​🇨🇷​Pura Vida​🇨🇷​ Costa Rica Filers

[midwinterrose 263]

Hey everybody!

 

I thought I would start a thread for Costa Rica filers to collect and share experiences, wisdom and advice.  Share your story and let us know how your immigration is progressing.  Any tips about interviews, medical, or documentation for the embassy would be super helpful for future filers.  For those further along, how has the transition to living in the U.S. been for you?  Also feel free to just come hang out and chat with fellow CR filers about anything that's on your mind.

 

Estamos en el foro regional, así que siéntese libre de comunicar también en español!

 

🇨🇷❤️🇨🇷😁🇨🇷❤️🇨🇷

[midwinterrose 263]

My fiancé just made a trip into San Jose to get his birth certificate, police record and certificate of marital status on September 7th.  He took the documents to the Casa Amarilla (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores) to have them apostilled for good measure.  They told him he could pick them up on Tuesday, but he hasn't been able to get back to pick them up because of the strike that is happening.  He called and they said they would hold on to them and he could pick up them up when things settle down.  Has anyone else been affected by the strike?  It sounds like things are pretty topsy-turvy down there right now.

[Eric-Pris 1,602]

Our Visa Journey began in Costa Rica in 2008 with a K1.  The process was surprisingly efficient and smooth.  We didn't experience the typical Tico BS that anybody who has any experience dealing with the government or even private businesses in CR.  The embassy scheduled our appointment pretty quickly and was relatively soon.  The interview went well, although we were the last ones to go.  So your appointment time is meaningless, they will call you when they please.

 

I have a buddy who went through CR-1 in CR over the past year or so.  Things have changed a little.  Now, when you ant to speak to the embassy, you have to speak to a call center.  Before, you could speak to an embassy employee directly.  When I called to schedule, I was dealing with embassy staff, not some call center who is basically a messenger.

 

Good luck to all.

[jay9475 46]

Hi there, thanks for starting this thread! We are at the NVC stage currently. My fiance is currently in the middle of a legal name change, and it should've been completed by now, but you know how that goes! So now, have to wait on that, then he can gather Lal his documents. Sure hoping he'll be here before the end of the year! Any interview tips would be appreciated, I'll actually be flying down to join him for it. Have a great day! 

[KJ2 230]

Thanks for starting the thread!! I am still in the I-130 waiting stage for the CR-1 with my husband!! 

[wacoachrusso 11]

Hi thanks!!! We have our interview on October 23. Am I allowed to attend the interview with my wife? Good luck all

[lucybelle 453]

Hey all! My partner and I did CR1 from abroad in CR and it took a ridiculously long time. We happened to apply during some backlog or whatever.

 

Anyways, about 1.5 years after applying we moved to the USA. We got his GC, removed conditions 2 years later, then a year after that applied for citizenship. He is now a dual citizen of CR & USA. (Full timeline in signature)

 

To top it all off, we moved back to CR and are now living here. I’m now applying for my residency!! I haven’t had much interaction with the huelga since I don’t have a reason to go into San Jose center right now. But going a full week without trash pickup really sucked.

[argylejegirl 14]

Hello! Thank you for creating this thread! We are in the NVC stage right now. My fiancé will go in a couple weeks to pick up documents such as police record and do the medical exam. Hoping the strikes will subside by then 

[midwinterrose 263]

8 hours ago, wacoachrusso said:

Hi thanks!!! We have our interview on October 23. Am I allowed to attend the interview with my wife? Good luck all

Everything I have read says that they let the USC attend the interview.  I am planning on attending with my fiancé.  I have been to the embassy before for other reasons, and it is a pretty chill environment as far as government goes.

[midwinterrose 263]

1 hour ago, lucybelle said:

Hey all! My partner and I did CR1 from abroad in CR and it took a ridiculously long time. We happened to apply during some backlog or whatever.

 

Anyways, about 1.5 years after applying we moved to the USA. We got his GC, removed conditions 2 years later, then a year after that applied for citizenship. He is now a dual citizen of CR & USA. (Full timeline in signature)

 

To top it all off, we moved back to CR and are now living here. I’m now applying for my residency!! I haven’t had much interaction with the huelga since I don’t have a reason to go into San Jose center right now. But going a full week without trash pickup really sucked.

