Any insight about registering civil union online and applying for a visa from abroad?

[fattyexpatty]

Hello,

I recently posted about a predicament I found myself in - I'm a US citizen who was denied entry at Ezeiza for being a "false tourist" even with paying the habilitacion de salida upon every exit and was told to return with a proper visa from a consulate/embassy. Thank you to everyone who responded - the past few days have been a whirlwind of stress and flying, plus I got sick lol, so I haven't been able to properly reply to you all.

Initially I was going to call a consulate to see my options, but a lawyer we contacted strongly urged us not to go straight to the consulate first, citing that this could complicate any official records and prevent me from getting a visa. They told us the best routes were 1) marriage, 2) student visa, 3) digital nomad. Unfortunately, these options don't really work for us since marriage is currently not an option due to personal reasons (but no legal issues), and the student visa avenue is a lot more expensive than we can currently afford (we don't live in Buenos Aires, so the cost of moving/paying for classes/lawyer fees is too high), and the work I do isn't through a formal contract that can be used for a digital nomad visa.

People on this forum mentioned my partner and I should have registered as a civil union (yes... a massive oversight and error due to complacency on our part) and that we still could register it online. If still viable, this would be the best route for us.
The lawyer we talked to said registering a civil union was not possible unless I was in the country; however looking at the site that was provided by other users here (https://buenosaires.gob.ar/tramites/union-civil-convivencial), it does seem like registering a civil union online is possible, which makes me skeptical about whether the lawyer's services are more of a cash-grab. If needed, I would have no problem securing a lawyer's services, but as my funds are limited, I would like to spend smartly and efficiently rather than frivolously.

Regardless, I am going to talk to my partner about starting the process to register our civil union, but I'm not sure if my flagged record will prove to be a problem in getting the visa. I'm also concerned that perhaps the lawyer was right that attempting a visa by myself and/or going straight to the consulate would complicate obtaining a visa.

If anyone familiar with law or the visa process can provide any insight or advice, that'd be greatly appreciated.

 

[whattodo]

Did you have any luck with this?

All I can say is, I am currently doing it (from Buenos Aires) and all seems to be done online…

 

[rl45]

I have a civil union. I had to go in person. I did this in 2023. We needed two witnesses, proof of domicile and had to declare how long we have been living together. If you are outside the country this may be an issue, but I don't know. I had not hears of an online option however " whattodo" seems to be in the process and doing it that way- but this could be merely registering their certificate instead of getting it maybe? I don't know. . I live in Zona Norte so in Buenos Aires but not the capital which may be different.

I was here on a tourist visa, through the pandemic, then moved to a student visa and I applied for residency after my civil union. I am now a permanent resident. The process was not nearly as hard as I was lead to believe by a lot of lawyers, we did it without them.

However, you most likely will be required to visit immigration in person in order to apply for residency and there are a lot of random checkpoints along the way where you have to visit offices here in the capital in order to become a resident. Again, this is my experience only, others may have had different paths.

I hope that helps.

 

[whattodo]

I have a civil union. I had to go in person. I did this in 2023. We needed two witnesses, proof of domicile and had to declare how long we have been living together. If you are outside the country this may be an issue, but I don't know. I had not hears of an online option however " whattodo" seems to be in the process and doing it that way- but this could be merely registering their certificate instead of getting it maybe? I don't know. . I live in Zona Norte so in Buenos Aires but not the capital which may be different.

I was here on a tourist visa, through the pandemic, then moved to a student visa and I applied for residency after my civil union. I am now a permanent resident. The process was not nearly as hard as I was lead to believe by a lot of lawyers, we did it without them.

However, you most likely will be required to visit immigration in person in order to apply for residency and there are a lot of random checkpoints along the way where you have to visit offices here in the capital in order to become a resident. Again, this is my experience only, others may have had different paths.

I hope that helps.

Thanks for sharing your experience first of all!

With regard to my experience, I am only just beginning but as far as I can see the Civil Union certificate can be achieved without actually going in person?

At least, as I see it we must upload all the documents online. Then, there is the option to have the hearing online. I believe after that you receive the certificate? But could be completely wrong.

I have a question for you, if you don’t mind answering. Do you know whether witnesses should have known you for the whole relationship? Most of those who have known us our whole relationship are family members, and so cannot be witnesses.

Thanks in advance!

 

[rl45]

Thanks for sharing your experience first of all!

With regard to my experience, I am only just beginning but as far as I can see the Civil Union certificate can be achieved without actually going in person?

At least, as I see it we must upload all the documents online. Then, there is the option to have the hearing online. I believe after that you receive the certificate? But could be completely wrong.

I have a question for you, if you don’t mind answering. Do you know whether witnesses should have known you for the whole relationship? Most of those who have known us our whole relationship are family members, and so cannot be witnesses.

Thanks in advance!

That is great news! It makes the process a lot easier for you and glad to hear it.

We had two friends - yes they happened to know us for our whole relationship but- the officiate did not ask us anything, it was like "you are the witness... cool, sign here". Nothing more.

We prepared for all the possible complications, which one should always do here in Argentina, but the process was surprisingly easy.

Again, could be because we were in person, the place is down the street from where we live, or we got nice people- you never know.

 

[whattodo]

That is great news! It makes the process a lot easier for you and glad to hear it.

We had two friends - yes they happened to know us for our whole relationship but- the officiate did not ask us anything, it was like "you are the witness... cool, sign here". Nothing more.

We prepared for all the possible complications, which one should always do here in Argentina, but the process was surprisingly easy.

Again, could be because we were in person, the place is down the street from where we live, or we got nice people- you never know.

Ah that’s great, hopefully my experience is something similar haha!

To be fair it does look pretty easy but, as you allude to, a massive part of it depends on who is on the case.

Doing it online here it asks the date that you met the witnesses. I imagine (hope) they won’t care too much and I’ll just answer honestly.

Thanks again!