Immigrations changes now in effect

[Wayne Tompkins]

Has that happened to anyone ever? I don't know of a single instance.

There was a decree (I believe) in either 2010 or 2015 that made "abuse of the tourist visa" (AKA being a "pseudo tourist") grounds for any immigration official to deny reentry to any foreigner who they thought was doing so.

PS: If it was "legal" to overstay a tourist visa, why would there ever have been a fine for doing so?

 

[Wayne Tompkins]

That's not sustainable and will have to be amended. I don't know what they were thinking when they wrote that.

Also, it defines two years of residence for citizenship as two years without leaving Argentine territory.

 

[darksider415]

That's not sustainable and will have to be amended. I don't know what they were thinking when they wrote that.

I have an idea of what they were thinking... They were trying to cut off the folks who only stay for 7 months out of the year, and possibly some of the Russians, but they took a hard swing in the other direction and went "Nope, one foot off of Argentine soil and you've got to restart the clock."

 

[mageesa]

I have an idea of what they were thinking... They were trying to cut off the folks who only stay for 7 months out of the year, and possibly some of the Russians, but they took a hard swing in the other direction and went "Nope, one foot off of Argentine soil and you've got to restart the clock."

Not setting foot outside for two years is even more extreme than what the US asks (though I think I mentioned this before, and my link to the US Government Immigration website was pooh-poohed as 'fake news'?).

I mean, it's hard to imagine having a significant out-of-country source of income that doesn't require the occasional visit, or paperwork done on US territory. Or a relative gets sick or dies, etc.

Is this going to be like the law that golden-age bandoneons wouldn't be allowed out of the country? I carried documentation of my instrument's provenance for years, and was never asked to show it in the airport. Then they quietly got rid of the law. How will they check everyone's health insurance validity, without taking you through an online tourist visa application?

I've finally started my temp visa application process, which will entail some nonsense already. Now I need to round up some local witnesses to redo my domicilio; which is from last year. Now they want something else. Wish me luck!

 

[aloevera]

It seems that granting citizenship is being taken out of the hands of judges and put into Migraciones.

MODIFICACIÓN A LA LEY DE CIUDADANÍA N° 346 Y SUS MODIFICACIONES

ARTÍCULO 37.- Sustitúyese el artículo 2° de la Ley de Ciudadanía N° 346 y sus modificaciones por el siguiente:

“ARTÍCULO 2°.- Son ciudadanos por naturalización:

1°. Los extranjeros mayores de DIECIOCHO (18) años que acrediten haber residido en la REPÚBLICA ARGENTINA en forma continua y legal durante los DOS (2) años anteriores a la solicitud y manifiesten su voluntad de serlo ante la DIRECCIÓN NACIONAL DE MIGRACIONES organismo descentralizado actuante en el ámbito de la VICEJEFATURA DE GABINETE DEL INTERIOR de la JEFATURA DE GABINETE DE MINISTROS.

Se entenderá que un extranjero residió continuamente en el país cuando hubiere permanecido en el territorio durante todo el plazo al que hace referencia el párrafo anterior, sin haber realizado ninguna salida al exterior.

So yes, this decree modifies Law 346, and takes the power to grant citizenship from judges and gives it to Migraciones. This is very interesting and odd, because it upsets over 150 years of precedent, as federal judges have been the ones granting citizenship ever since Law 346 was enacted. Now Migraciones will do it. However, there's a chance that both chambers of the legislature may reject the DNU and then it's moot, but they have like <9 days to do it. I will definitely be watching to see how this turns out.

 

[aloevera]

So yes, this decree modifies Law 346, and takes the power to grant citizenship from judges and gives it to Migraciones. This is very interesting and odd, because it upsets over 150 years of precedent, as federal judges have been the ones granting citizenship ever since Law 346 was enacted. Now Migraciones will do it. However, there's a chance that both chambers of the legislature may reject the DNU and then it's moot, but they have like <9 days to do it. I will definitely be watching to see how this turns out.

I also just reread and noticed that it requires legal residence ("en forma continua y legal"). I really am wondering if this will be the end of overstaying and applying for citizenship. We will have to see what the Senate and Chamber of Deputies do.

 

[antipodean]

Also, it defines two years of residence for citizenship as two years without leaving Argentine territory.

