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From the outset of our journey towards obtaining permanent residency in Costa Rica, Laura Gutierrez has been an indispensable guide and advocate. Her expertise, professionalism, and dedication have made the process smoother than anticipated and instilled in us a sense of security and confidence in navigating the complexities of immigration law.

Laura’s approach is thorough and personalized. She took the time to understand our unique circumstances, answered all our questions patiently and clearly, and kept us informed at every step. Her diligence in handling our case has been remarkable. She ensured that all paperwork was meticulously prepared and submitted and that potential issues were proactively addressed.

Moreover, Laura’s warmth and genuine care for our well-being have genuinely set her apart. She excels in her field and truly values the impact of her work on her clients’ lives. We are deeply grateful for her support and highly recommend her services to anyone looking to navigate the residency process in Costa Rica.

Thank you, Laura; your hard work and dedication are greatly appreciated!

After five lawyers, $10,000, and seven years of hell, my partner and I were still nowhere near a residency card but very near deportation and in panic. Our case was very complicated and unusual. We were to the point of no longer trusting anyone to get this application completed properly.  That is when we turned to Laura in desperation. She took over our cases, sorted through the huge mess and successfully submitted a proper application. Six months later, it all ended in tears… of joy! We were approved.

When it came time for renewal, as can sometimes happen, things got complicated again due to demands by Immigration and the bank. Once again, Laura straightened things out with her expert negotiating skills and professionalism. We consider Laura a friend, protector, and brilliant angel. I would never allow anyone else near our dealings with Immigration, as we still plan to apply for Permanent residency.

Allow me to be blunt & succinct…

A tad long but well worth the read. Trust me…

There should be only one of three reasons you don’t use the services of Ms. Gutierrez as your Immigration Representative: A) You are unaware of her. B) You enjoy masochism. C) You are content with the two capital Ds of the bureaucratic process… Delay & Disappointment! Period.

We signed up with Laura a mere 14 days before some of our ‘docs’ ran beyond their ‘shelf life.’ They were due to expire. Which, of course, means you return to square one and start over from scratch! Need I remind anyone how much fun it is to track down & then get authenticated obscure aspects of your personal history?

My wife Anna and I landed in this ‘one-of-a-kind’ country just a day before the potential of losing months of preparations that could vanish in the ensuing 24 hours. Our care and fate were entrusted to someone I had never met… Miss Laura. 

We sort of had confidence… just behind a juggernaut of anxiety! 

One ‘i’ not dotted, or one ‘t’ not crossed, and you’re abruptly dismissed from progressing further. Everything depended upon the expertise of a little gal we we would meet for the first time on a street corner in a big city we didn’t know to conduct business in a language we didn’t speak! All for a purpose that would greatly impact the upcoming years of our lives! Do you know the definition of feeling exposed & vulnerable? Let me tell you… it was that morning.

So, how’d it go?

Mind you, we had risen at 4 am the previous morning to fly all day to our ‘new land.’  Then, on ‘D-day’ at 5 am, we commenced a 4-hour ‘bounce’ from Arenal to the capital.

In the fog that displaced my cognition that morning, I left behind a crucial document, which, when revealed, seemed certain to abort the entire undertaking! And as previously mentioned, the timing was everything in my case! A pall of gloom fell over everyone… except Ms. Gutierrez. She forged ahead. At every stage, we met exactly your expected response: No. No. No… you may not advance.  The facial and body language of the gatekeepers all seemed to say: “Gringo, what don’t you get about this? Your ‘stuff’ is not right, so forget it. Come back when you get your “stuff” right, and we’ll look at your package then.  Requirements are requirements & procedures are procedures, and you must be dreaming big time… Out!”

Well, of course, we were clueless about what Laura was saying in Spanish back to the people behind the desks, but the way it looked, she wasn’t having any of that chorus of rejection.  I sure did… NO generally means NO in any language. She persevered. One office after another, with us in tow, like delinquent children going to meet his ultimate fate at the principal’s office.

So, you may be asking yourself, what was the outcome of that fateful day in San Jose? Petite as she is, Miss Laura Gutierrez is a “force to be reckoned with.”  At the end of the day… I was in!!  Mind-boggling? Yes!  Incredible? Yes! In all likelihood, unheard of in the annals of Immigration bureaucracy tale telling… yes!

Believe it. In one day, my application was accepted!  Of course, to keep Miss Laura an honest woman, I had to return another day with the missing document. But that’s the long & the short of it… I was in!

Now, if you are a ‘doubting Thomas,’ you’re invited to come to visit me. I’ll introduce you to friends & neighbors who have been engaged in ‘the process’ for ages with tales of dismay and no beacon on the horizon… other than “it’s in the works” … for what Ms. G got done for Anna and me in essentially one business working day! (With one hand tied behind her back.)

Sadly, my Anna passed away a few years later, during which Laura guided us through two renewals of our DIMEX.

Now that the required seven years of residency are behind me, I have again retained Miss Laura to represent me in my pursuit of full Costa Rica Citizenship.

Do you think you can find a discount rate elsewhere?  I’m sure of it. The question is… are you good at roulette?  

