Episode Summary
Johnny Mueller, host of The Expat Files, discusses the medical care situation in Latin America, addressing common concerns from expats and gringos about the quality and cost of healthcare. He highlights the availability of first-world-style private hospitals and clinics, often underutilized by the local population due to free public healthcare. Johnny emphasizes the affordability of medical insurance and the generally good experience expats can have with the healthcare system, despite the common perception of Latin America as the 'third world.'
Johnny also discusses the accessibility and affordability of private health insurance for expats in Latin America. He highlights that only 1-2% of Latin Americans have private medical health insurance, and insurance companies often partner with banks to target middle-class and wealthier individuals who have bank accounts. Expats are advised to open a bank account and sign up for insurance immediately, as the process is quick and requires no physical exams or pre-existing condition clauses for six months. Johnny shares a personal anecdote about an expat who used his insurance for the first time during an emergency, describing the extensive medical procedures and the total cost of $950, which he compares to significantly higher costs in the U.S.
Johnny further discusses the cost of emergency room visits in Latin America compared to the United States, highlighting the significant price difference. He mentions that the average cost in Latin America is between $6,500 and $8,000, while a similar visit in the U.S. would cost about seven times more. He also talks about the affordability of insurance plans in Latin America, noting that a basic plan can be signed up for instantly at a bank with a small deposit, and that the insurance coverage can significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs. Johnny warns about the potential pitfalls of these insurance plans, such as the risk of being cut off due to low account balances and the importance of using a lawyer's address for mail to ensure timely communication.
In this segment, Johnny Mueller discusses the common misconceptions expats have about healthcare in Latin America. He highlights that many expats believe hospitals in Latin America are subpar, similar to those in Chicago, New York, and Cleveland. He also notes that expats often think they get what they pay for, and that paying a fraction of the cost in Latin America compared to the U.S. might indicate poor quality. Additionally, he emphasizes that expats are skeptical about the ease of obtaining health insurance through a bank account without physical exams or pre-existing condition exclusions. Johnny encourages listeners to attend his expat wisdom seminar for accurate information and warns against seminars held in luxury hotels that lack authentic on-the-ground experience.
The segment also discusses the story of Carlos Slim, a wealthy Mexican businessman, whose parents originally wanted to immigrate to the U.S. but were unable to due to visa issues. Instead, they settled in Mexico, where they eventually had a son who became a successful entrepreneur, owning hotel chains, mining companies, and eventually the largest cell phone company in Latin America. The segment also highlights the importance of changing names to blend in, using the example of Carlos Slim's father, who changed his name from Kalil Salim Hadad Algamaz to Julian Slim. Johnny Mueller comments on the ease of name changes in Latin America and how it can help individuals avoid scrutiny, especially in comparison to the U.S. where such changes are more difficult and may draw attention.
Johnny Mueller also discusses the legal recognition of name changes and marital status in Latin America, emphasizing that these are legally valid in the country where they occur, but not necessarily recognized in the United States. He also touches on the issue of people from other Third World nations attempting to enter Latin America, often getting caught at airports due to document errors. He highlights the difficulty of obtaining visas for Middle Easterners, noting that most do not enter legally and that countries like Argentina require formal visa applications from Middle Eastern countries.
Finally, the segment discusses the detailed and stringent requirements for obtaining a visa to Argentina, including the need for evidence of funds, a full itinerary, round-trip flight tickets, and an in-person interview with a consular officer. It also highlights the additional documents required, such as original flight tickets, employment letters, and business registration documents for self-employed individuals. Johnny Mueller comments on the complexity of these requirements, referencing a journalist's frustration and a friend's experience with Arab business partners who prefer cash transactions over credit cards.