Oh, please let us know how the CR residency process goes.  I think my fiancé and I will do the same--return to CR after he gets citizenship.  Where in CR are you living, if you don't mind my asking?  I used to live in Montes de Oro, in Puntarenas.

[lucybelle 453]

3 hours ago, radharose said:

Oh, please let us know how the CR residency process goes.  I think my fiancé and I will do the same--return to CR after he gets citizenship.  Where in CR are you living, if you don't mind my asking?  I used to live in Montes de Oro, in Puntarenas.

We’re in Chepe.

 

We lived here for four years before going up to the USA. My partner just couldn’t get into it. He was homesick, and as I now am sitting in the lovely sun next to my huge avocado tree, I can see why! So we came back!

 

I’m actually applying for a work visa through my employer. I figure after two years I’ll apply for citizenship and be done with it.

 

Best wishes!!

[Cari & Andy UB 69]

20 hours ago, radharose said:

My fiancé just made a trip into San Jose to get his birth certificate, police record and certificate of marital status on September 7th.  He took the documents to the Casa Amarilla (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores) to have them apostilled for good measure.  They told him he could pick them up on Tuesday, but he hasn't been able to get back to pick them up because of the strike that is happening.  He called and they said they would hold on to them and he could pick up them up when things settle down.  Has anyone else been affected by the strike?  It sounds like things are pretty topsy-turvy down there right now.

Thank you for making the group. I have been searching for other Costa Rica filers to get connected. I appreciate this so much!!! We need all the support during this immigration nightmare.

 

My husband is going to get his international police certificate soon, but honestly he has been avoiding the area. Hopefully this week things die down. My case is going so far going as well as it can be. Below is my timeline:

 

Married: January 27, 2018 (in Costa Rica)

Sent I-130: March 14, 2018

NOA1 (Old Site): March 15, 2018

Service Center: Texas Service Center

Case Received (New Site): March 19, 2018

RFE: none, yet

NOA2: ....waiting still....

 

My best advise for future filers is that make sure to have all Spanish civil registry documents apostilled, in English, and with a certification of translation by the person who translated them that is notarized. The only questions I have are below and I don't know if anyone has any input:

 

1. What vaccines have been a hold up? Like which ones have been a reason to get you delayed, if you haven't had it?

2. How long has consular processing taken? If anyone on here has done that?

 

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE! I AM HAPPY AND GLAD TO BE A PART OF THE PURA VIDA GROUP!

Edited September 16, 2018 by Cari & Andy UB

[Cari & Andy UB 69]

7 hours ago, argylejegirl said:

Hello! Thank you for creating this thread! We are in the NVC stage right now. My fiancé will go in a couple weeks to pick up documents such as police record and do the medical exam. Hoping the strikes will subside by then 

Where are you going for your medical exam? Also, what was your fiances experience with vaccinations from Costa Rica to USA?

6 hours ago, radharose said:

Everything I have read says that they let the USC attend the interview.  I am planning on attending with my fiancé.  I have been to the embassy before for other reasons, and it is a pretty chill environment as far as government goes.

Yes, I believe you are able to attend with your beneficiary. I am planning on attending with my husband too!

[wwhitneyleighh 0]

17 minutes ago, Cari & Andy UB said:

Where are you going for your medical exam? Also, what was your fiances experience with vaccinations from Costa Rica to USA?

Yes, I believe you are able to attend with your beneficiary. I am planning on attending with my husband too!

Yes, you can definitely attend the interview with the beneficiary, no problem. That's what I did.

 

15 hours ago, wacoachrusso said:

Hi thanks!!! We have our interview on October 23. Am I allowed to attend the interview with my wife? Good luck all

 

[argylejegirl 14]

On 9/15/2018 at 6:43 PM, radharose said:

My fiancé just made a trip into San Jose to get his birth certificate, police record and certificate of marital status on September 7th.  He took the documents to the Casa Amarilla (Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores) to have them apostilled for good measure.  They told him he could pick them up on Tuesday, but he hasn't been able to get back to pick them up because of the strike that is happening.  He called and they said they would hold on to them and he could pick up them up when things settle down.  Has anyone else been affected by the strike?  It sounds like things are pretty topsy-turvy down there right now.

Is it necessary to get documents apostilled?