Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

Peruvians living in the U.S. sent between $1.6 and $1.8 billion in the span of one year to family members and friends in their homeland, reported the Peruvian Embassy in the U.S.

Manuel Talavera, Peru's consul in the U.S. presented these figures in Washington D.C. during a meeting with entrepreneurs and businesspeople.

Talavera explained that the information was gathered between November and December 2007 from twelve Peruvian consulates across the United States.

He affirmed that the amount sent in remittances to Peru annually was an important and significant figure.

The consul stated, however, because of the difficulties the U.S. is going through, the amount could be less this year.

When reporting on how many Peruvians in the U.S. sent money to loved ones in the Andean country, Talavera explained that 66.5 percent of them sent money to Peru while 27.6 percent did not.

He added that illegal aliens sent more money to Peru than Peruvians that were residents or had become citizens.

"This can be explained because those that are living legally have brought, in many cases, their family. That's why they don't have to continue sending them money," said Talavera.

It was reported that there are currently 935,855 Peruvians living in the United States.