Got my residency! Now my kids are safe.

[Brand New Tico]

Got notification last week, but got my papers today. I am now an official resident of the Republic of Costa Rica! Both my sons, too! I plan to remain here in the U.S. much of the time, so I can fight to dismantle the Soviet-style government we now have. But at least now my sons will be safe from the right wing when the fundamental cases decide to bring back the draft to fuel their immoral crusader wars.

Pura Vida everyone! When they start rounding us up and shipping us off to camps, I'm off to the jungle. Their constitition prohibits war or any kind, and that's starting to look good right about now.

[el_gato]

1. Was it difficult to get residency?

did you have the $60k or the $500/mo income requirement?
You can get it without having to live there?

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[shrike]

Bush's America?

LOL!

[Minstrel Boy]

5. Maybe I'll regret this, but

what's so funny?

[Career Prole]

19. Ditto...I admire his initiative.

My kids aren't fighting any of *'s wars.

[FlaGranny]

7. Yeah, isn't it a laugh that

Costa Rica can look more appealing than the US does.

Anyhow, I know several people who are totally in love with Costa Rica, so much so that I'd at least be interested in visiting if I could afford the air fare.

[telamachus]

20. Air fare is cheap

but over the last 10 years of travelling there the prices have gone WAY up. Nicaragua and Honduras are much more affordable but if you want to avoid the heat and creepy crawlies then highlands of Ecuador and Peru are wonderful and so are the people. Don't get me wrong I have met some wonderful poeple in CR. I hope you can travel there sometime.

[FlaGranny]

42. Not cheap enough for me!

I'm a poor folk on Social Security.

Edit: Not much need to avoid creepy crawlies, considering I live in South Florida. There are lots of exotic wildlife around here, in addition to the wildlife native to the area. We have panthers, gators, monitor lizards, boas, monkeys, rattlesnakes, bears, crocodiles, huge cockroaches, fire ants, spider infestations occasionally, huge biting water bugs, huge grasshoppers, etc., etc., etc.

[SammyWinstonJack]

Better than Bushlandia.

:-(

[damntexdem]

17. Hmm, a stable democracy, ...

with a history of small-holders rather than vast plantations.

Why laugh? Why does it Tico you?

By the way, I've long laughed at the name of the fake-Mexican-food purveyor: Taco Tico. Or are those really Costa Rican tacos they serve? ;-)

[billyoc]

3. Ooh, can you post the details of the process? n/t

[Brand New Tico]

16. It ain't easy

You need to prove $600 a month income for the minimum category, and have to certify the income every 5 years. (I have a small annuity that qualifies).

You need $1000 a month for the next highest category.

You have to invest $200K and hire some Ticos for the inversionista category.

You are supposed to apply outisde the country at a consulate or embassy. You will have to prove you qualify.

I bought a small house there a year ago, and I love that country dearly. They are more free than we are. They have much more freedom than we do. It sounds weird, but it is totally true. Their taxes are lower. The people are friendly, progressive, and united. War is prohibited in their constitution. They have no army.

Bottom line, and I hate to say it - they're a better country than we are.

[telamachus]

26. What area did you buy in?

Did you use the dual attorney method? Costa Rica is beautiful and the people are truly kind. (at least the ones I have met) Enjoy!!

I will be travelling there for dental work in May.

[Brand New Tico]

28. Guanacaste

It's a rural area, and I love it. Used a US and a Tico abogado.

[telamachus]

33. Excellent choice

good job I am sure that you worked hard for it and I am sure you will enjoy it. Smart move on the transaction.

I am not sure where you live but lower airfares and more flights have made it easy to get there.

I know that property has been better regulated lately but dual agents can insure from a con or inept title verification. Iguess thats what happens when remax start doing business in town!

Pura Vida is a way of life we should all seek.

[shrike]

37. How long did the process take?

I've considered leaving the country, and would fall under the second category ($1,000 income) due to some family money.

[Brand New Tico]

39. 8 months

It was the longest 8 months of my life, except for the 8 years I spent in the Army.

[kostya]

60. Read yesterday (some web site on CR) that you can get

in on the inversionista category for only a $50K investment if it is in a targeted economic area. Tourism is one of those targeted areas. I didn't see the requirement for hiring locals, can you give more details on that? Muy agradecido!

[Zorra]

4. It is a sad thing to tell someone "Congratulations" when they

leave America, but unfortunately, Bushler fascism has made it appropriate.

Good luck, I've been living outside the US since Bu$h was selected in 2000 and have never once regretted my decision to leave.

[ohio_liberal]

6. Wow, Costa Rica...

The government is corrupt as hell. What's better about living there?

[Goldmund]

8. And ours isn't?

[ohio_liberal]

9. I didn't say it wasn't

I asked what was better about living there.

[Minstrel Boy]

13. I find it ironic that

an "Ohio Liberal" would take exception to Costa Rica as a banana republic.

[Goldmund]

14. I'm obviously still living here, but I understand those who are leaving

If you are really concerned about the draft, the question answers itself.

