Returning after overstaying visa

[Coleburger]

Does anyone here have experience with returning to Argentina after overstaying a previous tourist visa? I came in January 2020 for a planned three month vacation, chose to wait out what i thought would be a two week quarantine when Covid hit (nice to be able to laugh about this now), and promptly had a multitude of flights back to the US cancelled until basically in June they just stopped scheduling them. Long story short, I ended up meeting someone, traveling through Patagonia for several months, and having quite the amazing life adventure. I finally returned to the States on Aug 29, 2021. I had received somewhat murky and ultimately incorrect legal advice regarding the freezing of all visas, and paid a hefty multa on the way out the door. After tying up some loose ends here, I would like to return to live in Buenos Aires again, but preferably on another tourist visa rather than immigrant application, as regular travel between there and here would likely be necessary. The embassy/consulate in Washington DC (where i reside) is literally a black hole of phone calls and emails. The border agent on my way out said it shouldn't be an issue as long as i keep the receipt for my paid multa, however i am hesitant to hop an expensive 12 hour plane flight only to be rejected at customs upon arrival. Is this something I should contact an attorney about? Am I being paranoid and shouldn't really worry (much of what ive read about life pre-pandemic said many times people would pay the fine for overstaying a visa rather than take the time and expense to take a trip to Chile or Uruguay, and that its common procedure)? Any and all advice greatly appreciated!

 

[Frank2000]

Sorry I don't have an answer for you. How much of a fine did you end up paying? Did they tell you by how long you had overstayed? Even if there were no automatic extension of the visa, you were still below the 2 year mark.

 

[Coleburger]

Sorry I don't have an answer for you. How much of a fine did you end up paying? Did they tell you by how long you had overstayed? Even if there were no automatic extension of the visa, you were still below the 2 year mark.

i paid a 9000 peso fine. I was expecting 4500, but wasn't really in a position to argue. And yes, from what ive read after two years is when you face permanent or substantial ban.

 

[Alpinista]

i paid a 9000 peso fine. I was expecting 4500, but wasn't really in a position to argue. And yes, from what ive read after two years is when you face permanent or substantial ban.

I paid 4500 when leaving Argentina beginning of June. But i also wouldn’t describe 9000 pesos as a “hefty multa”. This is 45 usd we are talking about (probably a bit more back in August). Other countries are FAR more strict.

Meanwhile I am back in Buenos Aires and I know of several others who came back recently after having paid the overstay penalty. No problem at all. I also know of several others who are too lazy to do the border runs any longer and just prefer to pay the fine. Especially if the overstays are Covid related, i dont think that anyone would have a problem returning. (Immigrant lawyers in this forum might disagree though, i am admittedly no specialist in this)

 

[Coleburger]

I paid 4500 when leaving Argentina beginning of June. But i also wouldn’t describe 9000 pesos as a “hefty multa”. This is 45 usd we are talking about (probably a bit more back in August). Other countries are FAR more strict.

Meanwhile I am back in Buenos Aires and I know of several others who came back recently after having paid the overstay penalty. No problem at all. I also know of several others who are too lazy to do the border runs any longer and just prefer to pay the fine. Especially if the overstays are Covid related, i dont think that anyone would have a problem returning. (Immigrant lawyers in this forum might disagree though, i am admittedly no specialist in this)

agreed, hefty was a stretch. i was forced to pay with a card so it was 100, and i was thinking about how much that would be to a local. Was it addressed at all during your re-entry process? If i may ask, where did you return from?

 

[dsp27]

You will have ZERO issues. You can overstay usually 2 times without a problem. After the 3rd time you might be denied entry.

 

[NomadTrader]

I'm sorry I don't have any experiences returning to Argentina after overstaying a tourist visa.

However, I am currently in the same situation as you were. I am here on a tourist stamp since February 2020 and am still in country.

I am curious, when you paid - did you pay the overstay fee at the airport/border? Or did you pay at a migration office prior to departure?

Also - why did you opt to use a credit card when cash-pesos- would have been half the cost. Did you have the option? Or do they require you pay with a credit card?

 

[Coleburger]

I'm sorry I don't have any experiences returning to Argentina after overstaying a tourist visa.

However, I am currently in the same situation as you were. I am here on a tourist stamp since February 2020 and am still in country.

I am curious, when you paid - did you pay the overstay fee at the airport/border? Or did you pay at a migration office prior to departure?

Also - why did you opt to use a credit card when cash-pesos- would have been half the cost. Did you have the option? Or do they require you pay with a credit card?

you won't be able to check in on your airline and be issues a boarding pass until you pay the fine at migracion. might as well head there first upon arrival to the aiport and save yourself time waiting in other lines. i was without cash pesos or i would have definitely taken that option. wasn't interested in purchasing any more than i needed to, given the intense devaluation they are experiencing. paying in cash is indeed an option though.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

I’m not an expert on the subject but Argentina is in dire need of tourist dollars. I’m sure you’ll be welcome and waved through without problems. The fact that you got caught during the height of the pandemic should play in your favor.

 

[Alpinista]

You will have ZERO issues. You can overstay usually 2 times without a problem. After the 3rd time you might be denied entry.

I am curious to know (2 times ok, 3 times might not be ok): is this your experience with your situation, or based on other expats’ experience? Or is this even some kind of rule?

I will be having my 2nd overstay when i return to europe next may/june.