Immigration Lines/Renewing with Kids/Kids Leaving Country with One Parent

[LiXueLee]

I have three immigration questions (and yes, I read the last thread on immigration and didn't see these covered there!)

1) I have heard that recently the lines at immigration for renewing your 90 day tourist visa without leaving the country have become impossibly long because of a large influx of immigrants. I have heard that people are sleeping overnight to secure a place in line. Has anyone been recently and do you have any experiences to relate?

2) If we are renewing for our children, do we have to bring birth certificates, and if so, originals or copies?

3) We're going to fly back to the States in July and we may split up with me flying back earlier than Tom so I can attend a conference. If Tom has to fly out of the country with our two daughters (age 10 and 7) without me, does he need birth certificates or something notarized from me saying that it is okay? Does anyone have any experience with flying solo from Argentina back to the US with their kids? It's the return portion of the ticket, I don't know if that matters.

 

[steveinbsas]

I have three immigration questions (and yes, I read the last thread on immigration and didn't see these covered there!)

1) I have heard that recently the lines at immigration for renewing your 90 day tourist visa without leaving the country have become impossibly long because of a large influx of immigrants. I have heard that people are sleeping overnight to secure a place in line. Has anyone been recently and do you have any experiences to relate?

2) If we are renewing for our children, do we have to bring birth certificates, and if so, originals or copies?

3) We're going to fly back to the States in July and we may split up with me flying back earlier than Tom so I can attend a conference. If Tom has to fly out of the country with our two daughters (age 10 and 7) without me, does he need birth certificates or something notarized from me saying that it is okay? Does anyone have any experience with flying solo from Argentina back to the US with their kids? It's the return portion of the ticket, I don't know if that matters.

I can only reply to question one: The "line" for renewing a 90 day visa forms at the section "perrogas de permanecnia" and those who are really immigrating from other South American countries are not in "that" line.

There was a thread in the last day or two that reported that appointments are now required for new visa applications. It included a phone number. I suggest you call and ask.

 

[LiXueLee]

Just to make sure I have this right, a new visa application is not the same as renewing a visa, is that correct? I'll go hunt down that number for Monday.

 

[steveinbsas]

Just to make sure I have this right, a new visa application is not the same as renewing a visa, is that correct? I'll go hunt down that number for Monday.

There certainly is a distinction, but no one since the new requirement of appointments for new visas has reported about the need for an appointment for renewals.

Please let us know what happens!

 

[LiXueLee]

On the kids-traveling-with-one-parent front, I looked up what the US State Department says about Argentina, and it is this:

Children under 21 years of age who reside in Argentina, regardless of nationality, are required to present a notarized document that certifies both parents' permission for the child's departure from Argentina when the child is traveling alone, with only one parent, or in someone else's custody

Also, it's probably a good idea to bring an original and copies of birth certificates for your children if you are going to be in South America for any length of time.

As far as extending our visa, we looked at our passports and realized that we have to renew it before Thursday this week. The prospect of standing in line, even for a few hours on the short side, with two children is more than I can bear, so we're going to head to Colonia for the day!

 

[jantango]

Take an easier route. Do not travel to Colonia. Do not go to Migraciones and pay 100 pesos for the tourist visa extension. When you leave the country in July, pay a 50 peso penalty for overstaying the 90-day tourist visa and get on the plane.

I have been told by an American who lives in BsAs without residency that this is permitted by Migraciones, but many don't know about it.

I, on the other hand, have lived in Buenos Aires for ten years and travel regularly to Colonia to renew my tourist visa. Just got back a few hours ago as a matter of fact -- my 34th visit!

 

[LiXueLee]

A lot of people have recommended just paying the fine when we leave, but we plan on coming back sometime in August, and I don't want a visa overstay violation. I know it's not a big deal...now, but I'm a little gun shy after living in Taiwan.

When I was there in the early '90s, the govt. there had been notoriously lax about foreigners working and living in the country with their 90 day renewable visa (we used to take the 747 shuttle to Hong Kong to renew). I had friends who had lived there for years, a la Buenos Aires expats.

Then one day, the govt. changed their mind and began to run sting operations and booted a bunch of expats out of the country. One friend of mine, a French woman, had lived in Taiwan for years was escorted to her apartment, told to pack a bag, and was driven to the airport.

That sort of thing leaves a lasting impression and really hits home that a country can decide to actually enforce their immigration laws at any time.

 

[steveinbsas]

Still wondering, has anyone gone for (and received) the renewal without an appointment?

 

[allcraz]

Still wondering, has anyone gone for (and received) the renewal without an appointment?

Yes, I just went last week. I waited over 4 hours, but it got done. I think I just picked a busy day. The times I went before it took around 2 hours. According to the Migraciones website, you do NOT have to call for an appointment if you are renewing your tourist visa and the following trámites:

No deberá sacar turno telefónico para la realización de los siguientes trámites:
- Informes
- Entregas
- Prórrogas de Permanencia (This is for visa renewal)
- Renovación de Precarias
- Permisos de Ingreso
- Habilitación de Salida
- Certificaciones
- Intimados a traer documentación
- Registro de Requirentes y Apoderados
- Patria Grande

Good luck!

 

[2GuysInPM]

Take an easier route. Do not travel to Colonia. Do not go to Migraciones and pay 100 pesos for the tourist visa extension. When you leave the country in July, pay a 50 peso penalty for overstaying the 90-day tourist visa and get on the plane.

I have been told by an American who lives in BsAs without residency that this is permitted by Migraciones, but many don't know about it.
.....

It looks like the $50 peso visa overstay loophole is now over. More like $300 pesos now:

http://www.discoverbuenosaires.com/argentina-increases-fee-for-overstaying-tourist-visa