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Costa Rican Addresses And we are FINALLY MARRIED!!

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Hey all!!  So we DID it!  We Were married August 1st, 2021 so now comes the FUN part filling out all the paperwork.  A lot of the documents I have already searched out so hopefully I have a head start.  Can anyone help me with with Costa Rican addresses?  His home address is literally describing the color of his house and so many meters this way and that.  And, do I need to write the address in English or leave it how it is there. 

 

Also, I have asked before about birth certificates and the CR Online Portal from the Tribunal - but, when Luis went to get his police record and asked for the birth certificate they told him it was online and that they do not place a seal on it any longer that people must use the certificate number assigned to it when purchased.  Any further advice on that?  I am super worried to not have that seal on there.  Maybe I can take it to the CR Embassy here in Houston and have that seal placed??

 

 

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On 8/9/2021 at 7:42 AM, HurtRN said:

Hey all!!  So we DID it!  We Were married August 1st, 2021 so now comes the FUN part filling out all the paperwork.  A lot of the documents I have already searched out so hopefully I have a head start.  Can anyone help me with with Costa Rican addresses?  His home address is literally describing the color of his house and so many meters this way and that.  And, do I need to write the address in English or leave it how it is there. 

 

Also, I have asked before about birth certificates and the CR Online Portal from the Tribunal - but, when Luis went to get his police record and asked for the birth certificate they told him it was online and that they do not place a seal on it any longer that people must use the certificate number assigned to it when purchased.  Any further advice on that?  I am super worried to not have that seal on there.  Maybe I can take it to the CR Embassy here in Houston and have that seal placed??

 

 

He can go to his local Post Office to get the official home address.  As to his birth certificate, it's best if he went to his local registry to get it and not online.  The birth certificate needs to be translated for USCIS and then apostilled and they won't accept the dowloaded version of it.  Same for the marriage certificate.  You don't mention in what part of the country he lives but government institutions are well spread out throughout the country so he should have no trouble getting the paperwork.   Good luck! 

Edited by Gisselle Villegas
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25 minutes ago, Gisselle Villegas said:

He can go to his local Post Office to get the official home address.  As to his birth certificate, it's best if he went to his local registry to get it and not online.  The birth certificate needs to be translated for USCIS and then apostilled and they won't accept the dowloaded version of it.  Same for the marriage certificate.  You don't mention in what part of the country he lives but government institutions are well spread out throughout the country so he should have no trouble getting the paperwork.   Good luck! 

Thank you!!  So, he went to get his criminal record and there also asked about the birth certificate and they said no they do not do them anymore you have to go online. I am going to fly into Liberia on Wednesday and we are going there to ask again. Are you sure about the apostil? I've read it's not necessary there just the certification from the tribunal and of course translation. 
 

The lawyer that married us is taking care of the marriage certificate. Filing with the CR government and the US consulate and also translating it to English too. So that one is covered. 
 

But, now I am confused about the apostil. 

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35 minutes ago, Gisselle Villegas said:

He can go to his local Post Office to get the official home address.  As to his birth certificate, it's best if he went to his local registry to get it and not online.  The birth certificate needs to be translated for USCIS and then apostilled and they won't accept the dowloaded version of it.  Same for the marriage certificate.  You don't mention in what part of the country he lives but government institutions are well spread out throughout the country so he should have no trouble getting the paperwork.   Good luck! 

Oh, I forgot to ask - where so I go to have the documents apostilles? I assume I must do that for his birth certificate, police record, and anything else?

 

Thanks for any help!  

 

PS he lives in Nicoya. 

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10 minutes ago, HurtRN said:

Thank you!!  So, he went to get his criminal record and there also asked about the birth certificate and they said no they do not do them anymore you have to go online. I am going to fly into Liberia on Wednesday and we are going there to ask again. Are you sure about the apostil? I've read it's not necessary there just the certification from the tribunal and of course translation. 
 

The lawyer that married us is taking care of the marriage certificate. Filing with the CR government and the US consulate and also translating it to English too. So that one is covered. 
 

But, now I am confused about the apostil. 

Perhaps requirements have changed or being that our cases are different they requisits are as well.  Having docs apostilled doesn't hurt and the cost is minimal.  I recommend you provide them with more than what they ask for than have them ask for it later, delaying the process.  I live in San Jose so everything is pretty much close by to get done.  At least have his birth certificate duly watermarked and signed at his local registry instead of online.   Nicoya has all of the governmental entities you will need.

