USAtoBA
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- Sep 23, 2025
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Buenas Ondas wrote this post last year, and it greatly helped me. So I figured I would write my own post. Buenas, I owe you a beer or coffee because I'm basically plagiarizing the format! I was approved my rentista visa today. I was just going in for the renewal, but also have some upcoming travel, so I brought flight receipts as the expiration date would have been an issue with the travel. While I was waiting, I was called up to a different counter than normal. I had also brought a thumb drive at the request of my lawyers to see where the case was at. The woman informed me that my Visa had been approved for the first year, and I was free to travel in and out of the country. She mentioned there was no need to put the information on the thumb drive since I had been approved. I started April this year.
Apostilles, Documents, Etc.
Passport, financial statements, FBI background check, CPA letter verifying income (fiver). I came from Arizona where the apostilles were pretty easy. And I got them all done while I was there. Largely thanks to this forum and Buenas Ondas post that I had read, and of course my phone call with Paula Carello. I also provided monthly statements from Galicia.
The FBI background check I actually got twice. I had requested it the standard way, and it was kind of taking long, so I got impatient and used monument Visa. They got it to me pretty quick. Then of course, a week or so later, the standard way showed up. There's a YouTube video that helped me out with the standard way.
Is It Worth It to Get a Lawyer?
I'm gonna quote the original post here because it was 100% the same with me.
"For me, yes. I booked a consultation with several of the ones recommended here and ending up going with Dr. Paula Carello who I found recommended here (more on her later cause she's amazing--but her email is [email protected] and her website is https://luxbrumalis.com.ar/). Highly recommend her.
Here's why getting a lawyer was worth it for me:
-ditto
Location
I tried to do the process from the USA, it's crazy to me, and still doesn't make sense, to do it in Argentina. You literally pack your belongings, leave everything behind, and come here with the chance that you may have to just go back. I called every consulate in the US, and they all told me they do not do rentista and then I would have to do it here in Arg. I went to the Burazco office every time. Which was a lot more than I thought, the first Rentista was 3 months. After that it was only one month. So I had to go back four times, & once for certifcado domicilio, which was also an odd day of visiting 3 or so offices. Every time the wait was around 2 to 3 hours, and my process took 2 to 3 minutes. Today, I showed up at 7:00 A.m., And was finished by 9: 00am. Get there an hour before opening. Use the bathroom before you leave.
Opening a Bank Account
I had visited four or five banks, before I had a DNI, and actually for that matter I still don't have a DNI. I guess that'll be the next step. I got the CUIL which was fairly easy and helped with the bank. A couple of the banks flat out rejected me, Banco Nación was going to play ball but then backed out. I ended up going with Galicia. I have been a client of Chase Bank in the US for more than 20 years. I spent more time in the Galicia branch in the 2 or 3 months opening the account, then I spent in the Chase Bank in 20 years.
Rent / AirBNBs
I am not in CABA. I live in Monte Grande. So the Airbnb bubble was not even an option for me. I would have liked to and it would have made life simpler, but the Airbnb options here are few and far between. And surprisingly, pretty costly. It's more expensive for an Airbnb in a okay apartment in Monte Grande then a really nice apartment in Palermo. For renting my apartment that was a bit of a pain in the ass as well, a few places rejected me with no DNI, even when I offered the complete contract up front. Luckily they didn't accept that, because when you have little problems with your apartment here and there, it will suck even more that you paid everything up front. So I personally wouldn't do it now that I've learned a little bit more, maybe offer 3 months up front. I had one apartment that I almost signed the contract, but I read the fine print, they wanted me to bring the rent in cash, to a different city every month. From there on, I was very adamant about agreeing to transfers before even visiting an apartment. I also was a bit overpicky, my area is not a luxurious area, my money does go further here, I was looking to live like Bruce Wayne. But it turns out in a lower middle class neighborhood, there are not too many Wayne Manor options available. But I am happy with my apartment.
Tips & Mindsets
-I speak Spanish and Italian fluently. I received an Italian passport/Italian citizenship about 10 years ago. I did the whole process on my own without lawyers. It was easier to get and understand the Italian citizenship process than it was to do the Rentista Visa! Italian citizenship was literally all done by mail in the USA for documents and one trip to Los Angeles, two if you count the passport appointment. I think this visa was 9 or so trips in 6 months, and 10 will be my DNI. Every trip to immigration was exactly the same, I waited 2-3 hours, and whatever I came in for would take 2-3 minutes. Get there early. If you are working that day, plan on starting late.
