Subscribe to our Daily News RSS feed.

Read the Daily News on your mobile device.

Esteban Monge in concert
Trova, Feb. 26, 8 p.m., Melico Salazar Theater.

Book Fair
Feb. 26-28, Casa de la Cultura, Heredia, north side of the main Church.

Accordion Concert
By Jean Pierre Sedjerari, Feb. 26, 9 p.m., Café Moro Restaurante, Barrio Amón, 100 m. west, 75 m., north of Hotel Amstel Clarión. Info: 2223-3116.

CENAC Summer Fest
Feb. 26, Dance Night by different dance academies, 7-9 p.m. Feb. 27, Salsa and Rock Concerts by Son de Tikizia, Pato Barraza and Bernal Villegas, 6 p.m. Feb. 28, mascarade, 10 a.m.; puppet show, 11 a.m.; marimba (xylophone) concert, 12 m.d.; World Songs, 1 p.m.; Circus show, 2 p.m.; Jawa Ensamble, 3 p.m.; Storytelling Show, 4 p.m.; Capoeira Show, 5 p.m.; Play, 6 p.m.; Another play, 7 p.m.

3rd Costa Rica Blues Fest: Featuring Texas Johnny Brown and the Quality Blues Band, Robbie Clark and the Live Wire Blues Band of Austin, Texas, Electric Storm of Uruguay and C.R. bands Sin Trucos, Calacas Blues, 3 for Blues, The Known Associates, Autómata, Blues Devils and The Blind Pig Blues Band, Feb. 27, 11 a.m., Club Cubano, Guachipelín, Escazú, tickets at Bar Motorpsychos, Rock and Roll Bar and Grill, The New York Bar, Brad's Grille, Chi-Chi's, Bansbach, Mac's American Bar, Chicharronera Rancho Alegre and Club Cubano, www.crbluesfest.com.

Classical guitar concert
Performed by David Coto, Luis Fernando Aguilar, and the Costa Rican Guitar Quartet, Feb. 27, 5 p.m., Hotel Restaurant Vista del Paraíso, Nosara, Guanacaste, 2682-0637, vistadelparaiso@racsa.co.cr

Moon Hike
Organized by the Athletics Association of Miramar, Feb. 27, 7 p.m., Miramar, Puntarenas, 2639-8923, 2639-9062.

Rugby game
By Cadejos Rugby Club and Universitarios club de rugby, Feb. 27, 2 p.m., Panamerican School, San Antonio de Belén 300 m. south of El Rodeo Restaurant, 8894-3427.

Concert for Haiti
Cantoamérica (Caribbean music), Gandhi (rock), Sonámbulo (psico-tropical), Kingo Lovers (roots) and Samba Brasil (Brazilean), Feb. 28, 10 p.m., Jazz Café, Escazú, www.jazzcafecostarica.com.

VIII Las Flores Long Distance Race
10.5 km, Feb. 28, 8 a.m., start and finish line at Plaza Heredia, goes to Barva, Barrio Mercedes, and downtown Heredia, registration deadline Feb. 27 at noon at Scorpio Gym, Plaza Heredia.

Horse Exhibit
Feb. 28, 11 a.m., Picacho, Paraíso, Cartago, 8857-0675, 2574-6072.

Adopting a Tree Day
Including talks and tree planting, Feb. 28, at Tapantí National Park, leaving from different places, Heredia, Sabana Park, La Merced Church, Cartago, for details call 2560-4009, fundextremas@gmail.com.

Mountain bike trip
Organized by Ecobikes.CR, Feb. 28, Miramar Mines, Puntarenas, http://www.ecobikes.cr/site.

Frequently asked: Immigration Administration Director Mario Zamora explains what foreigners living in Costa Rica need to know about the new immigration law, which goes into effect Monday.

Pablo Franceschi | Tico Times

A new immigration law will enter into effect on Monday, March 1, which will bring information relevant to every foreigner residing in Costa Rica. According to Immigration Administration Director Mario Zamora, the intent of the law is to move the approximately 600,000 foreigners living in Costa Rica into a status that reflects their situation.

We've compiled a short list of “Things You Should Know,” which follows. We are in the process of updating this list to answer more questions in greater depth that our readers might have.

Please keep in mind we can only offer general information; we cannot provide advice regarding individual situations.

Q: Regarding the “perpetual tourist,” who enters on a tourist visa and leaves the country every 90 days, I heard that after two times renewing tourist status by remaining outside of the country for 72 hours, you must remain out of the country for 15 days. Is that true?

A: No. It's not true. The situation of the perpetual tourist will remain as it has been. Under current rules, tourists are allowed to stay 90 days in Costa Rica, at which point they must leave for 72 hours. If they don't leave, they are here illegally.

I also heard you must go to a different country to renew visa status. If you went to Nicaragua for 72 hours the first time, you must go to a different country the next time. Did I get that right?

No. As long as you remain outside the country for 72 hours, it doesn't matter where you spend it.

What if I don't want to leave Costa Rica ?

Under the new immigration law, there is an option for you. Beginning March 1, you can submit a petition at the Immigration Administration in La Uruca, which is to the west of San José, pay $100 and you can remain another 90 days.

Is this a complicated process?

According to the director of the Immigration Administration, it is not. You must submit a copy of your passport, a letter addressed to the head of the Immigration Administration explaining your situation and proof that you have financial solvency. You must also pay $100.

Is the immigration administration the only place I can renew my tourist status?

For the moment, the immigration administration is the only place you can renew your tourist status. In six weeks, the Immigration Administration hopes to make the process available in post offices throughout the country. Renewing status at the Immigration Administration is permitted only two times, at which point you must leave Costa Rica.