If you are concerned that your tax dollars are paying for weaponry used in unjustified wars, the question answers itself.

And the weather is better.

[Career Prole]

21. No crusades allowed. n/t

[ilovenicepeople]

41. and no anti-christ as a president

[el_gato]

22. They have a more honest government than in the U.S.

but I know you are talking out of your ass anyway.

[jukes]

45. his kids won't face

involuntary servitude in a conquesting army facing suicidal, fanatical resistance.

if i had children of draft age, i wd def envy him!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

58. Plus they have national health care

A friend of mine was in a car accident in Costa Rica. She not only got fully modern treatment for her injuries but was also received painkillers and neck braces and stuff at no charge.

[Brand New Tico]

12. They put corrupt politicians in jail - we reward them

Republicans change the rules so their criminals can stay in office.

Big difference.

[DinahMoeHum]

18. And please show us your proof on how Costa Rica is corrupt.

Thanks.

:bounce:

[el_gato]

23. he's just talking out of his ass

[Brand New Tico]

32. Well, they did have several scandals recently

That much is true, but they were dealt with quickly and harshly. They put their corrupt politicians in jail where they belong. We give them book deals.

[ohio_liberal]

48. I am female

:)

[ohio_liberal]

46. Well....

My (now ex-) husband worked in San Jose from late '98 to 2000. I did not live there but visited regularly. I stayed in the US with our children, one of whom wished to graduate high school in our home town.

Anyway, my then-husband was hired by a telecommunications company to move to Costa Rica from the States in a management position. A friend of a friend helped him get the job. The wages were fantastic, and obviously the reason for taking the job in the first place. There was much corruption (specifically palm-greasing) between the government and companies regarding the awarding of contracts. I'm talking about high level corruption in the government as well as local governments. There is also much corruption in the local post offices and I think customs officials as well. There was that same palm-greasing just to get packages from the United States to US employees living in Costa Rica. There were several instances when a government official and police would bust into their offices unannounced, threatening to take away equipment if the company didn't give them whatever they wanted. And yes, the company always caved and became just as corrupt as the officials themselves. That's why my spouse left.

We made many friends there during M's time there and still correspond today. I don't hate the country or its people. It is politically stable as any country I've known, and the beauty of the place is absolutely breathtaking. But it has some serious problems. I never meant to suggest that it is worse than the US. I just asked originally what was better about living there.

[DrWeird]

53. Ah, a friend of a friend.

Well, my cousin's roomate's caseworker told me freepers from Ohio are full of shit.

[ohio_liberal]

54. Freeper, huh?

Nice. :(

[DrWeird]

61. That's just what a cousin's roomate's caseworker said.

I never meant to suggest that everybody from Ohio was a freeper.

:eyes:

[NJ_Lib]

10. Oh and it is SO beautiful too

No war, beauty, awesome beaches... What the f am I doing here?

[the other rick]

11. Careful! Be very, very careful.

The US does not recognize dual citizenship. To them, you are *just* a US citizen, period. Same with your sons. If you are in the US and they turn 18 - no selective service registration and they are breaking the law. Period.

I looked into emigration 5-7 years ago (Ireland, mainly) for a lot of arcane reasons to do with being a PoliSci major. The only way to get out of being a US citizen is to a) leave the country and b)send a formal repudiation of citizenship to the State Department (the local embassy will do). AND the US reserves the right to refuse to dismiss your citizenship!

If you do that and it is accepted, you will need a visa to work or live in the US (you aren't a citizen anymore, remember?).

It isn't quite so easy....

[Brand New Tico]

15. I'm not getting dual citizenship

I have residency, which is different. I'm not seeking citizenship, nor are my sons. Who cares about breaking the Selective Service law anyway? My sons don't want to go to Iraq or any other Republican war for profit. I will protect them from it. Screw that so-called "law." The U.S. ain't going to be able to put their hands on my sons if they're deep in the jungle. And they have only prosecuted 23 people in the last 25 years for failing to comply with Selective Service. Costa Rica won't extradite for it. And as a father, it is my responsibility to protect my sons from death at the hands of a bloodthirsty madman like George W. Bush. Just wait till somebody like Rick Santorum wins election to the Presidency and starts drafting our kids to go and die in Iran or somewhere. You'll be singing a different tune, I'm sure.

[Pithlet]

24. If I could do it, I would.

I don't blame you. My sons are nowhere near draft age, yet, but there's no telling what things will be like in about 15 years.

[the other rick]

29. Hunh?

Dude, I'm trying to make sure you can get what you want as cleanly as possible. I'm trying to warn you that if the balloon goes up fast, you want to be ready, that's all.

See, *my* plan briefly was to do the whole darn thing and get my FOUR sons completely out!!

[Brand New Tico]

31. Cool - I understand

And I thank you for your advice. I've studied this situation for many years now and hopefully have covered my bases - or my sons' bases at least. But your input is appreciated.

