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Does the current crisis call into question your long-term expatriation project?
My wife and daughter and I were hoping to stay in Greece permanently.Ìý We make enough to qualify for a long term visa/resident permit through pension and disability payments.Ìý

However, since my wife got sick our insurance in the U.S. is unwilling to pay unless we pay upfront and it has been costly.Ìý We bought a small policy in Greece for my wife and daughter's resident permit they received under humanitarian grounds since they were too sick to leave.Ìý

Now with Coronavirus, I will not even consider putting either of them on a plane, both have immune system issues and lung issues so getting COVID19 would be deadly for either of them.

If you are already settled in Greece, do you plan to return to your home country?
I am stuck in the U.S. while my wife and daughter are sick and stuck in Greece, they will be in Greece at least until January 2021 unless they get an extension to their resident permits.Ìý

I am trying to get back but both U.S. State Department and Greek Immigration and Foreign affairs offices have been no help and both refuse to do anything without the other requesting assistance first.Ìý it is disgusting considering the hardship our family is facing right now, my wife is too sick to care for our disabled daughter and our disabled daughter is too prone to getting sick to care for my wife.

I was not given a resident permit when they were and told I had to leave for the U.S. this was before COVID19 was considered a pandemic.

How are you living through such an uncertain period, especially if you are far from your loved ones?
We talk daily on Facebook Messenger video app.Ìý I have ordered them food a few times to be delivered but mostly they have our landlord withdraw money from our bank and buy food and other supplies for them.

Have any of you ended your expatriation in Greece unexpectedly?
I was forced to leave at the end of January just before COVID19 was turned into a pandemic by WHO.Ìý

Paradoxically, has this crisis brought you closer to some people?
I know have spent the last few months helping my mother out since my dad passed away a year ago.Ìý

What are your plans for the future?
Attempt to get permission to travel back to Greece from the U.S. State Department and Greek Immigration and Foreign Affairs office.Ìý My 90 days expire 1 May but there are no flights I know of without getting permission to travel first.Ìý
I will then attempt to push for the resident permit to care for my wife and daughter like I should have received back in January.Ìý No reason was given why they were given one and not me other than that they were both too sick to fly.

Hello jamesw71,I sent you a contact request but havnt heard from you,I have a house very near loutraki which my husband and I go to normally very often and spend time in and around loutraki,now of course there is no travelling for us with the covid 19.We wait for perhaps some lifting of this restriction,we certainly dont want to do any more than go to our house and water our garden,no visiting anywhere or people,until then we do as we are absolutely told to do for all our sakes.I wanted to tell you that as of Jan 2021 the new visa comes into action for Americans and others I believe,the five year visa and I think it can be done on line, instead of the 90 day visa,and you can make multiple entries in and out it says,check it out on line.I hope this will improve your options in this very difficult time and that you all remain safe and well.Im thinking that you wont be able to actually be with them or enter Greece as you in theory may be carrying the virus,as we all pose a threat to each other which I find mind-blowingly upsetting. My husband works at Athens airport and says it really is a ghost place,nothing doing,most staff do two days a week instead of six and begin half pay as of May.A British health minister has said now that people must face reality...restrictive measures,social distancing must continue until vaccinations have been found which will not be perhaps until end 2021..