Help from any Canadians………

Submitted by salvadorel on 7 June, 2007 - 10:07.

in Nicaragua that are in the process of applying for or have received Nicaraguan residency. I have been doing a lot of research on the topic and have been receiving conflicting information on having the necessary documents authenticated by the Nicaraguan embassy in Washington prior to leaving Canada or just having the Canadian embassy in Managua complete the final authentication’s before submitting the residency application. It appears some people have been able to skip having to send their documents to Washington only to have them done by the Canadian embassy in Managua.

Would anyone like to share their experience?

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Not Canadian but ...

Submitted by fyl on 7 June, 2007 - 10:49.

You are likely receiving conflicting information because the answer will vary from day to day. Frustrating but true.

Here are a couple of my experiences related to the immigration process:

  • A year ago, the Costa Rican embassy in Managua authenticated my police report from Costa Rica. This year they said "we can't do that".
  • I was told by Immigration in Managua that I absolutely must have a more recent police report than a year old one from a place I haven't been in over five years.
  • When my local lawyer in Estelí asked the local immigration office about the same paperwork, they told him I must have a health certificate from Costa Rica (something I never had because it was not required for Costa Rican residency) because I didn't have residency there for at least three years.
  • Frustrated, the local lawyer took this same paperwork to Immigration in Managua (that is, the same paperwork that was previously rejected in Managua) and it was accepted.

So, my two suggestions are:

  1. When in doubt, try again.
  2. Get a lawyer who does lots of work with Immigration here to do the footwork for you. See http://www.nicaliving.com/node/341 for a bit of information. The law firm (Barrios & Asociados) that supplied the information was very helpful and, from what I am told, is one that really knows what will work.

Follow the rules

Submitted by nicareal on 7 June, 2007 - 11:21.

The official requirement states that documents must be authenticated in the country of issuance by the proper authority of that country. In Canada it is generally the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ottawa. Depending on where you reside, you can do this in person or by mail. If Ottawa is within driving distance, I'd suggest to do it in person. Be sure to make an appointment and be on time. The entertainment value of watching the "Official" stamp your documents is priceless. The whole process takes less than 10 min. and after seeing this person "work" you will never want to work in an office again.

The authenticated documents then are to be inspected and certified by the Nicaraguan Embassy. Since Nicaragua does not have an Embassy in Canada this has to be done in the USA.

If for example, you are born in Europe, your birth certificate will have to be authenticated in your country of birth and certified by the closest Nicaraguan Emabassy there.

From our experience, my own and that of my firm helping clients, if one follows the rules, the process of obtaining residency is not a difficult one.

We found the Nicaraguan Embassy in the USA to be extremely helpful and cooperative. The even went as far as forwarding the certified documents directly to us so that we could proceed as quickly as possible.

My advise is: Don't try to cut corners and simply follow the rules. The money and time spent in sending your documents to the USA generally pays off many fold. The most noticeable payoff is the trouble free issuance of the residency.

Thank you for the

Submitted by salvadorel on 7 June, 2007 - 11:43.

Thank you for the information. Did you submit the documents to the Nicaragua embassy in Washington while you were living in Canada or have them sent from Nicaragua?

use the Nica embassy in Canada

Submitted by arlington on 7 June, 2007 - 14:00.

use the Nica embassy in Canada - Susan Grigsby de Fonseca - 613-234-9361

Mrs. Susan Grigsby de

Submitted by salvadorel on 8 June, 2007 - 07:41.

Mrs. Susan Grigsby de Fonseca the foreign representation in Canada passed away on March 30, so at this time it appears all Canadians must go through Washington.

I'm sorry to hear that.

Submitted by arlington on 8 June, 2007 - 08:21.

I'm sorry to hear that. I'm surprised it's an office of one though. You'd think they might make another appointment to the post.

Both situations have applied

Submitted by nicareal on 7 June, 2007 - 12:09.

at various cases.

I sent my documents from Canada.

We sent clients documents from here to Canada. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent them to our office in Toronto. Then the documents were sent to the USA. The Nicaraguan Embassy in the USA sent them to our office in Nicaragua. If you are already in Nicaragua I would suggest to still follow "the rules". It's just one less reason for increased attention to your paperwork. Keep it simple. Keep it standard.