Background: American who met my Argentina girlfriend online justtt before the pandemic, but waited until the borders opened in November 2021 to come here. Have been living here ever since, while working remotely in the US. I extended my tourist visa +90 days at the local tourism office.
Then, at the end of the 90 day extension (180 days total), I took the ferry to Uruguay for a week with the understanding that this was a no-hassle common practice for expats here. Returning to the country on Buquebus ferry, I had the fortune of a bigger guy who basically started shouting at me immediately after he flipped through my passport and told me that I couldn't do what I was doing and that I was at the extremes of a very clear law. I was surprised and was not very well prepared with my answers, although I answered truthfully.
His line of questioning (while yelling at me for 15 minutes and telling me that I could not do this). I was worried but calm and was glad that he was asking questions because it meant progress. I had mentally prepared for rejection at the border and I would have been okay:
- What are you doing here?
-> Tourism, my girlfriend lives here and we are exploring the country together. (I have an apartment, I'm on the lease with her).
- Are you working?
-> I'm working remotely for US businesses.
-> him: But your laptop is here, so you're working here! You need a work visa!
-> I don't believe that remote work qualifies as working here, but I would like to learn more if that is the case.
- How will you spend money? Do you have a credit card?
-> Cash and credit card, yes.
- How much money do you have to spend (he said, "to waste" in english, which caught me off guard, but it's a common "gastar" mistranslation I suppose) ?
-> I have a large savings account so I didn't disclose the number, but I had ~ $3,000 US cash in my bag, which he asked to see.
- When will you leave?
-> Within the next three months, I would like to go home for Summer in the U.S.A in July. (This is true, although I don't have a ticket yet.). I am now reconsidering this if reentry is a nightmare.
- What am I supposed to tell the immigration of your country?
-> I had no idea what he was talking about. He rambled for a while about how strict USA immigration was.
He took my passport for 15 minutes to the back room and eventually a mild-mannered man came out, approved the 90 days, and told me I couldn't do this again (I think he said that, at least). The man suggested the new digital nomad visa or a work visa.
At this point, I was the last passenger in the terminal and was worried for the outcome, but no bribe was requested and no clear threats other than the stern lectures.
My girlfriend and I do plan on going to the U.S. once she has a break in her classes and her US tourism visa clears. It's been very difficult to plan because covid obliterated the schedule. Our plan was for the end of 2022 but it might be early 2023 now. At some point in the future, marriage would be in the cards to help with immigration, but we're not quite ready yet.
My understanding after reading this (incredible) forum is that they are clamping down on the border hopping practice. My understanding, too, is that the practice is completely legal and is not prohibited in the same way as European countries prohibit it (ie. max 180 days per year as tourist). I was surprised by the nasty tone of this conversation and the line of questioning around remote work. I didn't think work visas applied in this scenario.
Then, at the end of the 90 day extension (180 days total), I took the ferry to Uruguay for a week with the understanding that this was a no-hassle common practice for expats here. Returning to the country on Buquebus ferry, I had the fortune of a bigger guy who basically started shouting at me immediately after he flipped through my passport and told me that I couldn't do what I was doing and that I was at the extremes of a very clear law. I was surprised and was not very well prepared with my answers, although I answered truthfully.
His line of questioning (while yelling at me for 15 minutes and telling me that I could not do this). I was worried but calm and was glad that he was asking questions because it meant progress. I had mentally prepared for rejection at the border and I would have been okay:
- What are you doing here?
-> Tourism, my girlfriend lives here and we are exploring the country together. (I have an apartment, I'm on the lease with her).
- Are you working?
-> I'm working remotely for US businesses.
-> him: But your laptop is here, so you're working here! You need a work visa!
-> I don't believe that remote work qualifies as working here, but I would like to learn more if that is the case.
- How will you spend money? Do you have a credit card?
-> Cash and credit card, yes.
- How much money do you have to spend (he said, "to waste" in english, which caught me off guard, but it's a common "gastar" mistranslation I suppose) ?
-> I have a large savings account so I didn't disclose the number, but I had ~ $3,000 US cash in my bag, which he asked to see.
- When will you leave?
-> Within the next three months, I would like to go home for Summer in the U.S.A in July. (This is true, although I don't have a ticket yet.). I am now reconsidering this if reentry is a nightmare.
- What am I supposed to tell the immigration of your country?
-> I had no idea what he was talking about. He rambled for a while about how strict USA immigration was.
He took my passport for 15 minutes to the back room and eventually a mild-mannered man came out, approved the 90 days, and told me I couldn't do this again (I think he said that, at least). The man suggested the new digital nomad visa or a work visa.
At this point, I was the last passenger in the terminal and was worried for the outcome, but no bribe was requested and no clear threats other than the stern lectures.
My girlfriend and I do plan on going to the U.S. once she has a break in her classes and her US tourism visa clears. It's been very difficult to plan because covid obliterated the schedule. Our plan was for the end of 2022 but it might be early 2023 now. At some point in the future, marriage would be in the cards to help with immigration, but we're not quite ready yet.
My understanding after reading this (incredible) forum is that they are clamping down on the border hopping practice. My understanding, too, is that the practice is completely legal and is not prohibited in the same way as European countries prohibit it (ie. max 180 days per year as tourist). I was surprised by the nasty tone of this conversation and the line of questioning around remote work. I didn't think work visas applied in this scenario.
