Dear Tico Times:
In her interview with Director of Immigration Mario Zamora (TT, Oct. 23), reporter Chrissie Long asked: ‘Tourists can now renew their status without ever having to leave the country. What is the procedure for doing so?'
Zamora replied: ‘All they need to do is meet the requirements (See Box).'
The box listed the requirements for residency as an investor and had nothing to do with renewing a 90-day tourist visa.
So, the question remains: Can a tourist renew his visa without leaving the country and, if so, how is a visa renewed?
B.H. Knight
Heredia
Editor's Note: We apologize for the confusion. The complete – and extensive – answer on this subject was left out for lack of space. It is as follows.
Extension of Tourist Visas
Requirements for filing for an extension of a tourist visa from within Costa Rica:
1. The request must be presented to the Im migration Administration before visa status expires. It must include the name of the applicant, nationality, number and type of passport, precise address in Costa Rica, phone number, parents' names, place and location of birth, and the reasons for requesting a status extension. This application must be authenticated by a lawyer or signed before the officer processing the request. It also must indicate a place or fax number where the applicant can receive notifications.
2. Completed records form. These can be found in the information pages of the Immigration Administration Web site: www.migracion.go.cr.
3. Three recent passport photos.
4. A certified copy of all of the pages of the applicant's passport, plus the original, to be presented before the processing officer. If the document is in a language other than Spanish, it must be accompanied by a translation.
5. A certified photocopy of a departure ticket from Costa Rica.
6. Proof of economic means sufficient to sustain oneself through the period of time requested.
7. In situations in which the person requesting a visa extension is of special relevance in an area of science, economics, culture or politics – and was invited by a state entity or private institution – a letter of economic support from the institution that invited that person to the country must be presented.
8. In situations relating to specialized medical treatment, the patient must provide an application certified by the hospital and a doctor explaining the necessity of the treatment and the need for the patient to remain in the country.
9. A receipt confirming the deposit of $3 (or the equivalent in colons) in the Banco de Costa Rica, account 242480-0.
In no case can the extension of a tourist visa be for a period longer than 60 days.
SOURCE: Immigration Administration. |