We Answer Your Questions about the E-2 Visa

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E&M Global Insurance is proud of its work on behalf of those born outside the United States.  Yet there is much confusion about the E-2 Visa.  While we are not experts we have rounded up the most common questions and answers.

 

  1. Can E-2 Visa Holders Format Their Business as an S-Corp?  Yes you can.  Per IRS tax purposes E-2 individuals are considered Non-Immigrant Resident Aliens.  So you are allowed to have an S-Corp as long as you satisfy the substantial test of presence defining you as a resident.

2.       Can my children work on an E-2 Visa?  No, children are not allowed to work.  They can eligible to volunteer though.

3.        Do I need to get an immigration attorney in order to apply for an E-2?  Short answer no; but it its recommended as any                    errors could result in your application being denied.

4.       Can an E-2 individual own a firearm?   This one is state specific.  But in most cases you can purchase a firearm but NOT            a conceled firearm permit.

 

 

 

 

 

Health Insurance Open Enrollment 2019

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If you are unaware open enrollment for health insurance is set to begin on November 1st and runs to December 15th.  This is the only time of the year when you can switch ACA policies without a Special Election Period.

E&M Global Insurance works in all 50 states and will be working 24/7 during open enrollment.  We specialize in both domestic and international health insurance.  If you need a quote please do not hesitate to contact us.

 

Health Insurance in Puerto Rico

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If you are thinking about moving to Puerto Rico we have fantastic news.  E&M Global Insurance is now available for all individuals moving to Puerto Rico.  This includes plans from Cigna Global and all regional Puerto Rico plans.

Puerto Rico is a strange place for insurance.  They do not participate in the Health Insurance Marketplace but offer regionals plans such as Triple-S Salud.  If you are in need of health insurance and are moving to Puerto Rico ask how E&M Global Insurance can help.

Health Insurance for B-1 & B-2 Individuals

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The B-1/B-2 Visa allows an individual to come to the Untied States on a temporary basis. The B-1 is usually associated with business. The B-2 is used for tourism, vacation, medical treatments and participation in amateur sports, etc.

The first question we commonly get is can we get health insurance for an individual or family on this Visa? Short answer-Yes.

The most important question we need answering though is how long an individual will need coverage. If its only a short period of time a short term major medical should be sufficient. If it, its longer than six months a more permanent policy would a better solution.

Some of the carriers that provide short term major medical include International Medical Group, National General and United Healthcare.

For questions on B-1/B-2 Health Insurance please contact Evan Tunis at 800-974-5077.

Can an Asylum Applicant Qualify for Health Insurance?

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As a sponsor of AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association) we get frequent questions from immigration attorneys regarding whether their clients can qualify for coverage. There is much confusion on this, so we thought we’d dig a bit deeper on this.

The Health Insurance Marketplace(Obamacare) allows quite a bit a lot of immigration statuses the ability to get coverage. This includes not only Legal Permanent Residents but also EAD (Employment Authorization Document), Refugees, Cuban/Haitian Entrant and Lawful Temporary Residents.

Clients are usually asked to provide proof to the marketplace that will need to be verified. Failure to provide documentation could result in the policy being termed.

While coverage can be obtained the ability to get a subsidy can be more difficult. In 2018 an individual will need to make over $13,000 to get a subsidy to help offset the costs of the insurance. If a client makes under this depending on the state, they may not be eligible for any financial assistance. In addition, if an individual makes more than 400% of the poverty level they are not eligible for any financial assistance as well. For new immigrants it is our experience that the marketplace will most likely ask for proof of this income. This can be a challenge since many do not have pay stubs or a W-2. The marketplace could thus strip the subsidy away making coverage unaffordable.

For clients who do not qualify for financial assistance we advise always going private. The plans are stronger and there is no burden of proof for income. In addition, you do not need to worry about your information going into the federal governments database.

For any questions on an individuals’ options please contact Evan Tunis at 800-974-5077.

Can I Change My Name Before Becoming a Naturalized Citizen?

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As one of the leaders in international insurance we frequently get questions that go beyond our expertise. One of them had to do with if it was possible to change a name before becoming a citizen.

The simple answer is YES! You can use the State Courts to do a formal Name change and the USCIS will accept it as the true name. For an insurance policy we can easily make the change within a few days.

Inflation & Your Health Insurance Costs

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Inflation… We understand the concept-goods purchased now could be more expensive in the future. For example, 30 years ago a cup of coffee cost 25 cents. That same cup of coffee will now cost your $3.00 at Starbucks.

On the reverse side things like televisions and laser eye surgery have gone down in price.

We discovered the chart below and made a point to show it to all our clients.

The chart illustrates inflation form 1997-2017. Items such as TV’s, clothing and toys have gone down in price. What’s gone up is housing, childcare and #1 hospital costs.

Why is this important?

This is important due to the fact many policies being sold today have limits for hospitals. Such companies as U.S. Health Advisors, Liberty Health etc. offer protection in a hospital that will leave an individual bankrupt.

E&M Global Insurance makes sure our clients are properly insured. This includes plans with no caps for hospitals and a myriad of benefits. If you have any questions do not hesitate to contact us.