Topics
Medical care in Latin America, Expats and gringos' experiences, Private vs. public healthcare systems, Affordability of medical insurance, Language barriers in healthcare, Health insurance for expats in Latin America, Private health insurance accessibility, Cost comparison between Latin America and the U.S., Healthcare costs in Latin America, Insurance plans in Latin America, Expatriate experiences in Latin America, Comparison of healthcare systems
Chapters
00:00:00 Opening 00:01:07 The Common Concerns of Expats About Medical Care in Latin America 00:02:02 The Affordability and Quality of Medical Care in Latin America 00:02:51 The Experience of Visiting Private Hospitals in Latin America 00:05:18 The Target Audience for Private Health Insurance in Latin America 00:06:39 The Benefits of Private Health Insurance for Expats 00:09:40 Cost Breakdown of an Emergency Room Visit in Latin America 00:10:28 Cost Comparison of Emergency Room Visits in Latin America and the U.S. 00:11:04 The Real Stunner: Affordable Insurance in Latin America 00:12:19 The Importance of Reliable Mail for Expats in Latin America 00:13:16 Johnny's Friend's Experience with Low Out-of-Pocket Costs 00:13:54 Encouragement for Expats to Experience Healthcare in Latin America 00:15:30 Expats' Misconceptions About Hospitals in Latin America 00:16:08 Announcing the Expat Wisdom Seminar 00:17:24 Anecdote About an Expat's Heart Issue and Insurance 00:18:25 Discussion on Fake Passports and Immigration Patterns 00:19:40 Carlos Slim's Parents' Immigration Struggles 00:19:50 Carlos Slim's Business Success 00:20:18 Name Changes in Latin America 00:23:11 Legal Recognition of Name Changes in Latin America 00:23:57 Third World Nationals Entering Latin America 00:25:07 Visa Requirements for Middle Easterners in Latin America 00:25:49 Introduction to Visa Requirements 00:26:18 Additional Documentation and Interview Process 00:27:02 Comments on Visa Complexity and Cultural Practices
Transcript
Automatically transcribed from the original recording; names and wording may contain errors.
[00:14] Hello there all you expat wannabes, I'm Johnny Mueller and you're listening to the Expat Files, living in Latin America. The show that tells you just what it's like to live, work, play and or retire down here in Latin America. It's a mix of the good, the bad, the ugly and the great and it's all right here so let's get started. Now today before I finish off what I was talking about last week, which was the topic of Arabs and Muslims and Middle Easterners living and traveling through Latin America. Before we finish off on that, I like to talk about one of those great stories that can only happen here in Latin America and for gringos and expats it's all good news, in fact it's great. I know occasionally I get bogged down in the bad and the ugly but this time it's not only good news, it's great. And this is one of those situations where expats and gringos agree unanimously that it could
[01:03] just never happen up in the first world, those days are long gone. Okay then, let me preface this by saying, of all the emails and questions I get, I guess at the top of the list or near the top of the list all the time are questions about getting medical care down here in Latin America. First world style that is. Because a good number of people do email saying, I really love to come down to Latin America, I'm sick of it up in the States and they list their reasons and everything, they got a million of them. Then after they say that I hear this a lot too. Now Johnny, understand, you know I'm over 50 no spring chicken and if something happens to me and I have to go to the hospital or the emergency room or I need an ambulance, what happens if I have to see a specialist or need some kind of advanced treatment in
[01:49] a hurry or perhaps a newly released medicine. So Johnny, those are my big concerns. I mean it is Latin America, they don't call it the third world for nothing. So then those are the kind of emails I get on occasion. Now the fact is I could talk till I'm blue in the face about the quality, availability and the absolutely rock bottom prices on medical care down here. And I could talk all day long, believe me, about how inexpensive and great the medical insurance plans are down here too. And I can mention that if you don't have insurance it doesn't matter because you'll only be paying about 20% of first world rates, sometimes even less. But the real impact comes and it really hits home when a gringo or expat actually has
