Costa Rica was very popular with American retirees. It had broad beaches on two oceans, lush scenery in between, and a tropical climate. The cost of living was reasonable, crime rates were low, and politics were stable.
Healthcare in the major cities was both good and cheap, and the country encouraged foreign retirees with pension or Social Security income. One major benefit of immigrating to Costa Rica was its high-quality, low-cost healthcare.
Costa Rica had socialized medicine, giving every citizen the right to medical care. This fact placed the country among the best in the world by healthcare standards.
America and Costa Rica had no tax treaty to avoid double taxation, but Costa Rica did not tax retirees' foreign income. Thus, Costa Rica had become an immigration haven for many American retirees.
Immigrating to America was becoming increasingly strict, but anyone truly desperate to become "a free American" could use Costa Rica as a springboard. Immigration to Costa Rica had no language, educational, or residency requirements, and permanent residency could be obtained directly.
Costa Rica was very close to the American mainland: a little over an hour from Miami and more than two hours from New York by air. Because many Americans retired there, visas were very easy to obtain. Permanent residents who met the requirements could receive one-year multiple-entry American visas, and those with no bad record could obtain visas valid for five to ten years of travel to America.
More than 70 percent of Costa Rican citizens went to America and Canada for university. No investment was required of applicants. It was one of the happiest countries in the world, with abundant natural surroundings, a suitable climate, social stability, livability, moderate housing prices, generous social welfare, and comprehensive medical facilities.
It was America's "back garden," with many preferential