| Author | Message | ||
     New member Username: Tony_sin20 Post Number: 1 Registered: 1-2007 |
Hi there I am planning to move to Argentina with my wife in a couple of years. She is originally from Argentina and I am from another country. I got out of the military last year. I would like to hear opinions or points of view from expatriates that are already living my dream. How does the school system work for foreigners in Argentina? God Bless. Note: this message has been partially edited by the administrator of the forum due to a personal request. (Message edited by admin on August 28, 2009) | ||
| Roberto Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 964 Registered: 12-2004 |
CJ, welcome! I am not an expat but can say this. For both of you, $1300 should suffice and cover you decently. Specially if you plan on living in Cordoba with no rental outflows. But as you guessed, things can take a turn or your situation may change (children) making those funds not enough by the time you land here. I am not familiar with the University of Cordoba but public education in Argentina is free, or close to being free when not counting expenses such as books, etc. If you have such long term plans, then it might be better to acquire citizenship or resident status for more straightforward access to education. Can military personnel have double citizenship or will that make you lose your ex-combat priviledges? There is a member here who I believe has experience as a military too (I think). Look for Tom Woods. | ||
| Tom Advanced Member Username: Diverdown48 Post Number: 314 Registered: 6-2006  |
I talked to an Argentine immigrations officer, the head of the Bahia Blanca office. He told me that Argentina was not concerned about US citizens retaining their US citizenship unlike some other nations that did not allow it. If you are able to get citizenship in Argentina you would still be a US citizen. You must specifically renounce your US citizenship to lose it. Obtaining citizenship in a forieign country alone is not enough. I do not think the medical services form the VA or Medicare will be available in Argentina. I know that cash benefits are paid. Maybe some others can give us more information. | ||
| Arial Junior Member Username: Arial Post Number: 42 Registered: 10-2006 |
Tom, you are correct as far as US citizenship is concerned. As I understand it, even if the government informs the US that you have given up US citizenship, unless you follow the exact rules, appear in person and renounce it yourself, they will pay no attention. I am not sure about VA but Medicare definitely does not pay anything in Argentina. But I think Argentina is affordable. I don't have personal experience in Argentina. However, during a visit in Santiago, Chile, I underwent emergency treatment after an accident. I was taken to the emergency room, spent a couple hours there while they waited for a plastic surgeon to come from home (it was Sunday) and in the meantime saw two doctors, then spent about two hours in the operating room with the surgeon and assistant, and a follow-up visit and removal of stitches. The only thing that didn't compare perfectly with the US was the price. The total bill was $600. At the time that would have been a two month premium for my health insurance in the US. The entire experience was 100% satisfactory. Does anyone know how Argentina compares to that? Arial | ||
| Riyad Anabtawi Intermediate Member Username: Riyada Post Number: 140 Registered: 12-2005 |
Sorry to butt in.. But I recommend to the people that post comments here to do it with a relevant `Subject´ matter, this way any one browsing can find what they are looking for easier and faster. Cheers all Riyad | ||
| Roberto Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 966 Registered: 12-2004 |
If your wife is returning to Argentina with a 'change-of-address' on her DNI, perhaps she can bring back a lot (including cars) without having to pay taxes. Laura (movingtoargentina), from this forum, said a while back she had a wonderful coverage for less than that. Riyad, thanks. (Message edited by admin on January 23, 2007) | ||
| Roberto Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 967 Registered: 12-2004 |
Correct. Changing it back to the address in Argentina, where she still is considered a citizen. They will not give her any papers. They will just change the address on her DNI at the LA office. The dual citizenship question will be best answered by a lawyer. Problem starts when you consider which one... an argentine, an american one? Then, the question deepens when you learn that there was a double citizenship agreement up until 1981 between both countries meaning that anyone acquiring the second citizenship after this date does not fall within the agreement. And noone seems to understand what the agreement entails. My take is that post-agreement double citizens are considered natives in each country. So nationalized american citizens like your wife, who live in Argentina, are considered argentines by local authorities, not americans. And must abide argentine law. But for tax purposes, she will still be seen as an american by the american gov. And other matters perhaps. The whole thing can be utterly complex or radically simple if you and her do nothing, as nobody seems to know what should be done  (if this makes any sense to you). But briefly, if your wife changes her residence to Argentina and she requests a change of address at the LA consulate, she has all the benefits of the expats who return. Beware of the paperwork. | ||
| Tom Advanced Member Username: Diverdown48 Post Number: 317 Registered: 6-2006 |
I have had the opportunity to actually sit in on an operation in a small town in southern Buenos Aires province. A surgeon friend invited me in to watch a gall stone operation. I had to do the washing hands thing and don the mask, shoe covers, scrubs, the whole nine yards as did all the medical people who went into the operating room. I was given a seat just a couple of feet from the table and watched the procedure on the tv monitor. He made a tiny incision and inserted the little camera and we were able to see the inside of the lady. The operation took a couple of hours but he finally scraped the area clean. It was very interesting. A funny thing. the attending physician took his mask off during the operation and was cracking jokes which caused me to later question my friend, the surgeon actually doing the operation about this steril breach. He explained that the regular doctors were not as cautious as the surgeons and often did that. He was reluctant to call him on it because he might lose the Doctors referrals. An interesting side note, my surgeon friend was captured by the British in the Falklands/Malvineas war and was put to work by them operating on wounded Argentine as well as British soldiers. The Hypocratic oath knows no boundries. | ||
| Sam W. Davis New member Username: Samwdavis Post Number: 12 Registered: 8-2006 |
CJ, I came from the U.S. to Cordoba in October 2006 and my wife is a native Argentine. We brought absolutely all household goods with us duty-free except major appliances because of the voltage differences and our cars. Trust me, leave the car(s). Even if you're coming with an Argentine citizen, the import duty on vehicles is (at least was in October of last year) 78% of (the vehicle's value + freight + insurance). The bad news to follow up on that is that the purchase price of vehicles in Argentina is much higher than in the U.S. We bought a 6 year old vehicle with close to 100,000 kilometers and paid A$R 33,000, and I think we got a pretty good deal after spending about a month looking for the best deal. One final note: Don't get overly excited when you see "interest free" deals on vehicles, or anything else here for that matter. I doesn't mean the same thing in Argentina that it means in the U.S. Interest free does not mean finance-free. They usually pile up "administration" fees, etc., and just call it something different than interest. |
