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Term or Whole Life Insurance?

I am in USA but not a permanent resident or citizen. When I called Met Life insurance they told that I can not purchase life insurance. The New York Life insurance agent tells me that I can purchase a Term/Whole life insurance as long as anyone is in legal status. Is this true? Does each insurance company has it's own rules regarding eligibility? I am waiting for my permanent resident or green card approval if that makes any difference. Please send me any links Thanks.

Public Comments

1. You need to talk to a high quality independent agent in your area. He/she may know of a company that will write a policy to non-citizens and non-permanent residents but I don't know of any. Most companies will not offer coverage, with the exception of a small final expense policy, to someone who is not a permanent resident or citizen. Once you are a permanent resident you should have any problem finding coverage.
2. Generally a traditional insurer will not issue life insurance on an applicant who is a non-resident for two reasons. First there is the issue of verifying medical history from hospitals and physicians in a foreign country. Second, because you are a temporary resident you will be leaving the United States at some point. I did find one link to a broker that offered term life for persons staying in the US who have either a social security number or ITIN number and work visa holders such as H1, H4, or L1, L2 visa holders. The coverage was to be underwritten through Prudential Financial. As I have no experience with this broker that allows me to recommend them I will leave it to you use the search engine of your choice to get further information.
3. You're calling the wrong places. There's nothing wrong with those companies, but obviously the Met Life agent is going to show you a Met Life policy. Go to a broker and if Met Life is the 'best' for you then the broker should show you that plan. Case in point, I sold my parents a Met life Long Term Care plan, but I was under no obligation to do so. A broker can find a company to cover you assuming you're healthy.
4. No insurance company HAS to sell you life insurance. Each insurance company has its own rules. But I think the NYL agent is misrepresenting things - if you're only TEMPORARILY here legally, NYL probably also isn't going to sell you a policy. Yes, you have to be legal. And you ALSO have to be a permanent resident here. AFTER you get your permanent residency, you can get that policy with EITHER company - or both, or any of the hundreds of other companies that sell insurance in your state.