Edited by Gisselle Villegas
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5 minutes ago, HurtRN said:

Oh, I forgot to ask - where so I go to have the documents apostilles? I assume I must do that for his birth certificate, police record, and anything else?

 

Thanks for any help!  

 

PS he lives in Nicoya. 

The apostilles are done at the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores.   The main office is in San jose, popularly called "la Casa Amarilla".  I am not sure however if they have a branch in Nicoya.  They should since there are branches of most all governmental institutions in all of the main cities

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16 minutes ago, Gisselle Villegas said:

Perhaps requirements have changed or being that our cases are different they requisits are as well.  Having docs apostilled doesn't hurt and the cost is minimal.  I recommend you provide them with more than what they ask for than have them ask for it later, delaying the process.  I live in San Jose so everything is pretty much close by to get done.  At least have his birth certificate duly watermarked and signed at his local registry instead of online.   Nicoya has all of the governmental entities you will need.

When he asked about the birth certificate they directed him to go online - but, we are going to Liberia when I land on Wednesday to see if we can get the online version certified. Maybe they can help us with the apostilles too. 

 

It's all so nerve wracking. Haha

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5 minutes ago, HurtRN said:

When he asked about the birth certificate they directed him to go online - but, we are going to Liberia when I land on Wednesday to see if we can get the online version certified. Maybe they can help us with the apostilles too. 

 

It's all so nerve wracking. Haha

Good luck and enjoy your stay here!  I've been married to a tico and living in CR for 25 yrs.  Lovely country but we are ready to move to the US.  Thank goodness we are past the USCIS and NVC and now just waiting for my husbands interview.  Should be a slam dunk considering we've been married for so long.  Hope all goes smoothly for you both :)

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On 8/9/2021 at 6:42 AM, HurtRN said:

Can anyone help me with with Costa Rican addresses?  His home address is literally describing the color of his house and so many meters this way and that.  And, do I need to write the address in English or leave it how it is there. 

Yep, that sounds about normal for a typical Costa Rica address.   They don't much do street numbers there.  As an address it would be in Spanish.

 

On 8/9/2021 at 6:42 AM, HurtRN said:

Also, I have asked before about birth certificates and the CR Online Portal from the Tribunal - but, when Luis went to get his police record and asked for the birth certificate they told him it was online and that they do not place a seal on it any longer that people must use the certificate number assigned to it when purchased.  Any further advice on that?  I am super worried to not have that seal on there.  Maybe I can take it to the CR Embassy here in Houston and have that seal placed??

It must have the TSE stamp and be signed by a TSE certificador.  NVC is quite specific about that detail.  This should be easy for someone locally to get from the TSE office.  It would be a different office from where he got his police certificate.  CR law says CR local entities must accept the online version alone but that does not apply to US NVC.  I'm guessing he might have asked at the wrong office and they told him the rules that apply in Costa Rica not the rules that apply in the us.  TSE stamped and certified copy IS definitely available and required.  It would be easiest for him to get the stamped and certified version locally but if you have to do it from the US, I found this company that can facilitate getting certified Costa Rica documents and mailing them to the US.  https://www.thetigerhouse.com/en/servicios/

 

As for apostille,  I really do not know if it is necessary to be apostilled.  Our Costa Rica marriage certificate WAS but I do not see where USCIS or NVC says it has to be.  This is relevant because it is apparently taking over a month to get documents apostilled in Costa Rica these days due to backlog in their Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 

