IHT - Case for retirement visa in United States may gain new traction
International Herald Tribune
Case for retirement visa in United States may gain new traction
Nov 26 2008 10:05 am
Posted by Kevin Brass in News, General
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 of Realtors.
However, it’s been difficult to gain traction for the concept in the midst of the emotional and often acrimonious debate over immigration in the U.S. No one was eager to jump on a concept that would encourage immigration, even though, by definition, pensioners would be unlikely to pose a national security risk.
But times have changed, in many ways. The financial crisis may change the tenor of the debate.
“This is not an immigration proposal; it’s an economic proposal,” Macaluso said.
A recent study commissioned by NAR found 7.5 percent of foreign citizens polled expressed an interest in retiring in the U.S.—an unassuming number that could translate to millions of potential buyers, Macaluso says. That could provide a much-needed boost for markets like Florida, California and Colorado.
“If this was in place by now, a lot of inventory would be absorbed and prices would be strengthened because we would have an active market,” Macaluso said.
Macaluso senses a new enthusiasm for crafting legislation for Congress to consider, something that hasn’t happened yet. With other issues higher on the agenda, the NAR has been slow to move on the measure, but he believes the Florida group will find a legislator willing to carry the measure.
“A lot of members [in Florida] are impatient,” Macaluso said.
Case for retirement visa in United States may gain new traction
Nov 26 2008 10:05 am
Posted by Kevin Brass in News, General
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 of Realtors.
However, it’s been difficult to gain traction for the concept in the midst of the emotional and often acrimonious debate over immigration in the U.S. No one was eager to jump on a concept that would encourage immigration, even though, by definition, pensioners would be unlikely to pose a national security risk.
But times have changed, in many ways. The financial crisis may change the tenor of the debate.
“This is not an immigration proposal; it’s an economic proposal,” Macaluso said.
A recent study commissioned by NAR found 7.5 percent of foreign citizens polled expressed an interest in retiring in the U.S.—an unassuming number that could translate to millions of potential buyers, Macaluso says. That could provide a much-needed boost for markets like Florida, California and Colorado.
“If this was in place by now, a lot of inventory would be absorbed and prices would be strengthened because we would have an active market,” Macaluso said.
Macaluso senses a new enthusiasm for crafting legislation for Congress to consider, something that hasn’t happened yet. With other issues higher on the agenda, the NAR has been slow to move on the measure, but he believes the Florida group will find a legislator willing to carry the measure.
“A lot of members [in Florida] are impatient,” Macaluso said.
posted by Consul-At-Arms at 12:27 AM
5 Comments:
My question would be who will pay for their medical treatment? Few people have health insurance that will transfer between states, much less so from some foreign country to the U.S. A pension isn't much good if they don't have sufficient money to pay medical expenses and then they sign up for medicaid and medicare that they've never paid into and never will.
Though several neighboring countries such as Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, etc. provide excellent opportunities to retired professionals from other countries, the US does not seem to offer such thing. Moreover, a new hope is being sought as the country is willing to offer Silver Card which are in fact Retirement Visa Card for foreigners wherein they would be able to buy properties in the USA and stay in the country after their retirement.
Very informative post thanks for sharing.
The ability of this post makes the reality that they need to provide some information that they want to gathered.
Though several neighboring countries such as Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, etc. provide excellent opportunities to retired professionals from other countries.
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