How To Get A Dni / Permanent Residency?

[ElQueso]

...You have to order your own documents and that's not something an Argentine lawyer can do for you. The FBI report requires the most effort and takes the longest amount of time to get. You must also (easily) get the Argentine police report yourselves...

One comment - my lawyer actually did all the work for me on the FBI report. He took me to the local police station to get me through the process, then I signed the FBI form (he had an official copy) but he prepared it and sent it and dealt with everything in the States - I didn't lift a finger (I did reimburse him for the fee, but he got everything apostilled there as well). He also took me to get the digital fingerprints (not a difficult process, but I went right to the front of the line as a result of his contacts) for the local criminal history search they did.

 

[steveinbsas]

Lawyers can be expensive, but the guy I used was the most reasonable. The good thing about using a lawyer that specializes in this is that the lawyer should have contacts in immigrations that he or she have developed over time (mine brought gifts, candy, etc, every so often when he visited, for example).

Wow, I wonder if a a box of candy can offset the income requirement?

Gee, Wally, who would a thunk it?

(It's the only issue Tom and Nancy really have to deal with.)

Immigration officials and clerks aren't often terribly helpful - if you have three problems in your paperwork, for example, chances are very good that you'll only find out about them one at a time, in three separate visits and a lot of frustration.

This is true, but this is why I recommend Patricia. We learned this together. We went twice for my initial visa and my first renewal.

It wasn't frustrating. It was just time consuming.

She is not a lawyer but she is very good at getting cooperation from public officials.

(I despise the idea that a lawyer who buys a public official candy is necessary to get anything approved).

There is no way today she could get them to accept a police report from my home town (without fingerprints) instead of an FBI report, but in 2006 she did just that.

She also helped me "export" about 30 paintings from Agentina to the USA without a customs broker or anyone at the aduana asking for any fee or a bribe...or even a bon bon.

With our lawyer, my wife and I had no problems and he even took us to get our fingerprints done at the local police station (not a big deal, but we didn't wait at all) and has an office in Miami through which he even handled all FBI antecedent requests and everything.

I went to a police station in Palermo to get my fingerprints taken.. it was a very interesting experience. They took me into the back, back, room where, at 7 am, they were drinking mate. I could see the "detention" devices attached to the walls. I could only imagine the "interrogations" that took place in that room.

They were very nice. At that time I spoke far less Spanish so there wasn't much to talk about.

I never sent the fingerprints to the FBI.. I got a home town police report which was also notarized and received the Apostille in Illinois.

Migraciones accepted it without any question (but they would not accept it today).

That was in 2006...when the requirement for the visa rentista was about 3000 pesos ($1000 USD) per month at the time.

Ah, yes, the good old days.

 

[steveinbsas]

Thank you Steve. One question, do you get your DNI with your temp residency or are they 2 separate processes?

It used to be two separate tramites. Now it's supposed to be one.

In 2006, getting th residency was relatively easy compared to the nightmare of getting the DNI (or even renewing it).

Nonetheless, know the DNI was "guaranteed" once residency was grated, I did all the steps to get my DNI on my own.

And I spoke very little castellano then.

Only once did I see another foreigner at the registro with an Argentine lawyer (or gestor).

 

[domthegreat]

Can any one recommend a lawyer for the process? And if so, how much should I be looking to be charged?

 

[Alicia karr]

I used Mariano Monteverde, 15-5108-0817. I'm about to become a permanent resident after three years of temporary rentista DNI. He speaks English and I had 0 problems. I honestly don't know what the fees are now, but in my case they were cheaper than some others that I knew of. But each case is different. You can tell him La Coqueta sent you, let me know what you think if you do use him. And good luck!

 

[steveinbsas]

Can any one recommend a lawyer for the process? And if so, how much should I be looking to be charged?

You can contact the woman who went to migraciones with me and helped me get my residency.

She will accept no more than $200 USD, even if you have to make more than one trip to submit documents (less likely now more than ever).

She is not a lawyer or a gestor.