-If you don't speak Spanish go with someone who does, if you do speak Spanish but are not a native speaker and learned in a different country, be ready for a bit of a curve, I have worked completely in Spanish and had LTRs with a few Mexican gals, it was still a big adjustment here to the accents! Try to start watching Netflix or YouTube specifically shot here.
-If you have travel plans during the expiration which at the time of writing is up to 10 days before the date, I was told to bring the receipts before the trip or during renewal. For example today I would have been traveling November 4-15th, my exp was the 15th, 10 days before I would still be traveling. I brought flight receipts and a business format letter of the trip plans, I highlighted the dates on the flight receipts, but I was also approved today, so it wasn't necessary but that was what I was explained to do from the officials there on the prior visa appointment. Also if your travel does not interfere with the process bring your precaria for when you re-enter the country. You are not a prisoner here, but it is recommended to keep international travel limited before you are approved. I left once to the USA for work, and this month would have been the 2nd international. In the country can be travel galore as long as you are good on the renewal days.
-I didn't wear a suit but I always showed up in a nice shirt & shoes, to my knowledge there's no check box for wardrobe, but in my opinion it will give you a slightly better edge for questions when your turn comes up.
-If you like to cut things close, watch out for Holidays, you don't want to arrive for renewal the last day and it's a Feriado. There seems to be a lot of those days here!
-I started in April, I was approved today for 12 months, and basically was explained I could renew in one year for another full year, so although it was frustrating going so often, essentially the 2 year visa can be 2.5 years in the country because of the process.
Above all enjoy the process, and as Buenas Ondas wrote, appreciate that we have this opportunity to live here. Thank you so much to whoever created this forum! The FB groups are nice for where to go for coffee or your favorite chinese food place, but it seems a lot of those forums aren't really in the Visa process. My questions there never really had solid answers, this place has been different, so thank you to everyone here. I'm happy to answer any questions and one of these days I look forward to coming to CABA for one of the coffee meetups.
Apostilles, Documents, Etc.
Passport, financial statements, FBI background check, CPA letter verifying income (fiver). I came from Arizona where the apostilles were pretty easy. And I got them all done while I was there. Largely thanks to this forum and Buenas Ondas post that I had read, and of course my phone call with Paula Carello. I also provided monthly statements from Galicia.
The FBI background check I actually got twice. I had requested it the standard way, and it was kind of taking long, so I got impatient and used monument Visa. They got it to me pretty quick. Then of course, a week or so later, the standard way showed up. There's a YouTube video that helped me out with the standard way.
Is It Worth It to Get a Lawyer?
I'm gonna quote the original post here because it was 100% the same with me.
"For me, yes. I booked a consultation with several of the ones recommended here and ending up going with Dr. Paula Carello who I found recommended here (more on her later cause she's amazing--but her email is [email protected] and her website is https://luxbrumalis.com.ar/). Highly recommend her.
Here's why getting a lawyer was worth it for me:
- Unclear Requirements: On the gov't website, you can go to 3 different pages and read 3 different things in regards to requirements. Then, on here, everyone's under the impression that the rentista has to be passive/investment income. In my case, that would've meant creating a trust with U.S. lawyers and spending a lot of time and money. Instead, I just needed 5x the minimum salary for 12ish months and to prove the legality of funds which was wayyyy more achievable.
- Pros and Cons of Different Paths: I was undecided on what type of visa I wanted to pursue and explored all of them. Different lawyers have different connections and try to steer you towards one or the other. But I was thinking about the inversionista and then learned through Paula that one of the departments needed for approval was dismantled by Milei--stuff like that.
- Connections at Migraciones: Migraciones can be tough sledding. It requires a lot of persistence and a little bit of luck. My spanish is only OK and I had my gf's help, but Paula worked there for 10 yrs and knew some of the staff there personally, which was a huge help in smoothing some things over.
- Staff at Migraciones Might Not Understand Case Law: The requirements for the rentista visa I used (not requiring a passive income) have legal precedence but aren't widely known about--so at my first hearing, I had to get Paula on the phone to explain the law to the staff at migraciones. That moment was make-or-break for me, and I wouldn't have been able to prove that argument on my on.
- Speed Things Up: Migraciones moves very slow. It's very much a case of a squeaky wheel gets the grease, so it's helpful to have a lawyer who can apply pressure to keep things moving.
