuned as we were when he seen a gringo at the door.[quote=”ticorealtor”][quote=”spirit”]I hope you are just being funny here about Chavez wanting to take over Colombia and the Canal. Otherwise, your judgement on other world issues should be seriously questioned.
[/quote]You are right they are not trying to take over Colombia or the Canal, but if you don’t think that Chavez is putting pressure on South and Central America to become as one and he as the dictator you are sadly confused. At the last Sur Americana conference he reiterated on how the Americas need to group as one with out the U.S. involvement. He also joins with other dictators for financial backing to sway Latin America his way.
As for the canal what are your thoughts about the boarder problems with Nicaragua and Costa Rica? Do you believe that someday there might be two canals?
The politics of Latin America is very crazy and all of it is connected and most of it is just hear say…. and 90 percent of it you don’t hear about. What you don’t think will effect you is what really does. The drug war that is happening in Mexico is directly related to people that are in Colombia, Panama and here in Costa Rica!
As for Colombia, Chavaz hates the idea that the U.S. has been able to stabilize the country. With out the U.S. involvement it would have been so unstable that the FARC could still be running the country. What is happening in Mexico was happing in the 1980’s until we started supporting the Colombia government in the 90’s which has pushed back the FARC to a small corner in the south east. This has won the support of the majority of the Colombians because now they don’t have as much fear and blood shed as it was in the 90’s. In the U.S. you didn’t hear much and didn’t care much because it was not at your boarder.
Tell me what proof do you have that Colombia is not a success? Do you hear about as much be headings or neck less as death incidents in Colombia?Its always fun to stir up the pot… putting articles like this always bring out the crazy and far right and left. When I worked in the U.S. Embassy in Paraguay we would always get people calling us asking about the secret military base we had down there, or what are plans were with the underground water table there. My commander would just hang up laughing because he would knew there was a some weird blog out there.
This war on drugs have a lot of different angles, a lot of military brass feel that it is useless as far as stopping it from the boarders of the U.S. It has been a huge contractors heaven. It has stabilized Colombia and pushed the FARC to almost nonexistent compared to the 80’s. In 1984 was the first time I came to Panama and from there on flew many missions all over Central and South America. We used to have F4, 16 and A7’s fly up and down intercepting planes and boats from Panama to Florida. Now we are scattered up and down the areas will various types but not intercepting near as much as we used to.
In Colombia, that was a big success in many ways but at a large financial price but it did create a lot of jobs for contractors! If we did not help Colombia it would be far worse today that in the past. In the past it was bad but it would be worse.[quote=”bobr”]We have been told that you now have to have a police report that says you have no criminal record. Anybody know anything about this?
Bob
San Ramon[/quote]Nope this is not true.. all you need is your passport and money. Then get your medical and blood. At my wifes family biz next to the place that you get your drivers lisc you pay there and take the exam. I understand that is the only one that you can do that. If you go to the others you will need to go to the bank to deposit the money and then take the recpt for prof.
That is the question, how long can Costa Rica keep the wolves at the door! They are now trying to slow down the migration of Mexicans and Colombians to CR but that won’t stop them.
CR has become very attractive to many types of people and with out stopping them at Panama its a open door here.
Time will tell, but I am hoping that CR can turn it around.All that aside… it is interesting to see how in the last couple of years the crime has become more organized. I am sure that my stuff has ended up at the local underground market in Cornel. My wifes cousin is now looking for it!
Most of these gangs are being run from foreigners from Colombia and Panama. They have started to migrate from stealing cars to kidnapping.
A month or so ago a male was waiting in front of Multi Plaza and was kidnapped.
Ten years ago this was unusual here in Costa Rica but it was starting to happen in Panama. Costa Rica still has a long ways to go to curb the problem but what I see is the public is still to timid to stop the crime or report it.
In our case we were stupid and let the gaurd down, we thought that it was a small neighbor hood and secluded! Which really is the worst situation if you have people in that neighborhood that are eyes for the banditos…
Good thing is that now we can say it happened to us and we will be better people for it. Again remember Force Protection rules lock everything up and take valuables with you. Lock your electronics with pins so that no one can get your personal information. Always keep a cell phone in your pocket to call police.Yes,, I had a moment of stupidity and knowing Force Protection and teaching it you would have thought I had it ingrained in me. There is more to this story… moments before we were held up a neighbor of my wifes Tia was also robbed by the same people. The lady was trying to get our attention but the robber told her that if she did he would shoot her too.
I am finding out more and more from the ticos that they are targeted even more than the normal gringos. In fact my brother in law had his car stolen at gun point and then had his head bashed in. In the norm we still feel safe but we will always keep our gaurds up from now on. Follow the normal Force Protection items.
This neighborhood also seems to have a lot of hold ups which leads to believe that there is a inside job.
Don’t you guys understand how important the U.S. has been to CR?
How many of you were here ten years ago? Do you remember when the police were riding mopeds with blue lights? I used to call them the blue light special cops.
If it was not for the U.S. dumping money on items such as aviation, training, equipment and so on, Costa Rica would still be walking to the drug raids! Ten years ago Costa Rica was crying for the help because they don’t have the money or the training! With out the help of the U.S. you would not see cops with new uniforms walking around San Jose, you would not see them making any kind of dent in the cartels and you would see more corruption than there is today.
Last nigh my family and I were walking around downtown San Jose and seen a huge improvement from ten years ago, with young police officer everywhere.
I think Scott if you don’t see this you are missing a bigger picture. What would have happened if the U.S. said no to helping CR. Do you think you would be having as many expats living in CR?I agree about how people come down here for a day and think they know everything about CR and give tours. You see to many people in the past doing that. I think though it is starting to change since tourism is slowing down and we will see what happens this year. I am now seeing more people moving on since the money isn’t flowing like it used to.
[quote=”bobr”]We have been told that you now have to have a police report that says you have no criminal record. Anybody know anything about this?[/quote]
No this is false
all you need is to have done before your 90 days, American driver licenses and pass port.
Then all of your medical requirements that is done here.
I have been finding out that some of these gringos are going threw some organization or web site that has a lawyer and that is where they are over paying.I think I might put up a web page of the location and information that might be helpful. Maybe costaricadriverslicenses or something. That will point people right to the biz and the full process. My brother in-law has the full service one stop and they take you to the front of the line for English speakers. The MOPT will accommodated with English speakers.
I don’t think this will stop all of the rip offs but maybe it will make them ask questions. I just hate to see so many people get ripped off. Lately I have been meeting a lot of people that have come down here with blind eyes and now they are stuck.[quote=”grb1063″]
Will a blood test screening at a US lab count or is it necessary to get the blood work done in Costa Rica?[/quote]Nope you have to have it done by a certified Costa Rica lab.
It is interesting, my wifes family owns the only doctor and lab that is certified to take in the money for the government and is only a half a block away from the MOPT. Last week I was hanging around there and noticed some gringos come in. They came in with a runner from their lawyer. He left them in the care of us and was going to come back after they had their medical. I asked how much they were paying their lawyer and they said 150. Of course I didn’t say anything but after words I asked my brother in-law what was the percentage of gringos that came in. Then he told me the stats and I was a little shocked.
[quote=”diesels12″] We had to pay a customs broker to take him out and also pay taxes which costs an additional $450 or so. It was $1100 total. The customs broker in San Jose must be contacted 2 days in advance of dogs arrival and you must provide a copy of vaccination certificate. Good Luck[/quote
We paid around the same but less on the customs broker.. ours came to around 800 dollars. Funny thing is that continental only has a list of one broker and he gets all the biz from them.