This is the one point I find utterly devoid of common sense. It means only “poor” migrants are likely to naturalize - those that have neither the means nor the need to travel, which seems contradictory to the argument of the government to attract talented migrants.

Almost every other country on earth still requires substantial presence to naturalize, conceptually nothing wrong with that, but that doesn’t mean an Alberto Fernandez-esque lockdown of hopeful citizens effectively locking them up at home for two years without basic freedom of movement. It means having solid and demonstrable ties - like a home you’re paying for, a job, family, paying your taxes and all the rest while spending more time in Argentine than outside. IMO residency for citizenship eligibility should be no different than the rules for tax residency otherwise Argentina is just creating a tax trap for productive migrants (some of whom won’t ever get the right to vote on how their tax pesos get spent).

 

[RichardAlem]

It says that any residency or citizenship application currently underway will be assessed based on the law as it stood at the time the process began.

DISPOSICIONES TRANSITORIAS

ARTÍCULO 44.- Aquellos trámites de otorgamiento de residencia que se hubieren iniciado de forma previa a la entrada en vigencia del presente decreto continuarán su proceso y se analizarán de acuerdo al marco jurídico vigente al momento de su comienzo.

ARTÍCULO 45.- Aquellos trámites de otorgamiento de ciudadanía que se hubieren iniciado de forma previa a la entrada en vigencia del presente decreto continuarán su proceso ante el juzgado en el que estuvieren tramitando y se analizarán bajo las causales vigentes al momento del comienzo del mencionado proceso.

It seems that granting citizenship is being taken out of the hands of judges and put into Migraciones.

Que, a los fines indicados, es fundamental que sea la DIRECCIÓN NACIONAL DE MIGRACIONES, organismo descentralizado actuante en el ámbito de la VICEJEFATURA DE GABINETE DEL INTERIOR de la JEFATURA DE GABINETE DE MINISTROS, la que tenga a su cargo el otorgamiento de la ciudadanía, ya que podrá verificar de forma adecuada la pertinencia del otorgamiento en cada caso específico.

Que resulta a todas luces irrazonable que un trámite administrativo como el otorgamiento de la ciudadanía continúe en la órbita del PODER JUDICIAL DE LA NACIÓN, lo que implica la asignación de recursos que podrían ser utilizados para el cumplimiento de las funciones específicas de dicho Poder del ESTADO NACIONAL.

Que esta modificación redundará en una mayor eficiencia, seguridad y transparencia en los trámites migratorios, al encontrarse unificado todo el historial del solicitante en un mismo organismo, reduciendo la discrecionalidad en las resoluciones y facilitando el acceso a la tramitación de la ciudadanía.

Alby, if this decree is not retroactive, I will be safe by about three weeks since my Caratula is dated in early May and the case remains pending before the court. But who knows? Perhaps all pending judicial cases will be transferred to Migraciones? If so, there will likely be countless precarias issued per case before everything gets sorted out.

I can only hope for the best, that the assigned court will continue to process the solicitation. However, my citizenship case will certainly not be resolved before I must renew the pensioner visa and I am not looking forward to dealing with Migraciones.

Congratulations to all expats with citizenship or permanent residency.

 

[SergioXarin]

I'm not going to change a single thing about my life or perma tourist strategy. I don't believe anything about "my friends American dog walkers uncle just got denied entry"

I think it's all lies. If I'm wrong yeah that's on me. But I'm confident.

 

[Alby]

However, my citizenship case will certainly not be resolved before I must renew the pensioner visa and I am not looking forward to dealing with Migraciones.

As per my comment yesterday on the thread attaching the BATimes article, the decree introduces the vague concept of "sufficient financial means" when assessing permanent residency applications. It is unclear whether sufficient financial means will continue to be demonstrated, in categories like Rentista and Pensionista, by the applicant having regular financial resources the equivalent of at least 5 times the minimum monthly wage. The decree says:

Al tramitar el pedido de residencia, el interesado deberá acreditar que cuenta con los medios económicos suficientes para subsistir en el país y que no cuenta con antecedentes penales que pudieren motivar el rechazo de la solicitudes, todo ello de acuerdo con las condiciones que establezca la reglamentación.

It would seem that either the current rules (5 times the minimum monthly wage) continue, or we can expect some new formulation from Migraciones at a later date.