The opportunities for Nicaraguans could improve after a massive regularization plan that Costa Rica is preparing for some 200,000 refugee applicants; and although not all of them are for people from the neighboring country, a large part is, because they are fleeing the political crisis caused by the government of Daniel Ortega.
A source from the Costa Rican Ministry of Immigration and Foreign Affairs told the voice of america that for this purpose migration appointments will be accelerated; and the person will be able to count on the final resolution of their refugee application, in a shorter period of time, something that overwhelmed some people whose applications were extended over several years.
In an interview last VOAthe Costa Rican Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arnoldo André, pointed out that due to the high demand for refugee applications, they were giving appointments for an eight-year term, that is, for 2030. “This means that the country no longer has the capacity to attend to this emergency. alone,” the official stressed.
To do?
According to Migration of Costa Rica, the person who has an appointment for the refugee application from October 2022, will be able to call 1311, which is the call center of Migration; or write to email [email protected], in order to request an advance of your appointment. If you send an email, the person must indicate in the Subject of the email Appointment Advance, and in the body of the email, indicate the full name, nationality and number of the appointment or receipt.
If the person obtained their appointment through the Web Appointment Portal on the Migration website www.migracion.go.crYou can only request an appointment via email.
The authorities told the VOA that this was achieved because the institution extended the possibility of having staff divided into shifts (staff with whom UNHCR supports).
Can refugees travel in Costa Rica?
Refugee applicants and those already recognized as refugees do not require an authorization in case of traveling to a third country other than their country of origin, according to the institution.
However, they clarify that refugee applicants must inform the administration, at least five days before the trip, by mail to [email protected]in which you send a photo of your asylum seeker card and explain to which country you are going to travel and from what date to what date the trip will be.
You must attach the following information to the email:
1. Proof of departure from Costa Rica to a third country duly signed. https://www.migracion.go.cr/Paginas/Refugio.aspx
2. Copy of the refugee applicant card.
The documents that inform or request authorization (as the case may be) can be signed in the following two ways:
1. Stamped signature (in handwriting), by the person, of the document in a physical way, which must be sent by means of a photograph.
2. Digitally signed by the person (digital signature issued by the BCCR) through a document in PDF format.
Can I return to the country of origin?
The Costa Rican authorities also explain that the same process must be followed by asylum seekers and recognized refugees who wish to travel to their country of origin, and although the application does not guarantee permission and the person must wait for their application to be resolved , being that you risk the filing of your application or cancellation of the shelter otherwise.
What other benefits are achieved?
But apart from being able to travel to third countries normally, refugees or applicants will be able to open bank accounts in Costa Rican financial institutions.
The UN Refugee Agency indicates that if the person is recognized as a “refugee” they must proceed to process their immigration identity document in the country.
This document certifies the protection you have received from the Costa Rican government and you will enjoy all social, economic and cultural rights on equal terms with Costa Rican citizens. If your application is denied, you have the right to appeal this decision.
Costa Rica has become the main destination country for Nicaraguan migrants fleeing the crisis in the Central American country.
According to some estimates, refugee requests are expected to exceed 80,000 in 2022, above the 2021 record of almost 60,000 requests, and 90% of them would correspond to Nicaraguans.
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