Travelers will now need to show proof of health insurance to enter Argentina

[devilclam]

Yeah I want to hear real world stories from anyone coming in the country now. I have a heatlth insurance card in the US....will they accept that or a simple Emergeny card here? I mean, will the border agents even know what an insurance card looks like and coverage details? They probably will not know the difference... I am doing my 3 month run to Chile in six weeks so any recent expericences would be great.

Please report back - my next one is end of August.

 

[Cordoba]

Yeah I want to hear real world stories from anyone coming in the country now. I have a heatlth insurance card in the US....will they accept that or a simple Emergeny card here? I mean, will the border agents even know what an insurance card looks like and coverage details? They probably will not know the difference... I am doing my 3 month run to Chile in six weeks so any recent expericences would be great.

Please report back - my next one is end of August.

Wouldn't overstaying still be preferred to border hopping now more than ever before?

 

[FLEggs]

Wouldn't overstaying still be preferred to border hopping now more than ever before?

Absolutely, esp for citizenship. Its still hard for me to understand why the people who overstay their visas can get citizenship after 2 years of non continuous stay but people who follow the rules and leave every 3 months are theoretically penilized or also risk re-entry problems. They are actually prioritizing the immigrants they do want (guessing humas without resources fleeing other countries) and penalizing the ones they would want. I think I have that right...

 

[Cordoba]

Absolutely, esp for citizenship. Its still hard for me to understand why the people who overstay their visas can get citizenship after 2 years of non continuous stay but people who follow the rules and leave every 3 months are theoretically penilized or also risk re-entry problems. They are actually prioritizing the immigrants they do want (guessing humas without resources fleeing other countries) and penalizing the ones they would want. I think I have that right...

It was explained to me that overstaying and paying the fine is a clear violation, but it’s at least honest. Immigration knows you stayed longer than permitted, and you acknowledge that by paying the penalty. That’s why, strangely enough, it may now be seen as more acceptable. Repeated exits and re-entries can be seen as misrepresentation or abuse, even though you aren't violating the law clearly.

 

[FLEggs]

I personaly think the rule changes are fueled by a few things......border crossings from Paraguey for free healthcare, xenofobia of VZ immigrants or the fear of immigrants who plan to live off goverment resources......none of which apply to the above argument. I am pretty sure we are not in the calculation at all and are just tourists.

 

[FLEggs]

I personally think the rule changes are fueled by a few things......border crossings from Paraguay for free healthcare, xenophobia of VZ immigrants and the fear of immigrants who plan to live off goverment resources......none of which apply to the above argument. I am pretty sure most of us are not in the calculation at all and are just tourists but rules apply to everyone. This good boy from CT though likes to follow the rules but will affect my of citizenship now....and will need to change course.

 

[devilclam]

Wouldn't overstaying still be preferred to border hopping now more than ever before?

Honestly, this is what I keep wrestling with. I've never overstayed in the last 2.5 years, thinking it would be better to keep a 'clean record.' But as was already mentioned in this thread, the new rules make it seem like penalization is more likely.

But I also wonder if your face looks like it's bringing a fistful of USD, if it will be as strictly enforced....

 

[Cordoba]

Honestly, this is what I keep wrestling with. I've never overstayed in the last 2.5 years, thinking it would be better to keep a 'clean record.' But as was already mentioned in this thread, the new rules make it seem like penalization is more likely.

But I also wonder if your face looks like it's bringing a fistful of USD, if it will be as strictly enforced....

This was posted a year or so ago by Bajo_cero2

"Visa runs are illegal according to decreto 616/2010. It is called abuse of tourist visa and allow them to reject you at the border.
It is better to overstay, then you become an inhabitant protected by the National Constitution."

Would it still hold today, or are both illegal now, and you are just picking your poison?

 

[Cordoba]

This was posted a year or so ago by Bajo_cero2

"Visa runs are illegal according to decreto 616/2010. It is called abuse of tourist visa and allow them to reject you at the border.
It is better to overstay, then you become an inhabitant protected by the National Constitution."

Would it still hold today, or are both illegal now, and you are just picking your poison?

With the 2-year continuous citizenship requirement and now having to make a statement about the purpose of your trip on each border run, it seems like a big risk with no reward. Building evidence against yourself for abuse of a tourist visa and allowing them an easy opportunity to enforce it.

 

[Wayne Tompkins]

There's no change to the law about "abusing the tourist visa" and immigration having the discretion to deny entry. That's been in place probably since Juan Peron's time, so I'm confused why people are reporting this as "breaking news." As others have noted, this isn't directed toward first world expats. As far back as 2007, there were Argentine soldiers boarding buses coming from Puerto Iguazu to check passports and DNIs. Illegal immigration from Paraguay was a problem even back then. The only significant change I can see is the proof of insurance and the glorified return of the DD.JJ from the immediate post-Covid years.

With the 2-year continuous citizenship requirement and now having to make a statement about the purpose of your trip on each border run, it seems like a big risk with no reward. Building evidence against yourself for abuse of a tourist visa and allowing them an easy opportunity to enforce it.