Job Discussion Forums

vhfroggy · Joined: 29 Apr 2006 Posts: 3

This summer I'm going to take a certification course in Costa Rica and plan to teach in Korea after that. Since many places that hire in Korea fly you over there, I don't want to purchase a superfluous onward ticket; unfortunately, Costa Rican law mandates that you must have an onward ticket in order to be let into the country.

What is the cheapest option I have? Right now I'm leaning towards buying a refundable air ticket, but if there's a better way I'd like to hear it.

Oh, and if it makes any difference I'll be flying into San Jose.

Thanks in advance

wisdomlover · Joined: 08 May 2006 Posts: 9

I have heard an idea of getting an online refundable and cancelable bus ticket from san jose to panama or whereever. It proves onward travel and it is cheap and you can cancel online.

doreenp · Joined: 13 Oct 2003 Posts: 147

Last summer when I returned to CR from Canada I purchased a completely refundable ticket and put it on my visa. It was a total of 128.00 (cdn) from San Jose to Panama, but SJ to Managua might be cheaper. I then went on line as soon as i got here and cancelled it. It was refunded before the next month�s bill came out so i never paid any interest on it.

I went into the Tica bus web page and you cannot buy a bus ticket on line thru them. Maybe someone knows of another bus line where you can buy online?

good luck
d

katieesenior · Joined: 14 Mar 2006 Posts: 6 Location: UK

Can anyone help please ?

I have my flight booked to arrive on the 19th June then leave on the 13th December. I have a return ticket. I am coming to CR to teach English, will I have a problem with immigration when I arrive ? Should they ask do I just say im here to travel ?

Thanks Kate

wisdomlover · Joined: 08 May 2006 Posts: 9

In my research this is what I have found out in order to prepare. If your only going for that long then you can make the border run because you only get 90 days at a time. If you want a work visa, which some places might require, then I am coming with my notarized, certified by sec of state, and costa rican embassy authenticated police letter of clearance not more than 6 months old and my birth certificate authenticated by the costa rican embassy. Then you can get one year work visas at a time. At least that is what I understand so far.

wisdomlover · Joined: 08 May 2006 Posts: 9

what site did you use for the flight ticket that gave you a refund.....I don't know of any specific bus tickets you can buy online....

doreenp · Joined: 13 Oct 2003 Posts: 147

i didn�t buy it on line.
I had left CR in May to go back to Canada for a visit so i purchased a round trip ticket from SJ to Toronto and back to SJ. When i got to the airport in Toronto to return to SJ, the ticket agent wouldn�t let me on the plane without proof of leaving CR. She claimed that they would be fined $1,000.00 if i got to CR and was refused admittance. So she sold me a ticket there on the spot knowing full well that i was going to cancel as soon as i arrived.

d.

vhfroggy · Joined: 29 Apr 2006 Posts: 3

Appreciate all the advice, guys. I guess the refundable air ticket is going to be my best bet.

Trisher · Joined: 21 Oct 2005 Posts: 3

Kate, I wouldn't worry about it too much. The other poster is right - upon arriving in CR you get a stamp on your passport to stay 90 days, so you will have to leave the country at some point to renew that (can just go over the border to Panama or Nicaragua for the weekend).

I'm not going to say you absolutely will have no problem with immigration, cause you never know, but I'd be surprised if they asked about your return ticket. Nobody I know has ever been asked about that on entering Costa Rica. But since you have one, you should be in the clear. You can always try saying you will be traveling Latin America for many months starting in Costa Rica, but won't be here the whole time -if they even ask why your return is so far out. In my experience, there are rarely questions asked of US/Canadian citizens coming in. But, yes, I would just mark travel on your immigration card to not give them any reasons to ask you any questions.

Floyd_ · Joined: 18 Mar 2006 Posts: 18

What do the bus tickets look like. I can't imagine they have identification info on them.
If somone where to have a cheap bus ticket from san jose to panama mailed to them, do you think that would be enough
I don't know what bus tickets cost..but i would think it would be an cheap option

wisdomlover · Joined: 08 May 2006 Posts: 9

I have decided to get a roundtrip air ticket in which the return part is refundable and it is good for 365 days and the return part can be used towards flight anywhere else in the world.