[02:34] to use the medical system down here. That's when the so called rubber hits the road, right? The truth of how it really is. Now when people come down to my expat wisdom seminars, when I start delving into the medical and health care portion, it's no small thing so it takes a couple of hours to cover and lecture. Then following that morning lecture, we all go over to a very first world style hospital. A private hospital, the kind of hospital, gringos and expats like you will be using. And remember every town in Latin America is going to have a clinic or two like that and every medium and large sized city will have dozens of first world style hospitals and clinics. The fact is when we do our boots on the ground and we go through these places, until they actually see it for themselves, attendees just can't believe first rate hospitals and clinics
[03:21] like that can actually exist down in the third world. And that they're never crowded. In fact, most of the times when we visit these places, there are only one or two people sitting in the emergency room. In fact, there have been times when there have been no people at all in the emergency room. Zero. And it's such an odd sight really. But I know, I know, seeing as believing so you'll have to come down to my expat wisdom seminar to see it for yourself. In fact, a big part of my health care portion is boots on the ground at those hospitals and clinics. Anyway, after I lay all that health care stuff out in the morning session, I tell people that in every medium to large sized Latin American city, you can hook up with any number of insurance companies that'll set you up with health care insurance too, as well
[04:10] as car and homeowners insurance, etc, etc. And of course, if you've never been down to Latin America before or even if you have, if you don't speak Spanish well enough or don't speak it at all, you have to wonder just what kind of health insurance program to get on. Or maybe you don't want insurance at all and you want to go wrong. That's always an option, but let's assume you do want to get on a plane. They're so very inexpensive down here you'd be nuts if you didn't get on one. Let's face it, you will need some guidance. Not the least of your difficulties being that every single plan I've ever seen anyway has been in Spanish, not English. Now, let's take, for example, a medium sized Latin city, San Salvador, capital of the country of El Salvador with about a million people in the metropolitan area. There are dozens of first world hospitals and clinics in that city alone,
[04:59] but the average guy on the street and the lower class people and the poor folks, those people that make up about 90% of the population, don't ever use those hospitals. They use the public ones. Why? Because they're free and the average person down in Salvador makes about 300 bucks a month. So just know that when you're in one of these private hospitals, you'll be with the upper middle classes and the wealthier folks. And that's why emergency rooms are so empty in those private hospitals. But that's another story. We'll get to that later. Now, do note, and this is important, about one to two percent of Latin Americans have private medical health insurance. So one of the big teasers to get you to sign up for health insurance is for these big insurance companies to hook up and make deals with banks because they know people of middle class or higher have bank accounts.
[05:47] And if you've got a bank account, they can get you to sign on to an insurance policy by offering low monthly payment deductions from your bank account. So at my seminar, I bring up a few examples and I always say, if you're going to stay down here, get your bank account and then sign up for the health insurance immediately. And you're on within two or three days once they process your paperwork and you're covered. And get this, the amazing thing is that there's no physical, no urine or blood tests, and no pre-existing condition clauses for six months. Now, these basic health insurance plans as you can get through banks, they come in a lot of different flavors, different prices, different coverages, etc. Even so, they're all tremendous bargains and there's no physical required.
[06:34] And get this, some of these plans will cover you to age 99. So now let's get to the story. About a year ago at my Expat Wisdom seminar, I had a few expats that came down a couple of months later to live permanently. By the way, that happens a lot. Now, one of them, who I know took my advice, jumped right in on one of those healthcare insurance policies offered through certain banks. So right away, he went down and opened a bank account. And believe it or not, down here in Latin America, you can open a past book account by depositing 10 or 20 bucks. That's it. So with that, he immediately signed up for the insurance plan, which kicked in about three days later. From which, in his case, they deduct about 35 bucks a month because he's on the advanced comprehensive plan.
