Advice On Documentation

[racecapet]

I am a US citizen and work as an independent contractor teaching English online; my job can be done anywhere and provides me a reliable income of just under US$2000/month. I wrote the consulate in Houston explaining my situation and asking their advice on how best to go about handling the legal status of my relocation to BA. They told me that without a local offer of employment they could not give me a residence visa, but that "You can enter as a tourist and then adjust your status depending of your situation." (Am I wrong to have read that as accompanied by a sly wink?)

In essence, my question is, does it make any sense for me to trouble myself about gaining a residency visa? I have no need to seek employment in Argentina and can run all my money through bank accounts located in the US. I have no problem not leaving the country after my arrival, at least until such time as I would qualify to apply for citizenship (which I understand I am entitled to do after meeting the length of stay requirement, even if I have been undocumented). It seems like it might better to simply keep my head down until I can claim legal status on grounds such as those.

Is there any reason I could not simply go, work my online job, and live my life as a normal, law-abiding person for a couple of years before regularizing myself?

If there is, does anyone know anything about the "artist" category for temporary residency? I think I might qualify--as a published author and an editor for a literary magazine--but it is very difficult to find specifics on it.

 

[Splitty]

Just work, make USD and take a vacation to Uruguay every 3 months till you knock up an Argentine girl and can get residency that way.

 

[nlaruccia]

Knocking up your girlfriend is a totally inappropriate comment to make. I do agree with traveling to Uruguay every three months. Remember that once a year you have to travel back to the U.S. to renew your passport. You can only go to Uruguay three times then you must return to your home country before re-entering Argentina. Which will give you time to load up on supplies while you're there before coming back here. I think it would be much easier than dealing with the bureaucratic system of trying to get a work permit and residency visa here.

 

[Rich One]

US passports must be renewed once a year? HELP

 

[Farenheit]

Migraciones might actually agree with the "knocking up" comment. I had my temporary residency renewal denied some years back, but the officer at migraciones told me not to worry as I was pregnant and the easiest way for me to get residency would be to stay in the country illegally until I gave birth to my Argentine citizen baby....

 

[shoush]

Wow, can you please tell me if they are hiring in your company! I teach English but do not make nearly as much!
ps: I'm serious

 

[racecapet]

@Splitty and nlaruccia: If I'm not worried about having to sit tight in Argentina until I can apply for citizenship, do the advantages of making the Uruguay run really outweight the risks of calling attention to myself?

@Farenheit: That actually inspires me with a lot of confidence.

@shoush: I work for Open English (openenglish.com). I tihnk our ads may actually be on in Argentina (I know I get students from there in my online classes). The company has been expanding a lot lately, so it can't hurt you to send them a résumé!

 

[Splitty]

Uruguay or Chile make a nice Break from BA every 3 months so just do that.
I gained residency from knocking up a girl, so am proof it works. ( Just don't knock up an angry witch when drunk like I did

 

[nlaruccia]

US passports must be renewed once a year? HELP

You don't need to renew your passport. It means that in order to keep entering Argentina you have to return to your home country once a year.

 

[Rich One]

You don't need to renew your passport. It means that in order to keep entering Argentina you have to return to your home country once a year.

I this a new migrations regulation, citizens of Bangaladesh must go once a year to Dacca? never heard of this regulation???