½ûÂþÌìÌÃ

@daveandmarcia

This is a new requirement from the new President it was started last year. If you already had CCSS before you were able to opt out but not anymore!  I’ve called many lawyers and new resident can not opt out even if we already have retirement avail from our own Country!

BTW - I applied as a Dimex Temp Resident Volunteer and I receive SSDI. I don't mind paying the Caja I mind paying CR Pension that is all.

thx good luck everyone

Anyone have any experience in Jaco office. ended up with pension and disability at 15% of ss

@foxtrotnebula0g

Hello Foxtrot.   

  A) stop reading the forum regarding the Caja payments.  Why??  some of us came here years ago and were able to opt out of certain 'parts' of the Caja program; like the maternity and pension portions.  Others are more recent to these shores and have written that the new President (crap) has taken those options away

  B)  Go On-line and read about the various 'residency' options.  Some of them, like Rentista, only require a bank letter; and thus, the CR gov't will never know anything about your REAL income.  I did it that way and used the money they required me to show proof of having, in a permanent bank account (not an income making retirement account) over and over again, redepositing it and getting a deposit slip (signed and stamped at the bank) for renewals.  The rentista residency option requires you to show 'ability' to draw $2500/monthly from an account in the States or here in CR.  Thus, the price of the Caja is based on that $2500/mo.   I'm not sure how that compares to the Inversionista Residency program (minimum investment of $250K?)  ... hopefully somebody will share their monthly Caja payment.  I highly suggest, if receiving a pension soon, that you only show 'that' as your monthly income, or whatever is LOWER, yet guaranteed to you on a monthly basis for life.

C) You do not have to get Residency here in order to live here. The new 'visa' or visitor Stamp, that you automatically get on your passport when you enter the country, is now good for (should be) 180 days (6 months).  Just before those 180 days expires... you have to leave CR... and can turn around and come back almost immediately. Many people live here as Perpetual Tourists and do not have Residency and thus, do not pay into the Caja; they take a tour bus up to Nicaragua, spend the day or an overnight, and return to get their new 180-day Stamp. I'm guessing that many expats are leaving here, somewhat regularly anyway... to visit family and deal with other private or financial concerns, abroad; and then returning... so if you can schedule your trips around those passport 'stamp' dates... then you don't need Residency, and thus.... are not Required to join the Caja. You'll be FREE to not have health insurance at all, or to buy 'private' coverage... which shouldn't be much more costly and will ultimately be better.  People have done the Perpetual Tourist, or 'border runners' thing for a long time... and the visitor stamp used to be only good for 90 days... so they had to leave 4 times a year... now, only needing to leave 2x a year ...  seems very doable.  Take a vacation to Guatemala, Peru, or go to Mexico City for a 3-day and EAT like a king.  Cheap flights exist to Panama City and elsewhere... Colombia is close and less 'chaotic' than most of central America; we all had to leave, originally, while waiting for our Temp Residencies to take effect.  I personally, enjoyed going to Bogota.  Great art scene and wonderful food and culture.

You can do this and it won't break the bank, just do your due diligence. 

It all really depends on your age; income; and ability to gauge the ins/outs of the various Residency Options.  Rentista worked for me... wasn't hard, I got 'creative' with moving funds around to show deposits; and I'm already a Permanent Resident (you can apply after 3 full years of legal, temp. residency) ...  which requires NO proof of income whatsoever... you just have to pay some fees and be Current and up to date with all of your Caja payments.  I used a residency service for the first go-round; did the first (after two full years) renewal on my own (literally... I did it at the bank) and did the request to change my status to Permanent at the local Migration office in Quesada.  No lines.   They do make you do some footwork and some of it is frustrating and ass-backwards; but I did it all, with a smile, and it turned out well.   

Of course, the gov't will even try to screw you during that process... as they made me pay a deposit and then refused to apply it towards the final 'balance due' on my new Residency status; which I will admit, would have been easier to understand if my Spanish was better; but I'm now going thru the 'appeal' process to get the deposit returned... and they informed me that I need to wait for an official gov't letter/email to get that Deposit back (only $200... but they want you to get frustrated and just forfeit it... but not me!!) and then, of course, I can't get the money in Quesada where I did the whole process... I have to go to Migracion in San Jose...  I'll piggyback that trip to do some 'shopping' for the holidays.  I'm guessing that many many many expats forfeit the deposit because it is too far to travel or they just don't care.  I'm glad I don't live on the north Pacific coast, or way down in Puerto Viejo or Golfito...  but yes, it's a scam.

Anyway.... it's better than living in a country where the face of U-Know-Who is on the TV daily, spewing untruths and vulgar remarks that I still can't imagine having to 'explain' to my 8-year-old (if I had one).  Not sure how teachers up there are explaining 'him' to their innocent, young, inquisitive students.  Their jobs are hard enough already explaining why they have  'gun drills'...

Pura Vida