She is simply a personable and intelligent individual who completely understands the process and also speaks English and Castellano.

Just keep one thing in mind: You do NOT need a "lawyer" to apply for residency in Argentina!

 

[SunflowerShimmer]

Does anyone feel like writing up a basic course on how to get a DNI / permanent residency (and are they the same?). My wife and I are coming down more and staying longer so it's time we join the club. We are on social security from the USA. I assume that would be enough income but any current information would really be appreciated.

Thanks, Tom

I am in the process of doing this myself but without a lawyer and sure they can do all the paperwork for you but from what I have been told they ultimatly are not needed. 1st I recomend that before you come to Argentina you get your FBI Background check http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/criminal-history-summary-checks and then once you have that get the apositle http://www.state.gov/authentications/. Once you have all of that, you will need to pay the Reprocity Fee https://virtual.provinciapagos.com.ar/ArgentineTaxes/ and print out the recipt. Keep this no matter what it proves when you came into the country as you will have to come to Argentina and live for 2 year´s and upon the end of that ime you will have to show proof of when you arrived. You can stay with the tourist visa and even go over the 90 days, Argentinian migraitions is not ike he ones in the US and won´t kick you out of the country unless you are found guilty of a crime and sentance to more than 3 years of jail. So, I think thats it anay questions? Oh, and you will have to do an interview and yes, it will be in Spanish. But they will simple questions like, why do you want to be Argentinian. So, no worries. Any Questions?

 

[fuccolini]

i highly recommend being a permatourist. dealing with the bureaucracy and all the BS is futile and basically a dni does not bear any tangible benefit, especially if you don't need to work in blanco.

 

[jbhenson]

I am in the process of doing this myself but without a lawyer and sure they can do all the paperwork for you but from what I have been told they ultimatly are not needed. 1st I recomend that before you come to Argentina you get your FBI Background check http://www.fbi.gov/a...-summary-checks and then once you have that get the apositle http://www.state.gov/authentications/. Once you have all of that, you will need to pay the Reprocity Fee https://virtual.prov...ArgentineTaxes/ and print out the recipt. Keep this no matter what it proves when you came into the country as you will have to come to Argentina and live for 2 year´s and upon the end of that ime you will have to show proof of when you arrived. You can stay with the tourist visa and even go over the 90 days, Argentinian migraitions is not ike he ones in the US and won´t kick you out of the country unless you are found guilty of a crime and sentance to more than 3 years of jail. So, I think thats it anay questions? Oh, and you will have to do an interview and yes, it will be in Spanish. But they will simple questions like, why do you want to be Argentinian. So, no worries. Any Questions?

I have a question for you but you cant use the messaging system?

 

[steveinbsas]

I am in the process of doing this myself but without a lawyer and sure they can do all the paperwork for you but from what I have been told they ultimatly are not needed. 1st I recomend that before you come to Argentina you get your FBI Background check http://www.fbi.gov/a...-summary-checks and then once you have that get the apositle http://www.state.gov/authentications/. Once you have all of that, you will need to pay the Reprocity Fee https://virtual.prov...ArgentineTaxes/ and print out the recipt. Keep this no matter what it proves when you came into the country as you will have to come to Argentina and live for 2 year´s and upon the end of that ime you will have to show proof of when you arrived. You can stay with the tourist visa and even go over the 90 days, Argentinian migraitions is not ike he ones in the US and won´t kick you out of the country unless you are found guilty of a crime and sentance to more than 3 years of jail. So, I think thats it anay questions? Oh, and you will have to do an interview and yes, it will be in Spanish. But they will simple questions like, why do you want to be Argentinian. So, no worries. Any Questions?

This is an "old" thread but it's the first time I've seen this post. Tom asked about residency and the DNI. The requirements that were mentioned in this post: living in Argentina for two years and doing an interview are for citizenship, not residency. The reciprocity fee must be paid by all "tourists" fro the USA (among other countries) and has nothing to do with applying for temporary or permanent residency or citizenship.