About Veteran2Expat

Status:

Preparing to Move Abroad 

Currently Lives:

Citizen Of:

United States

Past Expat Posts:

Kenya

Philippines

Japan

My Website:

http://Veteran2Expat.com

Advice for New Expats

Live Life by Design, not default!

I would love to live in...

Costa Rica

Education:

Trident University International
  2008 to 2011

Sonoran Desert Institute
  2016 to 2014

Los Angeles Film School
  2016 to 2016

Some Forum Posts:

Costa Rica: Monthly rental for expat:

Google flights is actually https://www.google.com/flights/ From my research google flights has good prices but I have found the best by going to the actual airlines websites. Never tried the hotel part of google flights though.

Costa Rica: Access to U.S. Social Security Account Online:

Google voice is still free. You can also use it on your smart phone and receive text and phone calls in it using data while overseas as well. I currently use it for my business so my business line is a speedster number but I can always be reached when I have cell service.

Costa Rica: Rentista Funds at BCR:

With the research I have been doing and reading everything I have to ask why would anyone invest there to get residency if the possibility of just getting the pensinada residency by showing you have $1k a month or more coming in. From what I understand you have a lower CAJA payment(if your under 55, plus your money isn't tied up in a CD as it appears to be in this case.

Costa Rica: Pensionado paperwork?:

From what our lawyer has told us they have to be within 6 months old but was suggested for them all be no older than 1 month when we arrive and or apply. That way the documents are hopefully less than 6 months old when they are processed.

Costa Rica: Caja:

I am under 55 and we will be moving to CR in the summer of next year. From what my immigration lawyer has said with my pension and income and a family of 4 we will be paying approx $60 a month in Caja. Can't be sure yet six e we are in the process of paperwork but that goes with most estimates I have seen.

Costa Rica: Year in Costa Rica:

My Family and I are also moving in the Summer of 2017. We have decided to get our residency to make things easier and not have to leave every 90 days. Our 2 teenagers will be attending a school there in the Guanicaste area though. We are planning on buying a car locally. From everything we have researched bringing a vehicle down is far to costly. The area you live in depends on your specific needs and desires and what you like. We started looking at the southern zone, then came north a bit and have now decided in the Guanicaste area for schooling for our children. Some folks on this forum and others always push their area of the country. Great t o be proud of their area but be sure to look into the areas yourself. Just because it works for someone else doesn't mean it will work for you and your situation. Also, some folks in CR seam to have an Ulterior motive to make money by promoting their specific services and businesses. Must do your own research into what you and your family wants/needs. Don't buy until you try. Best of luck. Hopefully we can meet up when we all get down there.

Costa Rica: Golfo Dolce - Puerto Jimanez:

I also would like to hear a reply to this from folks who live in the southern zone. We where first looking around Golfito area but have heard issues with infrastructure, mild problems and a few other little things that detoured us because we have teenagers. I would still love to move to Golfito eventually but I have a feeling prices will increase when the marina is completed.

Costa Rica: Seriously Considering Moving:

Erik, I to am a Veteran. We are moving down there in the summer of 2017. Hoping my pension doesn't dry up but we shall see. We are working on getting our residency now so it hopefully is secured before our pension dries up. Message me if you have any questions. We also have started out FB page and website for folks to follow us, get information and hopefully find out what not to do. Lol

Costa Rica: looking to meet with expats:

Enhave niticed a bit of that from International Living by hey seam to be one of those businesses that only tell you the good stuff and suger cost it on top of that. A bit disappointed with them as after you sign up with them they seam to only offer more "membership stuff" and how to spend more money with them rather than get real good information.

Costa Rica: Looking for full-time jobs near coastline:

Kohl, is very correct. No working for anyone or having a "job" is aloud unless you are a permanent citizen or have a work visa(very hard to get from my understanding). You can however own your own business and make money off of that. You technically can't "work" but you can make an income from your business. Online business are what most seam to do to the lower cost of startup and running them.

Date Joined:

5/7/2016

Total Posts:

34

Posts/Day:

0.10