My Citizenship Dni Is Ready And Will Be Delivered Next Week!

[lucha54]

Did you manage to get it only because you stayed living here for 2 years? Can you give us a bit more background on how and why you got it/ your situation? Also I'm curious how much all the legal fees added up to be but you can tell me in a PM if you feel so inclined

 

[nikad]

Arlean, now, that yo are an Argie too, who are you voting for? Inquiring minds want to knwo j/k Congrats!

 

[arlean]

I had bad legal advice 5 years ago. I was told I had to get permanent (in my case that took four years--if you want to know why I'll tell you). I went to Gabriel (different lawyer) for something and he took one look at my records and said "You are eligible right now, in fact, you were eligible for citizenship in 2009). This is what happens when you have had bad legal advice, and it is rampant in Argentina I have found. So I had Gabriel begin the process right then and 10 months later I was a citizen. Of course anyone can make a mistake--even lawyers. No one is perfect. But some of them give you plain irrelevant advice and end up costing way too much.I don't even want to add up what my citizenship has cost me because of bad legal advice. But once Gabriel got hold of it, everything changed all of a sudden.

I really don't remember the other charges. It was not much. I had to pay perhaps $10 US for the birth certificate. Then they wanted a marriage certificate but I had my son get that for me in the States and sent it to Gabriel. I think the FBI report was about $50 and the lawyers ordered that. I reported that Gabriel and Flora got it all for me but I think I did order some of it, like the marriage certificate. There were charges for translation but it was not a lot. Sorry I can't be specific but overall the costs were low.

As to why I wanted citizenship, there are some things you can't do here without citizenship, like buy real estate in some areas. My son and I already ran into that situation with some real estate. I also think a U. S. citizen needs a backup passport, although a lot of people scoff at that, I just let them scoff. I call it planting flags in different countries. There is an increasing number of reasons popping up in the States for not giving a passport and I do not like the trend at all. I think in these times we need more than one flag. However, having said all that, you can count me among those who genuinely care about Argentina. Another reason is that it opens the door for my children, both of whom are interested and it makes it a lot easier for a young person to qualify when they have a first degree relative who is Argentine, which mine now have. So there are a number of reasons and I don't mind telling you at all. In fact, I give out this advice all the time through my web page. I don't make money at it, it is my labor of love because of all the disappointments I've had myself. I try to help those who are coming here avoid all that. Gabriel tells me I should do it professionally - but I let him do it professionally. The legal fee itself might depend on your situation but for me it was less than $2k. I think Gabriel is charging $2k now and that includes a spouse, but best to ask him if anyone is interested.

 

[arlean]

Haha, Nikad I giggle. As to who I am voting for, I am open for suggestions. I frankly don't see much good on the horizon in the field of politics--here or anywhere else for that matter. So don't anyone hesitate to talk politics with me! I'm about as approachable on that subject as anyone can be. Some of you guys grump about political discussions here and I wish that, if you feel that way, you would just go on and read somewhere else and leave us alone. It's a big web site and I WANT to know what everyone thinks.

Incidentally, Nikad, I am recommending you to newcomers as a translator. I wish I had known you when I first came here. I can't tell you the frustration I had trying to get things done then, getting Internet, etc. Back then I could communicate after a fashion, my problem was--and still is--understanding them. Life was just about impossible for that reason and knowing you would have made it SO much easier! I think it is important to keep putting your "contact me" information out there. You could be a life saver. You would have been for me!

 

[arlean]

Here I am with my attorney outside the court. No, for some unknown (to me) reason I can't add the photos. I don't think it's the size, I cropped it and it's 33 kb. Oh well.

 

[Ceviche]

I think Gabriel Cerano has improved as a lawyer, Many years ago, he told me the only way to get citizenship is to first become a temporary resident, permant resident and apply for citizenship after 5 years. More power to him, then, that he is on the right track finally.

 

[arlean]

Ceviche, that was the law at one time, but it was changed. A lot of the problem is that many lawyers don't seem to know about the change. I don't know when Gabriel told you that if that might have been the case--you did say many years ago.

My former attorney told me I had to do that and it is almost what I did, and every year I paid them $1200 and made a trip back to Argentina to renew. That's why I say I hate to think what this citizenship has cost me because of bad information. My mother was sick during that time so I had to be in the States and make the trip back every year in order to maintain residency because I was told I had to or else I would have to start all over. I didn't have to at all because by then the law had changed. During one of my trips, my mother worsened and died and I wasn't there. Now I find out I could have been there and still had citizenship before now. This is what I mean about how costly it is if you don't get good legal advice. Then that day I went to see Gabriel and he said "You don't have to do all that, you qualify right now."

I still don't criticize the first attorney. I will tell you about it but I never say who it was because I think he honestly didn't know. He was always sweet and when I asked him about representing me for citizenship he said he didn't handle that and didn't know who did. So I really believe it was just ignorance on his part.

But really it's up to lawyers to keep up with the law. I have to say that.

 

[ghost]

Arlean. I have read your responses and I am still trying to determine an advantage to gaining citizenship. I have a permanent DNI and have been able to do everything other than vote for a president. Do you have plans to get a passport?

 

[nikad]

Haha, Nikad I giggle. As to who I am voting for, I am open for suggestions. I frankly don't see much good on the horizon in the field of politics--here or anywhere else for that matter. So don't anyone hesitate to talk politics with me! I'm about as approachable on that subject as anyone can be. Some of you guys grump about political discussions here and I wish that, if you feel that way, you would just go on and read somewhere else and leave us alone. It's a big web site and I WANT to know what everyone thinks.

Incidentally, Nikad, I am recommending you to newcomers as a translator. I wish I had known you when I first came here. I can't tell you the frustration I had trying to get things done then, getting Internet, etc. Back then I could communicate after a fashion, my problem was--and still is--understanding them. Life was just about impossible for that reason and knowing you would have made it SO much easier! I think it is important to keep putting your "contact me" information out there. You could be a life saver. You would have been for me!

I have no idea who I am voting for as of yet, I do know who I am not voting for though. I was just asking you because as a fellow Argenta, now you have to try to join some local cafe and pratice the national sport, aka complaining and bi***g about all of them and the government no matter what
Thanks for the recommendation indeed. I know first hand how tough it gets sometimes here with small things. Went with my husband to Anses last week for some paper stuff and when we were leaving he says " these things at public offices still confuse me after 10 years " I could only tell him that it is not an expat thing, public places are confusing, they change the system, the lines, the required paper work, they have screens calling numbers but if it gets late and they are about to close the system suddenly changes, lol and that always leaves you wondering no matter what you are or where you are coming from. Us Argentine, get confused as hell with these things too!
Some things have to do with us porteños talking too fast, and others, many others with inefficient customer service that will give you 8 different answers if you call them 8 times. If you really are determined to getting certain things done, you need lots of patience and several hours in some cases.
Experiencing how frustrating and confusing some things were through my husband´s experience, was an inspiration to provide this small service.

 

[Crema Americana]

If you are going to live long term (forever) in a country and want more rights and freedoms (voting, not having any issues with buying property or inheriting, benefits and tax issues) then citizenship makes sense.

When my mother moved to the US after marrying my father, she didn't really feel the need to get US citizenship - she has her Spain passport and permanent US residency, so she figured it was unnecessary. Turns out that should my father die, tax laws get more complicated for non-citizens... so after 30+ years she's applying for citizenship.

You have to look at what's right for your situation and possible future situations.