[07:21] Otherwise, that it'd only be about 20 or 25 bucks a month. So he's paying 400 bucks a year for this pretty comprehensive healthcare package. Well, it just so happens. The other day I ran into him and he said, Johnny, you're not going to believe this. I had to use my new insurance for the first time. It was an emergency and I ended up in the emergency room for 12 or 13 hours. Now, I got there about 10 in the morning and there were two people, a husband and wife, in the waiting room. And she was on her way in to get looked at. And they got me into an emergency room station in bed within five minutes. As you might expect, they did the urine and the blood workups. The doctors came in and prodded and poked and they strapped me up to a couple IVs, rolled me into an adjacent room for some x-rays,
[08:08] then to another for an ultrasound. And they injected barium dyes and radiographic liquids into my veins to check out the heart, the blood, the liver, the lungs, and the urinary tract. He said he got the usual emergency room workover only much more personalized. And in the end, he said they finished off with a CT scan with contrast dye. Then in front of me, he pulled out some paperwork from his backpack and he handed me a copy of the hospital workup. He said he was carrying it around so he'd have some proof when he told his story. When he had a chance, anyway, to tell his story to some gringo like me, I guess. Because, like he said, he couldn't quite believe it himself. So he pulled it out and started explaining all the procedures and charges and I helped him out because his Spanish sucked.
[08:55] But, you know, medical terms are the same in pretty much any language. They're Latin based, of course, so he figured out the basics and I helped him with the rest. So here's how it broke down. Oh, and he mentioned along the way he had three IV drips, too. Anyway, here's the breakdown for his 12 or 13 hours in the emergency room. Medicines, 80 bucks. Medical supplies, 26 bucks. Laboratory blood and urinalysis, 55 bucks. Ultrasound, 150 bucks. CT scan, abdominal and pelvic, 390 bucks. Medical doctor's fees, 195 bucks. And by the way, he was attended by three doctors when he was there. A GP and two specialists. Anyway, all in all, his 12 or 13 hours in the emergency room costs a total of 950 bucks.
[09:47] You get that again? 950 bucks. Now, that's the cost without insurance. That's what you and I would pay if we walked in there right off the street. After he showed me that and he gave me a copy. In fact, I asked him for a copy myself so I can show it to people at my next seminar. Anyway, I checked on the internet for the average cost in the U.S. for the pelvic and abdominal CT scan, which was the most expensive of the charges. And the average charges in the U.S. ranged from 1800 to 2600 bucks. I also saw that the average cost in the U.S. for an ER visit, including a blood workup and a CT scan like my friend just had. Well, the charges were all over the place, but they averaged between 6,500 and $8,000.
[10:35] So when you break it down conservatively, a similar emergency room visit up in the states would cost about seven times more than it costs down here in Latin America. And even then, we're giving first world ERs the benefit of the doubt. So another way to look at it is that ER room charges down here in Latin America in first world style hospitals are about 10 to 15% of what you'd pay up in the first world if you didn't have insurance. Now, that might sound amazing, but the real stunning part is this. Remember I said he was paying around $35 a month for that insurance plan? Remember, it was one of those plans you could sign on to instantly at a bank. There's a lot of plans like that down here with various banks.
[11:21] Anyway, it only takes 10 or 20 bucks to open an account like that. Now he didn't deposit 10 or 20 bucks. He did the right thing, the first world gringo thing. Unlike so many lens, he topped it off so he wouldn't have to worry about it for a year. He deposited 500 bucks. Remember the insurance deal is that they're going to deduct 35 bucks a month from that account. So the idea is to top it off so that you never miss a month's payment. You don't want to risk getting cut off the plan for a measly 35 bucks. And by the way, I know a few people who work at these banks and they tell me that a large percentage of Latins who get on that monthly deduction plan like that get cut off because they let their balance get too low. And they don't even know it until they go to the doctor or the hospital.
