Comment about last entry into USA about CBP

[Tradewind 6]

My wife got hammered with question by the first CBP agent we entered the USA last week about why she had not filed for CR-1 and why she was on a tourist visa. Then we got sent to the back room and eventually got a nice apology from the back room agent. He was professional about it.

Its very simple. We really intended to live our lives in Panama and not immigrate so when we got married that is all we needed. I was established their with my pensionado residency visa. Some people don't seem to understand that we have a condo in Panama and its a real nice place to live overall for most. Not everyone wants to live in the USA. I have been living there in Panama for 6-8 years and when we married did not intend to move to USA. My wife was happy to gain her residency in Panama and live in Panama. It was my idea to move back due to various reasons, one being that my Medicare is starting soon and health insurance in Panama is expensive for us. Health care is everything in your golden years. Of course I do not admit I am getting old, I finally came to the realization I am not going to live forever. When I was young thats what I thought.

Edited July 7, 2013 by Tradewind

[Cathi 5,771]

OK, but did she enter the US with a tourist visa with the intent to immigrate and adjust status after arriving in the US? Or is she here truly just visiting? It is the CBP officer's job to make sure that she doesn't enter and try to adjust status and stay in the US on that tourist visa. The legal way for you to do it, if it is her intent to stay and adjust status was to file an I-130 for CR1 visa, before arriving. Entering on a tourist visa with the intent to adjust status and remain in the country is fraud, and carries a lifetime ban with no appeal.

[Tradewind 6]

It was our intent to enter the USA to go camping as tourists. My wife just finished a 2-3 year process of gaining residency in Panama costing several thousand dollars for attorney and fees. In Panama you have to use an attorney for immigration. No choice

She has a return ticket and I showed a copy of it to the 2nd agent at CBP. Under no circumstances do we intend to live in the USA with a tourist visa. It is for visiting and we know the law and do not intend to break it. We are not living in the USA, just visiting the National Park system. It was my idea to file for the visa and I just decided to do that after we entered. I guess I have what called Jungle fever and I miss the USA. Our plans have always been to live out of the USA because I own a condo and am established in Panama for years with a pensionado visa residency since around 2005. If she would have intended to immigrate we would have done it shortly before or after marriage instead of a tourist visa. When we filed for the tourist visa we had no thoughts or desire to live in the USA. Now that I am receiving my Medicare in September, I feel we should live here. Never thought about Medicare until recently and how living in a foreign country would affect my health care.

Honestly I think my wife would just as soon live in Panama.

Edited July 7, 2013 by Tradewind

[Tradewind 6]

We are going back to Panama in the near future and the interviews will be done there at the embassy. Panama is our home for the time being.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Well at least they figured it out and you got an apology. Have a nice time.

[Boiler 45,672]

How does she get Insurance in the US?

[Tradewind 6]

She doesn't until she has her green card, Am I confusing people on this web. We are applying for cr-1 visa or direct consular filing... how did I give the impression she could get residency without insurance? Am I doing something wrong with my communications. Or are people reading what they want into my posts. Sorry I am just over reacting

Edited July 8, 2013 by Tradewind

[Boiler 45,672]

You said Insurance cost was a big issue.

[Tradewind 6]

You said Insurance cost was a big issue.

Insurance cost in Panama is the issue. The semi-affordable insurance has a $5,000 deductible. You pay the insurance for 6 month at a time. You can only buy the insurance up to a certain age and it get progressively more expensive each year.

I had the insurance for one year. It covered me but I need more treatment in the next policy year. So if I was to get treatment for the on going injury that happened in the previous policy year, I would have to renew the policy $4,000 and first pay the deductible..$5,000. This is an ongoing injury treatment. I canceled. My medicare is coming up so I will rely on that in America.

[Boiler 45,672]

And for for your wife?

[Penguin_ie 5,994]

The issue with your first post is that you mentioned wanting to be in the US for medicaid, so people took from what you decided to stay now.

The issue with health insurance for your wife is that she will not be elligible for 5 years even as a greencard holder, and may not be elligible at all if she does not pay into the system for ten years, or buy into it.

[Tradewind 6]

Wow, I did not know that. Thanks for the info.. ouch. I guess I an buy her an international policy then. Thats why I joined here to get educated. Again thanks

[Boiler 45,672]

Wow, I did not know that. Thanks for the info.. ouch. I guess I an buy her an international policy then. Thats why I joined here to get educated. Again thanks

I thought you said she was moving to the US, Panama will look cheap.

[Tradewind 6]

I need insurance for my wife. I thought I could buy her one out of the Obama plan. It seems unfair that she can't get the insurance. What about the 13,000,000 illegals in this country. They can't buy insurance here? Wow

[Tradewind 6]

She is moving to the USA once she gets approved. The policy I am referring to is a Bupa Company insurance. I think I can get her one of the international plan when she is here but I have to research it. Another agent has quoted a USA company for her. I have the quotes. I am sure I told them she was Colombiana. Once she is a resident here then we can get what we need. obviously I need to research all this more.. I have to get her insurance.