Beach safety risks, passport thefts prompt U.S. officials to visit Guanacaste
By Rosibel Perez, Special from the El Independiente

The lack of information on safety risks at the beach, the numerous robberies of tourists’ passports and the new system for granting visas to Costa Ricans seeking to visit the United States resulted in a recent visit to Guanacaste by U.S. officials.

The tragic case of the four young students from the United States who recently drowned at the beach Dry Wood of Parrita, Puntarenas, was so distressing that Consul Nicholas J. Manring and Consul employee Virginia Aguilar paid a visit to Liberia. They explicitly tried to inform tourists of the possible dangers of the beautiful Costa Rican beaches.

“Tourists who visit Costa Rica don’t have information about the risks involved in coming here,” warned Manring.

The signals that indicate a rise in the level of risk at the beaches are largely unavailable to tourists and the general public.

Also the robbery of passports and documents is another danger that may be experienced by tourists, who already constitute approximately 37 percent of the total population of Guanacaste: more than 264,400 short-and long-term visitors.

Costa Rica has the highest number of American passport robberies, the primary reason why the Embassy has been handing out information cards in the airports. These small leaflets specify that it is permissible to leave one’s passport in a safe-deposit box in the hotel, but it is necessary to carry a copy of the passport photo page and the page with the immigration seal.

“The loss and robbery of passports is generally a result of crime rings,” added Aguilar, an investigator of frauds in the consular section of the United States Embassy.

American tourists can call the U.S. Embassy at any time during the day, including nights and weekends. Questions of any kind also can be sent via e-mail to the Embassy.

Additionally, the Embassy’s web site lists security parameters to better prepare travelers for their visit to Costa Rica.

A large increase in visa requests by Costa Ricans seeking to travel to the United States also has Manring concerned. He is trying to inform those interested in obtaining a visa about the numerous changes in the way visas are being granted.

Since the beginning of June, obtaining a visa has become a more difficult process. First one must buy a personal identification number or PIN at Banco Nacional de Costa Rica. The PIN activates in 24 hours, and with that number a person can call to make an appointment with the visa office, which will ask for both the PIN number and passport data.

Each PIN is valid for only eight minutes and can be used for five members of the same family. The visa applicant must call the U.S. Embassy immediately upon receiving the number.

In 2004, the demand for visas reached 42,000 requests, and in 2005 increased to 55,000. For the current year, 2006, requests for visas already have reached 26,000 and counting, according to data provided by Manring.

Another one of the U.S. Embassy’s goals is to have a better building with more space and to hire several more people to make the visa process, particularly the interviews, speedier and easier. The probability of successfully obtaining a visa for people who are interviewed is 80 percent. However, this rate varies greatly based on the type of visa that is desired. The tourist visa is the most common. To obtain a tourist visa, one must show bank accounts, personal savings, income reports, possessions, passport and other official documents and their connections to Costa Rica (this could include family, investments or work).

In case of an emergency, the visa appointment can be advanced when it involves the following situations: urgent medical treatment in the United States, to visit a close relative who is ill, to attend the funeral of a close relative, or to attend business meetings or conferences scheduled before the obtained appointment.

In order for a successful appointment, Manring commented, “Pretend it’s like a little chat. You don’t have to be tense, just tell us your plans.”