[12:07] So I guess insurance companies kind of plan on a pretty high percentage of bad payers. Then they don't have to pay out claims. So do look out for that because they don't send monthly statements. Why not? Because the snail mail in residential areas in Latin America is spotty at best and in most cases just sucks. That said, that's why so many expats I know use their lawyer's address for all important snail mail. Why? Because most lawyers are in commercial centers and in business districts where the snail mail actually does get through nearly 100% of the time. Note it's the residential districts and the boonies where the snail mail is really crap. And of course, you'll be able to do e-banking and check your account with the bank
[12:53] but the majority of Latins still aren't used to doing that. And from what I've heard, only about 10% of Latins do any kind of e-banking at all. Okay, back to the story. That very night when he left the emergency room and he got the final bill after the insurance payments were figured in he had to shell out at the cashier's window a total of 38 bucks. And with that, my new friend said, you know what? If I was in New York or New Jersey or Connecticut I'd pay more than 38 bucks in parking fees at the hospital parking lot. Now, for all you skeptical doubters out there who want to see that kind of stuff for yourself, you can. You can get boots on the ground and I'll take you there myself. That is, come down to my next Expat Wisdom seminar
[13:39] which I'm holding in January 2015 and you'll see during one of our boots on the ground excursions that I'll take you to one of those hospitals and introduce you to some of those doctors and specialists, most of whom speak English. And that's true even well off the gringo tourist trail. So do come on down and see it for yourself to remove all doubt. And by the way, if you want a breakdown of my friend's hospital visit, you know, the procedures and charges, just shoot me an email and I'll send it off to you. Of course, it's in Spanish. But even so, most people can kind of figure out what's going on. And do note that the bill takes up only a half a page and nope, there's no $10 Q-tips or $35 boxes of Kleenex either. Those kind of fantasy charges seem to have been invented up in the first world.
[14:26] Down here in Latin America, thank God, Buddha, Krishna, Einstein, whoever, hospitals are not into the extortion racket of charging for individual shoe footies, cotton balls and bum wipes. And by the way, speaking of that insurance plan my new friend was on, it's by no means, like I said, the only insurance plan that you can hook up with. A basic plan like that is one I always recommend for expats who come down and really don't know much at all about any plans but need some kind of coverage. So in just a few days, you're all set. You get immediate coverage on that plan and then you investigate some of the other plans that are out there and there are many and see which one's best for you in the long run. Then you can breathe easy and take your time trying to figure out if you need any additional coverage.
[15:13] Now, note that when I talk to people up in the States and mention this, people and friends and family up in Chicago, they listen for a second but they really don't believe it. And of course, I know what they're thinking. For one, that the hospitals and clinics and doctors can't really be up to first world standards. They're thinking the hospitals are kind of scruffy and cruddy like the Latin neighborhoods they see in Chicago and New York and in Cleveland. And number two, they're thinking you get what you pay for. So if you pay 100 or 200 bucks for something in Latin America that costs a thousand bucks up in the States, it sounds fishy and can't be all that great. But most of all, they're thinking, come on, who to believe that you could get on a plan by just opening a bank account. And there's no physical, no blood tests.
[16:00] And like I said, after six months, no pre-existing conditions. So like I said, if you want to see these things for yourself, come to my expat Wisdom Seminar, the next one, which could be the last one since these things are getting harder and harder to put together, is in January 2015. Just go to www.expat.com and up towards the top of the page, you'll see a Latin Seminar link. Just click on that and get complete information. Again, that's www.expatwisdom.com. Click on the Latin Seminar link near the top of the page. And remember, there'll be a maximum of only 25 people. So get on board now or miss the train. Oops, I forgot one last thing. More than half of the seminar will be boots on the ground. And it's a six day seminar,
[16:47] a nonstop adventure guaranteed to wear you out in a good way. That said, one final word of caution here. Don't let those other big international folks, those guys and gals who have seminars at luxury hotels on the Gringo tourist trail, don't let them fool you into thinking that their expat seminars are complete because they're not if they don't have a substantial boots on the ground portion. And remember, having authentic boots on the ground doesn't include showing you around their favorite hand-picked real estate sites that just happen to be for sale. I know, I know, enough said about that. Now, that story I just told you about that emergency room visit, that's by no means an unusual tale. In fact, another expat wisdom seminar alumnus
[17:33] who came down here about two years ago now, he too was on one of those bank account health insurance plans when he started having symptoms that turned out to be a grave heart problem. And that was about six months ago now. He too spent a day at the emergency room and a few days at the hospital where he had his coverage and I believe his bill for the whole heart workup and catheterizations and such worked out to about $10,000 US. And with his insurance, again, received through one of those bank plans, the total out-of-pocket cost was under $300 bucks. And in fact, at my last expat wisdom seminar, he actually got up and explained the whole thing to the crowd. And he did that on his own volition because he said he knew. The average gringo just wouldn't believe it.
