gracielle
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A bit of ancient ARG immigration history......
I have been traveling between ARG and USA for 25 years. Since 2005, I reside most of the year here. I have dual citizenship, ARG by birth and US by naturalization. In 1970 I solicited the first renewal of my ARG passport and DNI at the consulate in San Francisco. It was my first trip back to BA since leaving in 1960.
In 1970, the consulate clerk who handled the paperwork was Argentinian married to an American. I asked her with which passport should I enter ARG. Answer: must present the US passport when boarding a flight from the US and upon re-entry. If I wanted the protection of the US consulate while in BA, enter ARG with US passport. Otherwise use the ARG passport.
I did not return for another visit to BA until 1989. By that time computers where already in place (intranet only) at immigration booths in Ezeiza. I presented both passports to the agent. He entered the info re the dual citizenship. He returned the ARG passport without recording a date entry stamp. Asked me for purpose of trip....vacation. Then, without asking which passport I chose to use, proceeded to stamp my US passport with a 90-day authorized stay. I didn't care because my stay was always for less days. He also placed a small stamp on the inside cover of the back page of the US passport which said "prior to1981" (or something to that extent). When I asked what that meant he waved me on with a look of disdain.
I went to the US Embassy to inquire what that stamp meant. It was explained that ARG and USA signed an immigration treaty in 1946. Among other stipulations, both countries agreed to recognize dual citizenship for those born in ARG who migrated to USA for the purpose of exile or voluntary migration. They told me that when renewing the US passport I should keep the expired one where the stamp is found until my next trip when the renewed passport gets stamped with the same info.
Apparently sometime during the presidency of Alfonsin, the utilization of the stamp with the year "1981" began being used to identify persons like me who fell into that distinct category. It also stipulated that these travelers, when entering ARG, could select with which of the 2 passports to get stamped with entry date. If using US passport, then the traveler entered as a tourist for X number of days as specified by ARG law.
I asked the US consulate clerk (Argentinian) for a copy of the treaty. I was referred to an obscure "office of records" in a warehouse in Darsena C. After 2 trips there and some "cajoling" (2 dozen medialunas), the clerk agreed to find the leather-bound book (size 4 ft by 2 ft) which contained the original. We then took the very dusty tome to a photocopier who specialized in copying architectural plans. And finally, to a notary public (escribano) to authenticate the copy. I have it in a safety deposit box in California.
Between 1989 and 2004 I began entering every year for a 3-month stay. I don't remember when Immigration stopped placing the "1981" stamp. Must have been sometime in the mid 90's. By then the agent only took the ARG passport for the purpose of placing the date entry stamp. I continued handing them both passports. It became a cost-saving factor when ARG began collecting the reciprocity fee.
I have been traveling between ARG and USA for 25 years. Since 2005, I reside most of the year here. I have dual citizenship, ARG by birth and US by naturalization. In 1970 I solicited the first renewal of my ARG passport and DNI at the consulate in San Francisco. It was my first trip back to BA since leaving in 1960.
In 1970, the consulate clerk who handled the paperwork was Argentinian married to an American. I asked her with which passport should I enter ARG. Answer: must present the US passport when boarding a flight from the US and upon re-entry. If I wanted the protection of the US consulate while in BA, enter ARG with US passport. Otherwise use the ARG passport.
I did not return for another visit to BA until 1989. By that time computers where already in place (intranet only) at immigration booths in Ezeiza. I presented both passports to the agent. He entered the info re the dual citizenship. He returned the ARG passport without recording a date entry stamp. Asked me for purpose of trip....vacation. Then, without asking which passport I chose to use, proceeded to stamp my US passport with a 90-day authorized stay. I didn't care because my stay was always for less days. He also placed a small stamp on the inside cover of the back page of the US passport which said "prior to1981" (or something to that extent). When I asked what that meant he waved me on with a look of disdain.
I went to the US Embassy to inquire what that stamp meant. It was explained that ARG and USA signed an immigration treaty in 1946. Among other stipulations, both countries agreed to recognize dual citizenship for those born in ARG who migrated to USA for the purpose of exile or voluntary migration. They told me that when renewing the US passport I should keep the expired one where the stamp is found until my next trip when the renewed passport gets stamped with the same info.
Apparently sometime during the presidency of Alfonsin, the utilization of the stamp with the year "1981" began being used to identify persons like me who fell into that distinct category. It also stipulated that these travelers, when entering ARG, could select with which of the 2 passports to get stamped with entry date. If using US passport, then the traveler entered as a tourist for X number of days as specified by ARG law.
I asked the US consulate clerk (Argentinian) for a copy of the treaty. I was referred to an obscure "office of records" in a warehouse in Darsena C. After 2 trips there and some "cajoling" (2 dozen medialunas), the clerk agreed to find the leather-bound book (size 4 ft by 2 ft) which contained the original. We then took the very dusty tome to a photocopier who specialized in copying architectural plans. And finally, to a notary public (escribano) to authenticate the copy. I have it in a safety deposit box in California.
Between 1989 and 2004 I began entering every year for a 3-month stay. I don't remember when Immigration stopped placing the "1981" stamp. Must have been sometime in the mid 90's. By then the agent only took the ARG passport for the purpose of placing the date entry stamp. I continued handing them both passports. It became a cost-saving factor when ARG began collecting the reciprocity fee.
