Just a reassurance for Visa Runners to Colonia

[steveinbsas]

He said that because I had "three or four" visas, I should go to migraciones before the new one that he gave me expires and get a prorroga because in the future someone might decide not to let me in.

I agree that you should try to get a resident visa if you are eligible for one and I suggest you start getting the necessary documents together (especially the foreign criminal report). Migraciones could give you an "ultima prorroga" in less than 90 days (when and if you go there). If they do you will still have plenty of time to apply for a resident visa.

Even if you are able to get a "regular" 90 day prorroga at migraciones you will still have to leave the country at the end of that extension and you will face the same situation all over again. In the future it is possible that those returning from Colonia will receive an "ultima prorroga" then and there. As "scary" as it sounds, that would be a lot less drastic than not letting you back in.

Foreigners who are in Argentina for more than 180 days per year are supposed to have resident visas. Basically, that's what the new decreto is all about. Unfortunately, it is not yet clear just how strictly it will be enforced.

 

[Bajo_cero2]

You should not go by yourself to DGM. Send a friend. This is very important that they don´t put your passport number in the computer because this is the only way you might have problems related to your irregular status. Otherwise, you can stay irregular until you have 24 months and then to apply for Citizenship or permanent residency though Court.
Regards

 

[mmoon]

Is there any possibly way to get the foreign criminal report in Argentina and not have to go back to your country of origin to get it? Can the embassies help?

 

[steveinbsas]

Is there any possibly way to get the foreign criminal report in Argentina and not have to go back to your country of origin to get it? Can the embassies help?

That will probably vary by country.

I believe the US embassy will supply the (fingerprint) form for the FBI report. It can be mailed to the FBI ofice, but I'm not sure that they will sent it to a foreign address.

I suggest you search the forum with the key words "criminal report" and post your question in one of those thread (or start a new one). It may get "lost" in this thread rather quickly.

 

[steveinbsas]

I'm posting this (partial) quote here in case anyone finds this thread using the search engine and missed it elsewhere:

Hi all. I am a U.S. perma-tourist here since July '08, alternating between 3-month extensions and trips to Colonia, Carmelo, Asuncion, and one trip back to the states. Everything has gone very smoothly until last week when I went to migraciones and they told me this was the last extension. I didn't take it too seriously until I read recent threads here, and upon looking at my passport, I discovered the "ultima prorroga" kiss of death written below my extension stamp in the passport.

Note that the "ultima prorroga" was given at the office of migraciones. We have yet to hear any horror stories about those returning from Colonia except for the expat who already received an ultima prorroga at migraciones, didn't realize it's significance, and was not granted a new 90 day visa (or any additional time) upon returning from Colonia.

The full post can be found at the beginning of this thread: Marriage to Mercosur resident, ultima prorroga

 

[esllou]

steve, was saying the same thing to someone last night, that the thread linking all the "ultima prorroga" is the migraciones office. At least, as far as we know.

 

[steveinbsas]

steve, was saying the same thing to someone last night, that the thread linking all the "ultima prorroga" is the migraciones office. At least, as far as we know.

But, as Florence wrote and Baja_cero underscored, the border agents can prevent reentry and at some point some probably will.

I went to Colonia this weekend with about eight or ten Angentine entry visas already in my passport. Some of the early ones were from regular tourist visits, but for the past 15 months, they are of the permatourist variety. The very nice and polite Argentine immigrations agent in Colonia asked me if I had Argentine residency. I said No. He said that because I had "three or four" visas, I should go to migraciones before the new one that he gave me expires and get a prorroga because in the future someone might decide not to let me in. He also mentioned it would save me money but it wasn't clear if he was talking about some sort of fine or the cost of the trips out of the country. (I have noted in my passport one fine for a 3 day overstary earlier this year.) He gave me the normal 90 days and said nothing about an ultimatum. My sense was that he was saying that he was a nice guy and wasn't going to hassle me, but someone else in the future is likely to. I am thinking that it is time to regularize my status with another kind of visa.

If Florence goes to migraciones she will undoubtedly receive an ultima prorroga...unless she is applying for temporary residency at the least.

As soon as someone posts that they were given 10 days to leave the country when returning from Colonia (as opposed to a new 90 day visa) I hope the rest will take Bajo_cero's advice and stay here with irregular immigration status. If what he says is correct, you aren't here illegally until a judge says so.

 

[Illinoisjoe]

Hi all, if starting a new thread is more appropriate, let me know. I read through this thread and I'm still not exactly clear about how it applies to my current situation:

I visited Buenos Aires in January for about 2 weeks and now I am here for just over 180 days (I arrived on September 22 and I'll leave on March 24), after which I'll return to the States. My plan was to do either one of two things:

1. go on one vacation to Colonia before 90 days and to make sure that it was long enough that once I returned to BA, I would have less than 90 days in BA before returning to the USA.

2. Go on two shorter trips out of the country. Either one to Uruguay, one to Chile, or both to Uruguay.

I would GREATLY appreciate any advice on the relative merits of these two basic plans to not overstay my 90 tourist visa and which variations on the two are best (i.e. Uruguay vs. Chile). Or is it better to lay low and pay a fine upon leaving? that seems unlikely for me, because I probably want to come back here in the foreseeable future.

Gracias!

 

[Bajo_cero2]

Just overstay and pay the fine. Regards

 

[John.St]

Questions to all : have people from the EU been experiencing problems ?

Yes.

I am an EU citizen. 10 days ago I crossed the Chilean border to Argentina (Christo Redentor) I was asked what I was doing in Argentina.

I said I was jubilado travelling between Europe, Argentina and Chile (have 43 stamps) and it took almost 10 seconds before I received my "Turista tres meses" stamp - outrageous!!