[18:21] Okay, I know that was probably way too much about that, so let's move on. Now, as I mentioned in the last show, people are always trying to get into Latin America on a bogus passport. They bought online or in their home country or whatever. Not to mention there's a thriving business in stolen First World passports because residents of First World countries can get into all Latin countries visa-free for 90 days. And you know, they're still stock and trade in that age-old art of passport alteration. And the thing is, you see, once you're in a Latin country, people have been known to pretty much disappear forever. Now, note there's always been a large influx of people into Latin America, legal or otherwise, from other Third World countries around the globe because it's generally a stepping stone
[19:08] to the U.S. or Canada. They're ultimate destinations. However, many, many Third World people, for example, people from the Middle East, once they get to Latin America, they find they can set up businesses quite easily and they end up staying in a Latin country as a permanent base forever. And of course, the best example of that is good old Carlos Slim, who continuously vacillates between being named the first, second, or third richest person in the world. Now, his parents immigrated to Mexico from Lebanon, originally wanting to go to the U.S. but they couldn't get in because of visa problems, as usual. And their kid, Carlos, ended up owning chains of hotels and mining companies and eventually the biggest cell phone company
[19:53] in all of Latin America. Based, of course, on the twist of fate that brought his parents to Mexico instead of the U.S., where they really wanted to go instead. And who knows if his parents had immigrated to the U.S., maybe old Carlos would just be selling hummus and heroes in a kiosk in Jersey or Cleveland. With that fickle finger to fate, who knows? Oh, and by the way, his parents did what so many Middle Eastern people do when they get to Latin America. They changed their names to blend in. Now, Carlos Slim's father's real name was not Julian Slim like you might have read somewhere. That's what he changed it to. His real name being Kalil Salim Hadad Algamaz. And you know, even upscale Latins I've had that discussion with
[20:38] about names. They say it was a good thing that Carlos' dad changed it too because down here in Latin America with a name like that he probably would have got his ass kicked a lot as a kid. Now, remember, Latin America is about 99% Christian and if you don't have a Christian name, even if you're a Christian like Carlos Sim's family is and was, kids are cruel, you know? I mean, come on. Try saying Kalil Salim Hadad Algamaz when the teacher calls on you to stand up in your first day at kindergarten. Like I said, kids are cruel. I mean, come on, guys. Admit it. Little boys up in the States suffer enough if their parents saddle them with a name like Ralph, Leslie, Peter, Harry, or Dick. I mean, come on, guys.
[21:24] What were your parents thinking? So why am I talking about names anyway? Well, that's because changing your name down here in Latin America is very, very easy. If you want to change your name for whatever reason, just get yourself a lawyer. He'll put together the paperwork. You go to court and you get your new name and now you have a new name. It's registered and it's totally legal. Then if you're a legal resident of that country or a citizen with a passport, you could have all your ID documents, including your driver's license, changed over to your new name, all 100% above board. Now, just sit back and think of that for a second, especially all you dicks out there. Like Expedetti says, who says you have to tell anybody up in Cleveland or Texas that you've done that?
[22:10] And your Latin country you have your name changed in, they're not going to forward that information to the States. Why would they? That's between you and the municipality and the court district. You petition to have that name change. Why Latin courts can't even keep track of what's happening to their own people. Man, talk about insulating yourself and having a complete new layer of anonymity. Anyway, just to let you know, there's some of that going on down here too. Now, I'm not saying whether I recommend it or not. And of course, you have to come down here and get boots underground yourself to get more details about that. I'm just pointing out it's done here all the time and it's totally legal. In fact, occasionally, when you look in the local Latin papers, you'll see in the back pages of the legal section, people who have done just that.