Laura is authorized to provide my contact information should you need to hear the story ‘From the Horse’s Mouth.’ 

I was fortunate enough to come across an acquaintance (named Robert M.) who told me “If you’re going to try and attain residency, let me get you in touch with Laura…she pulled off the impossible for me and my wife”. 

I was quite hesitant because I’d already had some preliminary discussion with my attorney in CR about attaining residency. 

Ultimately, I decided to take a chance and was keen on the idea of working with a specialist on this project.  Long story short, due to recent law changes in CR regarding investor’s visa eligibility, the subsequent legal document revisions needed (as a result) and the many certified document expiration dates, it took longer than I’d anticipated.  There are many ways of “spinning your wheels” with this rigorous process. 

Ahhhh – now I understand why I’ve come across so many aspiring residents, who’ve been “working towards” attaining residency for many many…YEARS! 

The bottom line:  Aside from having all the desired experience, professionalism, organization skills, rapport with key entities, responsiveness and realistic expectations, Laura also did an amazing job of helping me to stay on track throughout the process, be efficient (i.e. working smarter, not harder) and most importantly—to NOT give up!  

Lo aprecio mucho, Laura

A few years ago, when the prospect of relocating closer to our grandchildren and applying for residency arose, we initially considered tackling the process on our own. However, upon hearing glowing recommendations for Laura Gutierrez from others who had navigated the same journey, we quickly realized that seeking her expertise was the wise choice.

Laura’s legal practice is exclusively dedicated to the residency process, making her an unparalleled expert in the field. From the outset, she guided us through the complexities of obtaining the necessary documents with clear and straightforward instructions.

Despite the intricacies of the Canadian system, which posed additional challenges compared to Apostille countries, Laura’s guidance made each step manageable. She “held our hands” with infinite patience every step of the way, and thanks to her support, everything proceeded seamlessly.

Recently, when it came time to renew our residency, Laura once again provided invaluable assistance. Her detailed instructions and unwavering support alleviated the stress of the process, ensuring a smooth and successful outcome.

We are deeply grateful for Laura’s expertise and dedication throughout our residency journey.

Thank you, Laura, for getting us our residency papers…..muy amable!”

Hola Laura

A heartfelt thank you for your professional and efficient assistance through this entire process.  We could not have accomplished this without you.  Though we started out as strangers, we truly feel we have gained a new friend in you.

We sincerely do thank you for your kindness, warm embrace, and genuine concern for our family as a whole. 

Thanks again, Laura, for all that you do in helping to make expats like us dreams of a Costa Rican life come true.

Laura is the best of the best. She is above a ten on a 1 to 10 scale. 

I have highly recommended her to many of my friends. From our first discussion, I knew she fully understood the process and could provide the personal touch that I needed. 

Laura also considered all the accommodations needed for my fiancé from Costa Rica. 

In months of previous research before obtaining her services, the pricing from attorneys was outrageous and totally confusing. Laura’s process is smooth and understanding from beginning to end. 

I have to attest that the service rendered is much more than the price for service.  Her ability to place you in the right area, double-check your documentation, communicate with different departments, personal attention, kindness, warmth, understanding, and appointments is priceless. 

Laura, I salute you and your company for leading and assisting my family’s ultimate dream.

Muy Buen Trabajo Laura!  Pura Vida!!!

Dear Laura,

Thank you for all your efforts. We encountered some strange and unforeseen obstacles. Thanks to your encouragement and persistent guidance, what could have derailed the entire process, turned into success. No way that we could have handled this on our own. You saw us right through to holding those DIMEX cards in hand. You were awesome!

Laura was fantastic in helping us apply for residency.

Our case was complicated because we were applying for Pensionado status with multiple pensions and name change documents from different countries. Every document was a Herculean effort, but Laura was patient and creative and helped us find solutions. Thanks to her thorough approach, government officials found no issues with our extensive paperwork, and our application was approved in 10 months.

We are incredibly grateful for Laura’s expertise and dedication throughout this challenging process. Without her assistance, we recognize that achieving our residency status would have been significantly more difficult, if not impossible.

Thank you, Laura!

We decided to be guided by an expert. Laura Guitérrez guided us professionally for the time it took us to assemble all the documents. Along the way, our frequent clarification questions were given clear and timely responses. When it was time to present ourselves at the Immigration Office in San Jose, we met Laura there with our documents in hand. It was obvious that Immigration officials knew and respected her professionalism. It took only minutes for our Temporary Residency applications to be submitted with stamps of acceptance.

We were approved in nine months. (2023)

January 23, 2024: We now possess each of our DIMEX (residency) cards. So, two satisfied customers are glad we had the help of the best immigration specialist in Costa Rica. Thank you, Laura!!

After reading so many glowing testimonials on Laura’s website, I felt no need to search further. That positive assessment was borne out many times over the ensuing months as she patiently provided her expert guidance in applying for Temporary Residency. Her skill in guiding us through the process was amazing.

Three years later, she also guided us through our Permanent residency applications.

I wouldn’t dream of having anyone else in the country do this for us – and I highly recommend her services to anyone. She is the consummate professional – and to top it all off, she is so pleasant to work with.

THANK YOU LAURA!!