Edited by top_secret

Wife and Stepdaughter                                                                            

  • December 17, 2020:  Married in Costa Rica
  • March 08, 2021: Filed l-130s Online
  • March 09, 2021: NOA1
  • April 26, 2021: NOA2, I-130s Approved
  • April 30, 2021: NVC Received
  • May 01, 2021: Pay AOS and IV Bills
  • May 06, 2021: Submit AOS, Financial Docs and DS-260s
  • May 14, 2021: Submit Civil Docs for Stepdaughter
  • May 21, 2021: Submit Civil Docs for Wife
  • June 25, 2021: NVC review for Stepdaughter, RFE submit additional Doc
  • July 08, 2021: Wife Documentarily Qualified by NVC
  • August 31, 2021: Stepdaughter Documentarily Qualified by NVC
  • September 15, 2021: Received Interview Date from NVC, October 05, 2021
  • September 22, 2021: Passed physicals at Saint Luke's Extension Clinic
  • October 05, 2021: Interview at US Embassy Manila. Verbally approved by US Consul. Positive interview experience.
  • October 05, 2021: CEAC status changed to "Issued"
  • October 07, 2021: Passports tracking for delivery on 2GO Courier website
  • October 08, 2021: Passports with visas delivered.  "Visas on hand"
  • October 08, 2021: Paid Immigrant Fee
  • October 12, 2021: Temporary CFO Certificates Received
  • October 26, 2021 POE arrival at LAX
  • November 02, 2021 Social Security Cards arrive in mail
  • January 31, 2022: USCIS Status changed to "Card Is Being Produced"
  • February 04, 2022: USCIS Status changed to "Card Was Mailed To Me"
  • February 07, 2022: Green cards received. 

 

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It can be the online version but it should be certified with a stamp and signature from the TSE Civil Registrars office like this on it.

 

 TSE.jpg.6196d465fb4ac7cec3cffb1eb84192dd.jpg

Wife and Stepdaughter                                                                            

  • December 17, 2020:  Married in Costa Rica
  • March 08, 2021: Filed l-130s Online
  • March 09, 2021: NOA1
  • April 26, 2021: NOA2, I-130s Approved
  • April 30, 2021: NVC Received
  • May 01, 2021: Pay AOS and IV Bills
  • May 06, 2021: Submit AOS, Financial Docs and DS-260s
  • May 14, 2021: Submit Civil Docs for Stepdaughter
  • May 21, 2021: Submit Civil Docs for Wife
  • June 25, 2021: NVC review for Stepdaughter, RFE submit additional Doc
  • July 08, 2021: Wife Documentarily Qualified by NVC
  • August 31, 2021: Stepdaughter Documentarily Qualified by NVC
  • September 15, 2021: Received Interview Date from NVC, October 05, 2021
  • September 22, 2021: Passed physicals at Saint Luke's Extension Clinic
  • October 05, 2021: Interview at US Embassy Manila. Verbally approved by US Consul. Positive interview experience.
  • October 05, 2021: CEAC status changed to "Issued"
  • October 07, 2021: Passports tracking for delivery on 2GO Courier website
  • October 08, 2021: Passports with visas delivered.  "Visas on hand"
  • October 08, 2021: Paid Immigrant Fee
  • October 12, 2021: Temporary CFO Certificates Received
  • October 26, 2021 POE arrival at LAX
  • November 02, 2021 Social Security Cards arrive in mail
  • January 31, 2022: USCIS Status changed to "Card Is Being Produced"
  • February 04, 2022: USCIS Status changed to "Card Was Mailed To Me"
  • February 07, 2022: Green cards received. 

 

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13 hours ago, top_secret said:

Yep, that sounds about normal for a typical Costa Rica address.   They don't much do street numbers there.  As an address it would be in Spanish.

 

It must have the TSE stamp and be signed by a TSE certificador.  NVC is quite specific about that detail.  This should be easy for someone locally to get from the TSE office.  It would be a different office from where he got his police certificate.  CR law says CR local entities must accept the online version alone but that does not apply to US NVC.  I'm guessing he might have asked at the wrong office and they told him the rules that apply in Costa Rica not the rules that apply in the us.  TSE stamped and certified copy IS definitely available and required.  It would be easiest for him to get the stamped and certified version locally but if you have to do it from the US, I found this company that can facilitate getting certified Costa Rica documents and mailing them to the US.  https://www.thetigerhouse.com/en/servicios/

 

As for apostille,  I really do not know if it is necessary to be apostilled.  Our Costa Rica marriage certificate WAS but I do not see where USCIS or NVC says it has to be.  This is relevant because it is apparently taking over a month to get documents apostilled in Costa Rica these days due to backlog in their Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 

Hi thank you!  Yes, I am thinking that too. I will go to the TSE while I am there. If I am unsuccessful I will definitely try that service. But, I bet I can get them to stamp the online version. 
 

thank you for all the information!  This site and everyone here are life savers!! 

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