6 Big Pluses for Foreign Retirement

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My wife and I are from Norway, she's retired while I'm still working. Been in the US (I work on a rotation schedule) for nearly one year, spending nearly all our money to have fun. Well, as a B2 Visa holder, we can't stay any longer, so now we're relocating to another country where we can stay as long as we want, continue spending more money :-) I have a problem understanding why the US do not have retirement visa..... They're loosing money, and will continue loosing money. If we could stay in the US, we would have bought a house, so would other people we know. The lack of this kind of visa stops many people to invest in property which would have increased the income for a lot of countys and states. In the area we're currently located, there is no real estate activity, just a few houses changed owner last year. Well, you have elections now and then, and decide yourself who's gonna make the laws. Panama, here we come :-) And I know we're welvome to spend our money there, as long as we want, and Panama MAKES us want to come there :-)

Lars of FL 2:35PM January 11, 2011

I am 50 and planning to retire at 65. My wife is Filipino and we want to retire in a nice warm climate, near the ocean with lots of good fishing and a low cost of living.
I served in the Air Force for 23 years and earned a pension from that, plus I will be vested in my current companies pension plan in Dec.. That along with my 401k and the possibility I MIGHT get Social insecurity should make for a nice comfortable retirement near my wifes family.
We are going to the Philippines in April to look for property where we can build our retirement home.

Carl of WA 1:42PM October 12, 2010

To Be Real of AR:
Wherever you go, there you are. You can go to the ends of the earth, but your negativity will follow. My guess is: you aren't heading to Kenya or Indonesia to spend your golden years with Muslims (who respect their elders).
I'm glad the USA of the 1950's is long gone. Were you one of those angry people shouting at the brave Black kids trying to go to school in Little Rock? That's what you sound like. And that attitude doesn't travel well. Not even inside these 50 states.

TJ of CA 5:10AM October 11, 2010

You who criticize and say expats should stay and spend there retirement money in U.S., fine if that is what you want to do, I don't bedrudge you a bit! just show the same respect and courtesy to those who beleieve differently!
Stay here and spend on Obama care, taxes beyond savings, more than double cost of living etc........
My family dates hundreds of years in this Country and I am a proud American!
But now you have seen fit to elect a Kenyan whose father was muslim and whose stepfather was muslim where he crew up in Indonesian muslim temples or mosks until he was 10!
The Country I grew up in in the 50's is long gone!
Look in the mirror and you might see the real ugly American!!!!
I intend to live my retirement years in a country where people openly smile and respect there elders! This country here shows less and less respect to elders!
Open your eyes naive one!

be real of AR 2:09PM October 07, 2010

I can spot a new American gringo anywhere in the crowd here in Mexico. They still carry that stressful depressed look on thier face. He/She will change that face very soon if they came here to live. I left my gringo ways 3 years ago and very happy here. Doctors are wonderful and seem to be more caring here.

Steven972 8:46AM October 07, 2010

I begrudge no one who wants to retire elsewhere. It is their right to do so if they wish. if it makes their life better then why not. Your retirement money isn't going to boost this economy and will go further elsewhere. Some people need a lot of expensive meds etc. There are reasons people leave. And not because they don't love the USA! (If you lived in the state of NY you'd run!

Blondie of NY 3:51PM October 05, 2010

Hey, Teresa, I've been to about fifteen different countries, not Disneyworld anyone of them! Do you really think that you will EVER be accepted in other places, except for your money? I've met and talked to ex-pats, and the majority of them are selfish, foolish middle class Ugly Americans. At least spend your retirement dollars in your own country.....

ChristmasTree of NY 5:26PM September 30, 2010

Christmas Tree...you are the reason people are leaving, your mentality. You are obviously not open-minded. Aging Americans will continue to seek better lifestyles abroad due to the fact that our money doesn't go very far here. What are you, xenophobic? Last I looked, planes are still flying in the sky and we have the internet to talk to family and friends. I know more and more people doing this...are they all boring? No, they seems very happy with their choice.

Teresa in LV of NV 3:34PM September 30, 2010

Sure, you can live in some Third World country, drink cheap beer, and bore everyone within five miles with your past life. But what are you doing, except waiting to die. Meanwhile, your savings aren't being spent in the USA, family members are born, die, get married, and you sit in your rattan chair waiting for the next terrorist coup, when you will run, not walk to the nearest US Embassy and demand to be flown home. Get a life here, and stop glamorizing this foolish dream. Heck, even buying an RV beats surrendering your identity. Bad article.PS. Maybe you should leave this country.

ChristmasTree of NY 10:55AM September 30, 2010

Having lived in the very middle of Mexico since April 25, 1995, without ever returning to the USA, I can vouch for the truth of the above article. Everything has gotten better during those years (at least on the subject of the 6 reasons) although I have to admit that too many gringos living here is getting to be a disadvantage to me, personally, since they are bringing the gringo-ways that I thought I'd left behind.

Michael P. Wein of NY 10:33AM September 29, 2010