Once I settled into my Costa Rica house on the hill, I realized I would never have that “at home” feeling without legal residency. As it happened, my next-door neighbors in Nuevo Arenal had already completed the process with Laura and could not praise her enough. When I met Laura in San Jose shortly after, she lived up to my neighbor’s high praise. I loved her persona, sense of humor, and communication style. It is concise and clear. After formally retaining her services, I ran into a snag when attempting to obtain the required bank letter from my U.S. bank. I was devastated. Laura patiently talked me “off the ledge” and offered further coaching on getting the bank to issue the letter. I returned to the bank with Laura’s “script” in hand, followed it, and to my surprise, I got the letter. And that from a bank whose policy it is not to issue them! The rest of the process was a breeze and following Laura’s submission of a perfectly prepared set of documents, I received my DIMEX card seven months later. It truly enhanced my lived experience here in many unexpected ways.

Two years later, I again encountered obstacles in preparation for my first DIMEX renewal. Once again, Laura calmly guided me through to a successfully renewed DIMEX card.

What began as a business relationship soon turned into a friendship between us. She is an unusual individual with a diverse background and very solid standards.

Thank you, Laura, for everything.

Costa Rica is a beautiful, safe country populated with mostly friendly, honest, helpful people. 

However, the DGME (Department of Immigration) is frustratingly dysfunctional. We [wife and I] could not imagine attempting to become permanent residents on our own. The process is too chaotic. Expert help is a must. 

Enter Laura Gutierrez, immigration consultant. Fluently bilingual, Laura knows the ropes and is skilled in navigating through all the quirks and often irrational behaviors within the DGME (Immigration) offices. She is responsive, patient, well-organized, and very efficient. We highly recommend her. She has led us through the initial application for Temporary Residency, two renewals, and eventually, Permanent Residency.

Just stay mindful as you endure the process that Laura has nothing to do with the Department of Immigration’s policies or operations. Her only task is to get you your resident status regardless of the obstacles. Follow her expert lead and stay cool! 

Laura’s website was the first I vetted. But I then moved on to another site because they had an office in the U.S. and Costa Rica. I contacted that site first, and when I got no reply after several days, I contacted Laura. She responded within hours.

After a brief back-and-forth questioning, we determined I was a good fit for her services. She soon had me on my way with clear, concise instructions to follow in preparation for the submission of my residency application. Three months later, I had obtained all the required documents for Laura to submit along with a perfectly prepared application. I found her a delight to work with, and very supportive and encouraging through some very serious personal challenges along the way. I received my first DIMEX (residency card) in November of 2021, and two years later, I completed my renewal with Laura’s help.

Given my experience, there is only one person you need to contact when you are ready to make your application.

I completed my residency process with Laura Gutierrez, and I can’t speak highly enough about her competence and the level of service she provided me. Since I am Canadian, she was recommended because she has lived in Canada and speaks English fluently. Until January of 2024, the process for Canadians was much more complicated than for Americans. So, all the more reason to choose her. I am very grateful that I did. Residency is her expertise, and it is all she does, unlike a lawyer who deals with many other things.

I don’t do all that well with bureaucracy. As a result, I am sure I was one of her more “trying” clients, needing extra assistance every step of the way. But she showed me infinite patience and led me through it all with added encouragement. I could never have done this on my own. I would recommend Laura to anyone, any time.

Thank you, Laura

My husband and I have owned property in Costa Rica for several years and have wanted to become Costa Rica residents. We talked to several lawyers along the way about residency and also spoke with Ex-pats that were in the process of residency. 

The lawyers we talked to did not seem well versed in the residency process, and the Ex-pats we spoke to have been waiting years to achieve residency and, as of this writing, are still waiting.

We were very fortunate to have found Laura Gutierrez, a Residency Specialist. In other words, Residency and Citizenship are all she does. She is organized, expedient, and transparent regarding the entire Residency adventure. She clearly outlined the process for us and gave us a checklist with exact and understandable instructions that we completed within a matter of months.

Laura submitted our applications in February of 2023. On November 27, 2023 (nine months later), we were holding our DIMEX cards in hand.

Meeting Laura was a pleasure; we would have been lost without her precise guidance. We are so grateful to have found her. We highly recommend Laura to anyone applying for Residency in Costa Rica. She’s the best.

Laura demonstrated professionalism and friendliness throughout the entire process, from start to finish. We efficiently completed the entire procedure within a short timeframe without encountering any issues.

I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to collaborate with Laura on this journey. She ensured a seamless and enjoyable experience.

I highly recommend her services to anyone in need of assistance with the residency process, as her expertise is evident.

Thank you immensely, Laura, for your outstanding support.

After only nine months, I received my cedula and am now a legal resident of Costa Rica. I am deeply honored and proud to be part of this incredible and welcoming country.

This would not have been possible without Laura Gutierrez. She is an absolute force of nature. I do not have enough superlatives in my vocabulary to describe how wonderful it was to work with her. I only had to meet with her once in San Jose. All other transactions and communication were via e-mail or telephone.  She made everything easy and efficient. I would not hesitate for one second to recommend her to anyone seeking residency in Costa Rica.