Job Discussion Forums

treasurechess · Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 7:59 pm Post subject: Deportation dangers

A friend told me a scary story about an American deported from Costa Rica for 10 years because he returned from his border run in less than 72 hours. He was sent to Immigration who found out he was working. He had to leave behind his gringo wife and three children...and house! My question is: what are the dangers of the authorities finding out one is working on a tourist visa....teaching English...or whatever? It would be a real nightmare!

OleLarssen · Joined: 26 Apr 2006 Posts: 337

Imigracion has become a lot more hardcore the last three years as far as I understand. Once upon the time you could do whatever you wanted and get away with it, but not anymore. I think the danger of getting deported is minuscule - there was probably another reason why this guy was sent out of the country - so if you're just staying for a year or two I wouldn't worry too much about it as long as you follow their rules. I don't know how long I'm staying but probably it will be for a good long while, so I'm getting my temporary residence permit.

poser wannabe · Joined: 30 Oct 2008 Posts: 9 Location: Costa Rica

I have lived here for 6 years and only once have I made my visa run even close to on time, and ironically it was that time that I got hasseld for being 3 days over. That was at the Sixoala border which is very low turn over which gives the guards lots of time to maticullasly (spelling??) scrutinze your passport. Ive found that if you cross over at the heavily trafficed crossings, the gaurds have better things to drink and better soaps to watch than to analyse how many days a gringo has stayed in their country. The rule that me and my friends use is, if you want to travel or get away from the woman for a few days then give 'er, its a good excuse, but if going every 3 months is a pain in the ass then relax, youll get there when you get there.