Comments on: Legal Residency Lacks Path to Citizenship

By: sunnyboy

sunnyboy — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 07:28:58 +0000

Looks like a fairly selfish comment here…. all you want is to come, 'enjoy' and then go 'home' and heap trash on wherever (or whoever ?) you enjoy…. no wonder the 'third world country' does not want you here and the general image of the americans suffers…. and small wonder that the jobs are slowly but steadily shifting away from good old USA and into countries like Costa Rica ! And agenda & direction…. does anyone know where the USA is heading or the agenda beyond big business ??

By: Casey

Casey — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 01:39:57 +0000

cubadave, I take it you are single, or at least have no school-age kids?

By: cubadave

cubadave — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 22:09:00 +0000

Once again what's the point of trying to be accepted by some third world country that just doesn't want you there, I visit Costa Rica every month, I enjoy myself and go home, I make good money in the good old USA and have a nice place to live, Why would anyone give that up to deal with the day to day malfunctions of a third world country that has no agenda or direction.

By: expatcostarica

expatcostarica — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 16:26:53 +0000

The seven year clock starts from the time you get your first residency resolution, and it is cumulative time spent living in Costa Rica. So, you get no credit for any time you are outside the country. Applicants have to get a record of their entries and exists from the country in immigration.

I believe the test is a written one, and there is some required history and geography as well. It's administered through the ministry of education.

The only disadvantage that a naturalized citizen has is they must wait one year before voting in a public election and ten years before running for office as a legislative representative, or becoming a supreme court justice or government minster.

I agree Costa Rica does not really offer a fast track to citizenship as compared to other countries.

The exception if for spouses of Costa Rican citizens. Their wait time is just two years, are exempted from the tests and need to sign the renunciation letter. I hope to cover this in another article.

By: Casey

Casey — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 14:44:16 +0000

Does the 7-year clock start ticking after you get initial residency or after one obtains permanent residency?

You've pointed out one aspect in which a naturalized CR citizen is different than a born-here citizen. I wonder if there are other differences (there are in the U.S. for instance)?

I'm not sure I'd put my SS check on the line (though I may never see one by the time I'm eligible!), based on an assumption that the U.S. government is never going to see that signed document giving up my U.S. citizenship. That would not contribute to my peaceful sleep.

BTW, C.R. is pretty stingy with the passport, aren't they? It takes you about 2 years just to get residency, then at least another 7 years to get the passport. In Uruguay, for instance, after 3 years of residency (and the residency process is much faster) you get an Uruguayan passport.

Is the Spanish test for CR citizenship written, spoken, a combo?

- Casey