Job Discussion Forums

[djlera]

I`ve been in CR for over 6 months now working at a university where all of the teacher are supposed to have work visas. In order to do so I have needed to supply:
1. My birth certificate
2. My police report or letter from my state saying I have no poilice report
3. My CELTA degree

All of these documents had to be authenticated by the secretary of state of my home state (CA). NOT apostilled, because Costa Rica is one of about 4 countries in the world not part of the Hague Apostille Treaty... Then these documents had to be sent to Washington DC to be authenticated by the Costa Rican Consulate at a charge of $40 each. Then I am supposed to hand them in to the legal department and wait 8 to 12 months for approval by the Costa Rican government. All of this for a $6 an hour job.

I would say not worth it.... the Bureaucracy in the country is insane....

Just work illegally like the thousand of others.

Just my point of view.
J

[Mickey Nutz]

Wow. That sounds ridiculously prohibitive. According to this account it takes over a year to get a job legally in CR? Can anyone else comment on this? Every person working legally in CR had the same experience?

Can you work "illegally" at a university?

Is this a CR thing, or something common all over.

[John Hall]

I have often heard the same as what djlera has stated above.

I work in CR legally because I am married to a Tica. Thus, I don't have any of the bureaucracy/paperwork problems to deal with.

[Gareth2000]

hey ive been around south america for 2 years - latins are corrupt people u need to try to take advantage of that go into the immigration department with a decent amount of cash in your hand like $200US or something like that in local or US or Euros and try to bribe them

ive done that with success here in Venezuela which again is full of bullshit and restrictions with visas - thats how its done.

Gary

[stillnosheep]

You're the guy going around offering officials bribes in return for you being allowed to break the law.

That makes you the corrupter.

The officials, if they accept the bribes, become the corrupted.

[John Hall]

[whosear]

I second John Hall�s assessment. I�ve circulated with the expat community, and I do know one fellow who pays $140 to get a new tourist stamp to a fellow. I�d rather travel to Panama or Nicaragua with the money.

Second, there are people all over the place that promise influence and can get things done. Most likely, they can only assist you because they speak Spanish, or know how to go into one of the bureaucracies and take care of things. I�ve been able to navigate the Registro Civil, and the receptionists are very helpful if you speak Spanish. It is not very hard.

I would advise staying away from paying anyone to circumvent the system. Having been around folks who do this sort of stuff, you can only get yourself dirty.

[Gareth2000]

[John Hall]