-ditto
Location
I tried to do the process from the USA, it's crazy to me, and still doesn't make sense, to do it in Argentina. You literally pack your belongings, leave everything behind, and come here with the chance that you may have to just go back. I called every consulate in the US, and they all told me they do not do rentista and then I would have to do it here in Arg. I went to the Burazco office every time. Which was a lot more than I thought, the first Rentista was 3 months. After that it was only one month. So I had to go back four times, & once for certifcado domicilio, which was also an odd day of visiting 3 or so offices. Every time the wait was around 2 to 3 hours, and my process took 2 to 3 minutes. Today, I showed up at 7:00 A.m., And was finished by 9: 00am. Get there an hour before opening. Use the bathroom before you leave.
Opening a Bank Account
I had visited four or five banks, before I had a DNI, and actually for that matter I still don't have a DNI. I guess that'll be the next step. I got the CUIL which was fairly easy and helped with the bank. A couple of the banks flat out rejected me, Banco Nación was going to play ball but then backed out. I ended up going with Galicia. I have been a client of Chase Bank in the US for more than 20 years. I spent more time in the Galicia branch in the 2 or 3 months opening the account, then I spent in the Chase Bank in 20 years.
Rent / AirBNBs
I am not in CABA. I live in Monte Grande. So the Airbnb bubble was not even an option for me. I would have liked to and it would have made life simpler, but the Airbnb options here are few and far between. And surprisingly, pretty costly. It's more expensive for an Airbnb in a okay apartment in Monte Grande then a really nice apartment in Palermo. For renting my apartment that was a bit of a pain in the ass as well, a few places rejected me with no DNI, even when I offered the complete contract up front. Luckily they didn't accept that, because when you have little problems with your apartment here and there, it will suck even more that you paid everything up front. So I personally wouldn't do it now that I've learned a little bit more, maybe offer 3 months up front. I had one apartment that I almost signed the contract, but I read the fine print, they wanted me to bring the rent in cash, to a different city every month. From there on, I was very adamant about agreeing to transfers before even visiting an apartment. I also was a bit overpicky, my area is not a luxurious area, my money does go further here, I was looking to live like Bruce Wayne. But it turns out in a lower middle class neighborhood, there are not too many Wayne Manor options available. But I am happy with my apartment.
Tips & Mindsets
-I speak Spanish and Italian fluently. I received an Italian passport/Italian citizenship about 10 years ago. I did the whole process on my own without lawyers. It was easier to get and understand the Italian citizenship process than it was to do the Rentista Visa! Italian citizenship was literally all done by mail in the USA for documents and one trip to Los Angeles, two if you count the passport appointment. I think this visa was 9 or so trips in 6 months, and 10 will be my DNI. Every trip to immigration was exactly the same, I waited 2-3 hours, and whatever I came in for would take 2-3 minutes. Get there early. If you are working that day, plan on starting late.
-If you don't speak Spanish go with someone who does, if you do speak Spanish but are not a native speaker and learned in a different country, be ready for a bit of a curve, I have worked completely in Spanish and had LTRs with a few Mexican gals, it was still a big adjustment here to the accents! Try to start watching Netflix or YouTube specifically shot here.
-If you have travel plans during the expiration which at the time of writing is up to 10 days before the date, I was told to bring the receipts before the trip or during renewal. For example today I would have been traveling November 4-15th, my exp was the 15th, 10 days before I would still be traveling. I brought flight receipts and a business format letter of the trip plans, I highlighted the dates on the flight receipts, but I was also approved today, so it wasn't necessary but that was what I was explained to do from the officials there on the prior visa appointment. Also if your travel does not interfere with the process bring your precaria for when you re-enter the country. You are not a prisoner here, but it is recommended to keep international travel limited before you are approved. I left once to the USA for work, and this month would have been the 2nd international. In the country can be travel galore as long as you are good on the renewal days.
-I didn't wear a suit but I always showed up in a nice shirt & shoes, to my knowledge there's no check box for wardrobe, but in my opinion it will give you a slightly better edge for questions when your turn comes up.
-If you like to cut things close, watch out for Holidays, you don't want to arrive for renewal the last day and it's a Feriado. There seems to be a lot of those days here!
-I started in April, I was approved today for 12 months, and basically was explained I could renew in one year for another full year, so although it was frustrating going so often, essentially the 2 year visa can be 2.5 years in the country because of the process.
Above all enjoy the process, and as Buenas Ondas wrote, appreciate that we have this opportunity to live here. Thank you so much to whoever created this forum! The FB groups are nice for where to go for coffee or your favorite chinese food place, but it seems a lot of those forums aren't really in the Visa process. My questions there never really had solid answers, this place has been different, so thank you to everyone here. I'm happy to answer any questions and one of these days I look forward to coming to CABA for one of the coffee meetups.
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