[22:57] Because you see, by law it has to be published at least once in the obscure legal section of some Latin newspaper. Now, when discussing this with gringos and expats, the question always comes up, is such a thing legally recognized in the US if you change your name in a Latin country? And my answer is always, well, it's legal down here in the country you're doing it. So who gives a damn about whether it's legal up in the States? And when you talk to a lawyer down here in Latin America, he'll say, well, it's got to be legal up in the States and worldwide, since marriages and divorces in Latin countries are considered legal and valid worldwide too. And for example, if you get divorced or married in Argentina, there's no law saying you have to report it to anyone back in the States
[23:42] if that's your home country. So it's up to you whether you want to do it or not. And it's up to you whether you want to report it to the officials up in Cleveland. So again, for all you dicks out there, it's your call. Now I've said about that. Anyway, like I was saying, people from other Third World nations are always trying to sneak into Latin America. There are greater numbers coming from China and Indonesia and the Middle East. And sometimes they get away with it and sometimes they get caught. And when they get caught, it's almost exclusively at the airports. Usually a document screw up, of course. And if you read the Latin papers every once in a while you read about a case like that. In fact, I just read of a case about a week ago where five or ten people from India got caught that way, specifically at the airport
[24:28] coming into Panama. So then again, what about Muslims and Islamic people and people from the Middle East in general? How they getting down here to Latin America? Well, in talking to some Latin American freelance journalists and embassy people and such, the scuttlebutt is that probably 80 or 90% of Middle Eastern people aside from the Jewish population, who like I said before, are the only Middle Easterners that can enter Latin America visa-free. Anyway, it's well known in Latin America that most Middle Eastern people here did not in fact enter Latin America legally. So how do they figure that? Well, the fact is every single Latin country requires Middle Eastern countries like Iraq and Egypt and Libya to go through the formal visa process
[25:15] which is a very difficult thing for a person from the Middle East to accomplish. And I'll read this directly from the Argentina embassy website. It says, all countries that are not eligible for the 90-day visa waiver, as in the case of the United States, European community countries and Canada, etc., all other nationals from countries not on the visa-free list must apply to the Argentine consulate in their home country. And of course, that means all African countries and Middle Eastern countries, again, except for Israel. Anyway, the Argentine visa regulations go on to say, people wishing to apply for a visa from these countries must appear at the consulate with evidence of funds,
[26:01] credit card, and bank statements for the last six months, full itinerary, and round-trip flight ticket. Then it goes on to say, all visa applicants without exception are requested to present themselves in person for an interview with the consular officer. And then it says, applicants will be required to provide additional information and documents as needed, including original flight tickets, as well as letters from your employer, confirming that you are currently employed long-term by a company, including the length of time and salary. And if you own a business, you must add a copy of your business's official registration and the last tax return, including the check providing the corresponding payment.
[26:48] The letter must be original, no photocopies or faxes will be accepted, written and translated in Spanish on a company letterhead paper signed by the person in charge and notarized, yada-da-da-da. So, as one Latin journalist mentioned to me, he said, how the hell is an adobe supposed to come up with that kind of stuff? It would be hard enough for a legitimate Latin businessman to put that stuff together. And you know, one of my gringo expat friends who's worked in the garment business down here for many years, he does business with a few Arabs living down here in Latin America and he says, as far as he knows, they hate credit cards and don't use them for anything. It's cash only when dealing with them. Oops, more on that next time. See you then. You've been listening
[27:37] to The Expat Files, living in Latin America, coming to you twice a week from somewhere south of the border. Email me. The Expat Files at gmail.com. And don't forget to check out expatwisdom.com to sign up for your free reports on Latin America. See you next time. Nos vemos.