[kostya]

59. I read on another thread that since a couple years ago the U.S.

does recognize dual citizenship, perhaps only for specific countries. Anyway, I think CR allows you to apply for citizenship after 5 years, si?

[Butterflies]

25. I'd do that in a second if I had money

I have two teenaged sons also. The probable upcoming draft terrifies me, and I know we'd do just fine living in a treehouse in the jungle. Maybe someday I'll be your neighbor there (though I'm still hopeful that our country will be saved in time . . . )

[Bridget Burke]

27. So, you just joined DU on November 16th....

Made a few totally anti-military posts. Now you're leaving.

There'll be many a dry eye...

[Brand New Tico]

30. I'm a veteran. I earned the right.

You don't have to agree. But I earned the right to my opinion through my service to this nation when it wasn't a right-wing theocracy.

[datasuspect]

35. um

you don't have to "earn" rights to an opinion or to express it in this country.

the first amendment to the constitution gurantees (does not bestow it) it.

[Brand New Tico]

38. You could be losing that right soon

Lots of Veterans like me no longer encourage our children to defend your rights for you because so many of you seem content to cede those rights to war-crazed psychos who keep you in fear and paranoia.

[datasuspect]

40. i personally

ceded nothing.

[Beacho]

34. Spoken like a true hardhat, Bridget

what an obnoxious thing to say

[jukes]

47. B/B

i think you're being too harsh. he set up residency to protect his family. he clearly stated that he'll be staying here personally, as much as possible, to continue to resist this non-mandated administration.

i don't see your problem w/that.

[Beacho]

36. congratulations, tico

I put Costa Rica on my list about two years ago as a place to go.

Keep us up tp date on your move and give us some notes/updates on your progress

[bigtree]

43. THIS IS MY COUNTRY

I wouldn't let anyone run me out. Millions of my fellow Americans are at risk and I intend to be right here beside them, come what may.

Good Luck to you and yours.

[Brand New Tico]

44. Thanks - but I'm still here

I only got residency - I didn't give away my citizenship here. I still plan to vote and to fight - until the right wing takes those rights away, which they eventually will - with the help of red(neck) America.

[jukes]

51. there is nothing wrong,

*nothing*, w/ what you are doing. you're protecting you're family; i don't blame you. i served in viet nam & i'm glad you're children won't become statistics of infamy!

they won't become emotional or physical cripples from the trauma of fighting for some rich boy's further profit.

you have my respect.

[Midlodemocrat]

52. Planning to do the same

...I applaud you for starting early. My kids are younger, so we are just in the beginning stages of the process. Also, not sure which country yet, still looking.

[bigtree]

55. Good to have you here

wish things were different.

My native country, thee,
Land of the noble free,—
Thy name I love;
I love thy rocks and rills,
Thy woods and templed hills;
My heart with rapture thrills
Like that above.

[theboss]

49. Does Costa Rica have a draft?

I thought most Central American countries had conscription.

[doctor klahn]

56. Costa Rica doesnt have an army

abolished their armed forces in the late 40's, as a condition for peace after the civil war.

Costa Rica's civil war was the result of different reasons, one being electoral fraud. Factions who controled the executive branch ran the elections and even though they began implementing electoral reforms to level the playing field, there was always large scale fraud in order to keep its grip on the executive branch. In the late 40's, an opposition party finally won the popular vote, and the incumbent regime headed by an oligarch name Guardia Calderon, disqualified the results as fraudulent. The opposition, headed by another yet more conservative oligarch, newspaper magnate named Otilio Ulate, aligned himself with a group of social democrats led by longtime opposition leader Jose Figueres, who had for years been preparing for an armed insurrection. Ulate and Figueres, then joined and revolted, subsequently overthrowing the govt.

The two factions represented by Figueres and Ulate were strange bedfellows, one a conservative whos support lay in the traditional coffee oligarchy, the other a social democrat representing middle classes and beaureaucrats did not trust each other after they layed waste to Calderon's regime. While it would be consistent with most Latin American history to predict a power struggle emerged from this situation, in fact, they struck a deal. Figueres would allow Ulate to assume the presidency he had won before the revolution, under the condition that Figueres was allowed to rule by decree for a year and a half, in order to push through reforms he saw as crucial. Figueres was the one who coordinated the military aspect of the revolution, so in order to assuage any fear Ulate had that Figueres 1 year and a half rule would end, Figueres dissolved the military, thereby reassuring Ulate that Figueres' main instrument that would allow him to hold onto power indefinately was destroyed.

Ulate agreed to the proposal and ever since Costa Rica does not have a military, only a small national guard of several thousand. In Latin America, military's are a constant concern due to coup d'etats forcing executives from power for a myriad of reasons. There are books and books upon books written on the subject. In short, there are theories that a country is not a democracy until the military is either dissolved or under complete civilian control. Unless either of those conditions is filled, they have an element of power they can wield upon people or govt officials they see as threats...

[Piperay]

50. LUCKY

you. :-)

[Frederic Bastiat]

57. Congratulations!

I heard the mountain biking out there is great!