Bringing electronic equipment into BA

[steveinbsas]

I am not absolutely certain, but I would guess that the date the residency was granted is the starting point. I believe this due to the fact that even though I actually received my DNI almost four months after the resident visa, it has the same expiration date as the visa. When I received the visa I was "ordered" to apply of the DNI within 30 days and then was instructed to return to pick up the actual DNI 90 days after I applied for it.

 

[mini]

Of course you can bring your (used) clothes with you on the plane (as I will be doing in a couple weeks) and include as much as you want as part of a shipment of your household goods, but "legally" you can't import (for the purpose of resale) used clothes into the country via UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc. "Used clothing" is on their list of prohibited goods, along with credit cards and pornography (check their websites). The reason for the prohibition of the import of used clothes is to protect the domestic clothing industry.

Right. I'm not planning on setting up a business selling used cloths.... I think I'll be OK.

 

[ronnyjob]

quick update....Got everything through fine. Had some machines in my suitcase they didn't even bother looking at - the fact they were clingfilmed shut might have helped. Had loads of stuff in my hand luggage - laptop, camera, phone, walkman, mp3 player, external HD, DS lite and they took everything out and inspected it to see if it was "usado". Everything was clearly dusty, dirty and worn so there were no problems. Came in on a tourist visa, don't know if it would have been any different otherwise. Now looking into shipping some of my stuff over, and buying a few bits and pieces from the states that I can't get here.

 

[Ron]

We're coming to Buenos Aires in July. I have a couple of friends I want to bring gifts for. I was in Costco yesterday, and saw that an I-Pod w/ the ability to hold 1000 songs costs $139. How much do you suppose it would cost in Argentina??

 

[DA]

We're coming to Buenos Aires in July. I have a couple of friends I want to bring gifts for. I was in Costco yesterday, and saw that an I-Pod w/ the ability to hold 1000 songs costs $139. How much do you suppose it would cost in Argentina??

At least dubbel that, buy anything you need at Costco it is a lot cheaper there.

 

[suejud]

Shipping used clothing illegal? I had no idea and over the summer had 2 or 3 boxes of clothes shipped to me and had no problem at the Correo at Retiro either. They asked me what was inside and I told them - and they sent me on my way.
As for the tourist visa - ours expired and when I went to migraciones to extend them I was told from an agent there I could pay 100 pesos/passport there to renew or I could go to Uruguay and renew when we come back into Argentina for 50 pesos each. Also, there is no problem to overstay your visa for however long apparently - in the end it is still only a 50 peso fee when leaving the country. I recently took a trip to Iguazu and updated our visas at the Brazil border and at that point they'd expired 8 months earlier. There were no questions asked, I simply paid and that was that.
Another very interesting bit of information I learned (very different from the states!) is this: the father of my child is Argentine; he and I were together for 12 years but never married. However, I am eligible to receive my Argentine documents once I have them for our child - she automatically receives them and I do in turn, because I am her mother. Que suertes! I'm sharing this in case there is anyone else out there in a similar situation who wants to stay in Argentina. Once I have the doc. I can start working that same day (*then I only need to find the job!).
The process is pretty simple as someone outlined above - you only need your birth cert., and a letter stating you have no criminal record in the states - both need be originals with apostilles - then once here must be translated. In Argentina you also need a legal note stating you have no criminal record here - you get that from Tribunales for about 25 pesos and it comes in about a week. In migraciones I was told the day I bring in our paperwork is the day we receive our documents. Which will hopefully be any day now - I am still waiting for it from the states.
As for carrying in electronic gear, etc - each time I've come through Argentine customs they have never looked in our bags - and each time we've had a couple of laptops amongst other computer gear and cameras - I came in with 3 on my most recent trip. It is a world apart from traveling within the states today!
I hope this is helpful.