What if I miss this 90 day deadline?

If you miss the 90 day deadline, you have two options. You can pay $100 for every month you've remained in Costa Rica “irregularly” or you can leave the country. If you decide to leave Costa Rica without paying, immigrations officials can refuse re-admission to the country, or you will be allowed to return only after a period outside the country three times longer than the time you were illegal in Costa Rica.

I would like to upgrade my tourist status and become a resident. What do I need to know about this process?

Thanks to the new immigration law, you can initiate the process without leaving the country. Before, paperwork had to be submitted to consulate offices in the home country of the foreigner. Today, paperwork (such as the necessary birth certificate and police record) can be submitted and approved at the Costa Rican Immigration Administration. One of Immigration Director Mario Zamora's objectives is to make the process possible without the need to hire a lawyer. Unfortunately, it will require a good command of the Spanish language, but Zamora is hoping that he'll have all immigration material translated into English in the coming months. Lastly, you need to qualify for resident status as a retiree, investor, family member of a Costa Rican, or an employer-sponsored worker.

Is it possible to get residency as a homeowner?

Yes. You must demonstrate your home is valued at more than $200,000 in order to get investor status on your home.

I heard that I will need to show proof that I contribute to the Costa Rican Social Security system (Caja) in order to renew my residency. How do I contribute?

Under the new immigration law, foreigners must show evidence that they contribute to the social security system (public health care system) in order to renew his or her residency. You can do this at any of the Caja offices throughout the country, who will present you with a menu of options on how you can begin contributions. According to the immigration director Zamora, the Caja is prepared to receive foreigners in order to meet this requirement.

Check the March 5 Tico Times for more information about the immigration law.

The Costa Rica Blues Fest will return Saturday to rock the house at Club Cubano in the western San José suburb of Escazú.

Headlining this third incarnation of the event will be legendary blues guitarist Texas Johnny Brown and the Quality Blues Band, from the U.S. city of Houston. With a career spanning more than 60 years, Brown has won numerous awards and accolades, including Blues Artist of the Year at the Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton Blues Festival in Houston Sept. 22, 2001, which was subsequently declared Texas Johnny Brown Day in that city.

Joining Brown will be Robbie Clark and the Live Wire Blues Band of Austin, Texas, Electric Storm of Uruguay and a host of Costa Rican bands, including Sin Trucos, Calacas Blues, 3 for Blues, Autómata, The Known Associates, Blues Devils and The Blind Pigs Blues Band.

Tickets cost ₡ 13,000 (about $23) in advance or ₡ 16,000 ($29) at the door, and are available at the following locations: Club Cubano (2215-2001) and Chi-Chi' s (2228-1173) in Escazú; Rock and Roll Bar and Grill (2282-9613) and Motorpsychos Bar (2203-8361) in Santa Ana, southwest of the capital; and Mac's American Bar (2231-3145), Poás Bar (2223-8667) and Chicharronera Rancho Alegre (2233-0483) in San José, as well as at Bansbach music stores in Multiplaza Escazú and downtown San José (2522-7600).

The music is set to start at 11 a.m. Saturday at Club Cubano, 800 meters north of the Guachipelín exit off the highway to Santa Ana. Food and drink will be available throughout the event. For more information, visit www.crbluesfest.com.

Costa Rica is not over its flu scare yet, despite news reports that the second wave of the H1N1 virus seems to have passed it by.

“If we maintain the level of flu cases we have now, we would be avoiding a second round,” said Anna Morice, vice minister of health. “But, to be safe, we have to wait some more time and, obviously, continue with the same measures we've been implementing.”

Morice said 25 to 30 new cases of the flu are reported every week in Costa Rica.

In the first six months of the flu outbreak, Costa Rica experienced 1,847 cases and 50 deaths, according to the Health Ministry. The number of cases peaked in August and forced the cancellation of the country's most important religious event, the pilgrimage to the Basilica de Nuestra Señora in Cartago to honor the country's patron saint La Virgen de Los Angeles. It also threatened to shut down the popular annual Palmares festival in January in the event of a second wave.

Medical experts expected a resurgence of the flu in January or February, as the virus found new ways around medications or natural immune system defenses. Butas March approaches, the number of cases continues to remain low.

Morice said it would be necessary to wait until June to declare the end of an H1N1 flu virus threat in Costa Rica, as soon as the Southern Hemisphere enters into its winter season.

“That will be an important moment to indicate we've passed over this challenge,” she said.

Computer software giant Microsoft is the latest high technology company to increase investment in Costa Rica.

The local branch of the international company announced this week that it plans to invest an estimated $6.5 million in operations in Costa Rica this year. This represents an increase of 8 percent over its 2009 investment.

This announcement was paired with the presentation of a new general manager for the company, Juan Pablo Consuegra, who will head operations for Microsoft Costa Rica. Microsoft has been operating in Costa Rica for 15 years.

“During these years of work in the country, Microsoft has identified in Costa Ricans a high potential for their technological capacities and in innovation to develop their abilities,” Consuegra said on Wednesday. “The results seen over the course of the past 15 years has encouraged Microsoft to contribute more energy into developing their technologies in the country.”

Microsoft said that some of the increased investment will include the introduction of the latest technological tools, such as unified communications devices, improved messaging and collaboration services, a data center and business network and virtualization software.

Consuegra said Microsoft will continue to provide software to large corporations and will increase the services provided to small- and medium-sized businesses. Over the course of the next 18 months, Microsoft aims to provide service to 4,000 additional small- and-medium sized businesses. Currently, Microsoft provides services to 6,000, or 17 percent, of small and medium sized businesses in the country.