Posted on 11/26/2008 5:06:13 AM PST by wgflyer
Estate agents in the United States hope a new administration in Washington D.C. will kick start talks for a retirement visa, the so-called “silver card” which would allow foreigners to easily retire in the U.S.
“I’m encouraged,” said Tony Macaluso, the Florida-based agent championing the visa.
The retirement visa is one of those ideas that’s so simple and makes so much sense it’s amazing that it’s never been adopted. While countries like Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico and Belize present a variety of programs to encourage international pensioners to buy homes, the U.S. offers no simple path for a foreign citizen to retire in places like Florida and California.
Although details still need to be hashed out, a retirement visa would allow foreign citizens of a certain age with a steady pension fund income and a few other verifiable requirements to retire in the U.S. without a hassle.
“There are a lot of people around the world who would love to enjoy their golden years in the U.S. and we don’t have a way for them to do it,” said Macaluso, who served as the 2008 international operations chairman for the National Association of Realtors and now fills a similar role with the Florida Association Realtors.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.iht.com ...
As they are dismantling the free market before our eyes, Obama will also dismantle our heritage ad culture.
It has been their intent from the get go.
Totalization, by any other term still rapes the US taxpayer, of all the absurd notions “many people want to retire in the US but just can’t”.
AFAIK, the Million Dollar Visa is still in effect...they want to shoehorn in Mexican Nationals who worked in the US for 5 years and grant them Social Security, make no mistake about it.
Well, I would imagine this only to make sense if the old people would have to pay for their own retirement and health care completely. I guess then many from my country, if they can bring their pension funds with them and get at least some state support from my home country in healt care, would come into the sun and cheaper living.
I wonder where these people will come from. Who will have adequate retirement income to live in the U.S.? Especially with no government health care (and speaking as a person with first-hand experience with the Canadian system, I hope it stays that way in the U.S.).
People retire in Mexico because it costs little, comparatively, to live there. So who would have loads of disposable cash, willing to leave socialized health care?
I’m asking because I have my suspicions, but I’d like to know what others think.
Nail, meet hammer.....
This was my thought also.
The USA is too expensive for foreigners to retire here.
Just what we need, more seniors on the entitlement programs so we can break our backs even faster.
“So who would have loads of disposable cash, willing to leave socialized health care?”
One thought comes to mind...all the money that is about to be thrown around by international bailouts and other government spending to combat economic troubles brought on mostly by government, is going to wind up in the pockets of corrupt government officials and their cronies all over the world. There’ll be a lot of good times out there for a select few...and they’ll have the dough to live comfortably here, especially during a depression. But bear in mind that while we think things are expensive here, many europeans think it’s cheap. And if B.O. nationalizes health care, what worries will they have?
“Well, I would imagine this only to make sense if the old people would have to pay for their own retirement and health care completely.”
Yes, they do. This plan is very successful here in Panama.
There are great doctors and hospitals with the latest care.
All retirees get special rates on various things such as restaurants (not to include adult beverages), medicines, and many other things.
Also, no tax on one’s retirement income or any other income.
Etc., etc., etc.
I know a few brits who would love to retire here in the states. They’ll have pensions and enough to buy homes.
The health care issue would need to be resolved.
I’m asking because I have my suspicions, but I’d like to know what others think
Sounds like a scam - only poor immigrants will want to “retire” in the USA.
I see things working in exactly the other way. Increasing Gov’t take-over of US health care is going to encourage more medical tourism to cheaper countries with first-rate medical facilities for those who can pay (such as Thailand or India). Higher taxes, inflation, and any further taxes (not to mention nationalization!) of retirement assets will encourage any retirees with money to move someplace that will not penalize their assets.
That is quite an interesting way to increase domestic demand. And you use dollar I understand, right?
How about security and english usage and things like that?
Best wishes, from a similar free market oriented small country.
Sorry for the late reply. I had to leave for a while.
“That is quite an interesting way to increase domestic demand. And you use dollar I understand, right?”
Yes, Panama uses the dollar, and the retirees are great for the economy. After all, they spend their paychecks here.
“How about security and english usage and things like that?”
English is quickly becoming Panama’s second language.
Security is like any other place. One always has to be careful and know where not to go. If I am going shopping, I dress down. I wear an $11.45 watch.
I do the same in the U.S.
“Best wishes, from a similar free market oriented small country.”
My best wishes to you also.
By the way, we are getting lots of Europeans here in Panama too.
You would not have to go that far. Here in Iceland, with the devaluation of our currency and the free market liberalization of our health system along supply side lines, you can get state of the art, highly educated medical service quite cheaply. We are situated in 8 hour flight from Florida and its old people ;)
It is becoming easier now when the government has split the government run part of the health care into service provider and service buyers, so the providers work like a private enterprize having to charge according to cost estimates to the service buying government agency for all work. And they have to compete with the substantial and increasing private health providers that also sell their service to the government.
And patients here are cost conscious as they always have to pay for a portion of the service, at least up to a point.
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