 

[steveinbsas]

I think the customs issues regarding shipping used clothes would depend on the amount. A few boxes in the mail, no problem (UNLESS THEY ARE STOLEN EN ROUTE..be sure that signatures are required), a container load of bales of used clothes for resale, no way. I recently returned from the States with three big suitcases and one duffel FULL of used clothes: five sport coats, five coats and jackets, a dozen pair of pants and jeans, six pair of shoes and boots, ten sweaters, three dozen long and short sleeve tee shirts (mostly "unworn" but without tags), over 50 button front shirts, lots of small "stuff" (decent oven mitts and pot holders, chili powder, etc.) and a carry on full of books (no computer). All bags were x-rayed and none were opened. On my customs form I listed several "new" items that I had brought for my bathroom and kitchen (including a shower head and Brita water filter). The total "declared" value was about $50.00. As the agent was looking at the images, I remarked that all new items were listed on the customs declaration and everything else was used. He waved me on without question or comment. I had to pay $350 in excess (checked) baggage fees, but that's far less than any shipping costs would have been considering the weight (three bags at EXACTLY 70lbs and one at EXACTLY 50lbs) and there were no worries about anything getting "lost" in the mail. Be sure to weigh your bags! Just ONE pound over will bump you to the next price level per bag. When I was in the US, United announced massive increases in excess baggage charges, but American hasn't changed...yet. I also find American to offer the cheapest fares AND they offer off peak RT frequent flier reward tickets to most US destinations from Argentina for only 40K miles. In other words: buy three, get one free. I've flown RT to Mexico from BA, RT from Mexico to Paris, and RT from BA to the US, paying a total of just under $3,200 for the three flights. Factor in the FF ticket and it averages out to less than $800 per trip. If anyone knows how to fly cheaper (without being an airline employee or married to one) please let us know.

 

[Napoleon]

I've had two things sent to me. (Maybe 3.)
1) Was a brand new Canon Powershot that I had my roommate in LA take out of the box, put the battery in, and put in a little protective case. He put the charger in another protective case. He then sent the camera IN the original box (NOT WHAT I ASKED HIM TO DO). But it got to me.

-I had him send it "EXPRESS" instead of regular 1st class and it came directly to me (at my language school).
-It took 5 days (including a weekend & a holiday)
-It cost ~US$32 instead of ~US$24
2) My mother sent me a slightly bigger box with some baggies, vitamins, boxer shorts, & a few other things mothers send. But SHE DIDN'T SEND IT "EXPRESS". She said the guy at the post office said it wasn't necessary. I ASKED HER WHY SHE DIDN'T DO AS I ASKED?
-This box cost ~US$28 instead of US$38
-It took 17 days to get to BsAs
-I had to spend about close to half a day (a) Going to Retiro, (b) Waiting for my name to be called, (c) showing them the mail receipt I got for the package, (d) Waiting in a DIFFERENT ROOM for my name to be called, (e) picking up my package, and then (f) having it checked out of their system (where it could have been opened)

Only send important packages EXPRESS!!!

 

[michaelc]

I brought all my dj equipment (cdjs, mixer, receiver and studio monitors) in without any problems. It is usually a crap shoot and its best to package thing so there is no easily recognizable way to tell what they are. I put everything in 2 boxes and packaged the hell out of them so they didn't get messed up in the likely case of some handler practicing his distance throw

Our second time in my gf and I had a lot of electronic things (phones, modems, etc.) and were questioned, but being that we need it for our jobs and explained it as such, (i love Voice over IP phones) they let us go with little hassle.

Prepare for the worse and hope for the best.

 

[Mike1]

Just make sure that your items looked used if you're having it shipped. I just got popped for (50% of the declared $160 USD value )$259 pesos plus $5 pesos administration fee because my relatives screwed up by not making the GPS look used (it still has the plastics and the cable ties on them, and thank god, it's not in the box). It's hard to argue with the customs when all of those things were intact. Luckily, they didn't charge me for 50% of what it costs here in Argentina. As far as bringing things in at the airport, I've had no hassle bringing in over $28,000 in photographic, video equipment, laptop, and video games. It's ironic.... I had no problems at the airport but I did at the post office in Retiro, but next time, I'm going to have to fly back & do it again.