Argentina Visa Procedure
Oct 18th, 2010, 03:04 PM
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Argentina Visa Procedure
Hi,
Argentina visa consulate is in LA and I live in San Jose. So its difficult for me to go there in person to get visa. Is it possible to mail my application and get visa? What is the fee? How long does it take to get visa if sending application via mail?
I tried to contact Argentina consulate but no one is pick up the phone. I tried to email as well but no luck. Any help would be really appreciated.
Thanks,
Argentina visa consulate is in LA and I live in San Jose. So its difficult for me to go there in person to get visa. Is it possible to mail my application and get visa? What is the fee? How long does it take to get visa if sending application via mail?
I tried to contact Argentina consulate but no one is pick up the phone. I tried to email as well but no luck. Any help would be really appreciated.
Thanks,
Oct 18th, 2010, 04:02 PM
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If you are talking about the Visitors Visa in order to come to BA on a holiday, you, as RedStater says, don't get a visa... it is the Stamp in your Passport you will get at the airport.
And as Huentetu, you will pay that fee of $140 ( which at least is good for 10 years so you can keep returning without paying it again).
We lived in Portland Oregon and that is where we began our Visa work for moving to Argentina. We found out what we needed then began the process. It took 5 months.
We flew to LA for the day to see the Consulate, by appointment only ...
It was very stressful with deadlines etc but luckily for us, everything went smoothly with no problems.
You would be better off if you have questions, to read the websites for the Consulate, rather than trying to call. They generally discourage the phone calls for info .. when you can read it on the websites.
And as Huentetu, you will pay that fee of $140 ( which at least is good for 10 years so you can keep returning without paying it again).
We lived in Portland Oregon and that is where we began our Visa work for moving to Argentina. We found out what we needed then began the process. It took 5 months.
We flew to LA for the day to see the Consulate, by appointment only ...
It was very stressful with deadlines etc but luckily for us, everything went smoothly with no problems.
You would be better off if you have questions, to read the websites for the Consulate, rather than trying to call. They generally discourage the phone calls for info .. when you can read it on the websites.
Oct 19th, 2010, 08:39 AM
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Hi San Jose!
Remember, if your purpose is tourism, U.S. passport holders do NOT require visas for Argentina, unless you plan to stay for a very long time. (The same for Chile. Brazil does require visas, though.)
It works like this. The United States (and Canada and Australia) require Argentines to pay for visas and jump through hoops to come to our countries. The South American governments feel they must retaliate, so they take it out on our citizens.
In the case of Brazil, Americans are required to jump through the same hoops and get visas as Brazilians need to do. This takes a sizeable chunk out of the Brazilian tourist industry, but the leftist government in Brasilia doesn't seem to care.
Argentina and Chile have decided not to demand actual visas from ordinary tourists, but they still want us gringos to pay the money. So, at Buenos Aires Ezeiza Pistarini International Airport (EZE), before you reach passport control, there's a booth where we have to pay the arrival tax, which for US passport holders is US$140/person. They give you a chit showing that you've paid, then you go on to passport control.
No advance preparations are required, as might be needed if you had to get a visa. You don't have to show documents other than your passport.
If you're not a mere tourist, or if you're staying a very long time, you'll still need a visa, as you would traveling to most any other country.
Happy travels, and let me know if I can help further!
David
[email protected]
Remember, if your purpose is tourism, U.S. passport holders do NOT require visas for Argentina, unless you plan to stay for a very long time. (The same for Chile. Brazil does require visas, though.)
It works like this. The United States (and Canada and Australia) require Argentines to pay for visas and jump through hoops to come to our countries. The South American governments feel they must retaliate, so they take it out on our citizens.
In the case of Brazil, Americans are required to jump through the same hoops and get visas as Brazilians need to do. This takes a sizeable chunk out of the Brazilian tourist industry, but the leftist government in Brasilia doesn't seem to care.
Argentina and Chile have decided not to demand actual visas from ordinary tourists, but they still want us gringos to pay the money. So, at Buenos Aires Ezeiza Pistarini International Airport (EZE), before you reach passport control, there's a booth where we have to pay the arrival tax, which for US passport holders is US$140/person. They give you a chit showing that you've paid, then you go on to passport control.
No advance preparations are required, as might be needed if you had to get a visa. You don't have to show documents other than your passport.
If you're not a mere tourist, or if you're staying a very long time, you'll still need a visa, as you would traveling to most any other country.
Happy travels, and let me know if I can help further!
David
[email protected]
Oct 20th, 2010, 12:49 PM
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From the US Embassy website:
<I>A valid passport is required for U.S. citizens to enter Argentina.
U.S. citizens do not need a visa for visits of up to 90 days for tourism or business., but U.S. citizens coming to Argentina for tourism and business travel through Ezeiza International Airport must pay a reciprocal entry fee of $140.00 dollars. Currently, the fee is only charged at Ezeiza airport. </I>
................
That stamp you get in the passport is good for 10 years.
It is very hard on Argentines who want to visit the US .. imagine $140 USD .. into pesos.
Travel from here to the US has dropped, while Argentines are enjoying travel in Europe and elsewhere in SA instead.
<I>A valid passport is required for U.S. citizens to enter Argentina.
U.S. citizens do not need a visa for visits of up to 90 days for tourism or business., but U.S. citizens coming to Argentina for tourism and business travel through Ezeiza International Airport must pay a reciprocal entry fee of $140.00 dollars. Currently, the fee is only charged at Ezeiza airport. </I>
................
That stamp you get in the passport is good for 10 years.
It is very hard on Argentines who want to visit the US .. imagine $140 USD .. into pesos.
Travel from here to the US has dropped, while Argentines are enjoying travel in Europe and elsewhere in SA instead.
Oct 21st, 2010, 04:34 PM
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Having just arrived today - you get off plane, follow signs towards baggage claim. You soon reach a point where you have only 2 choices - enter roped off lines for US, Great Britain and 1 other country of origin - or all others. These ropes take you to booth where they take the $140 - case or MasterCard or Visa card.
Next stop is immigration - again, no choice - you just end up there.
After that a few more choices, but collect luggage and head out of airport - being herded towards customs - which for me meant they x-rayed my checked and carry-on and let me go.
Next stop is immigration - again, no choice - you just end up there.
After that a few more choices, but collect luggage and head out of airport - being herded towards customs - which for me meant they x-rayed my checked and carry-on and let me go.
Oct 22nd, 2010, 01:59 PM
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I am a not a US citizen, just permanent resident. I tried to call Argentina consulate in LA and they said I need visa. But they don't mention the procedure to get the visas. All they told me is to shoot them an email.. which I twice and now its 2 weeks but no reply from them. ?? Any suggestions what to do??
Also I read some reviews that sometimes they don't check for visa if you are just going to Argentina for few hours to see falls. Not sure if this is true??
Also I read some reviews that sometimes they don't check for visa if you are just going to Argentina for few hours to see falls. Not sure if this is true??
Oct 22nd, 2010, 03:20 PM
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If you are a permanent resident but you are holding a passport from another country, I believe whatever rules apply to that country are what you have to follow.
I am a permanent resident of Argentina but that does not mean I have an Argentine passport.
How were you planning to get to the Falls and what makes you think it is only a few hours?
I think you need to do a bit more homework.
Find out from your home country what you need, would be my advice.
I am a permanent resident of Argentina but that does not mean I have an Argentine passport.
How were you planning to get to the Falls and what makes you think it is only a few hours?
I think you need to do a bit more homework.
Find out from your home country what you need, would be my advice.
Oct 22nd, 2010, 05:55 PM
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Presumably you are thinking of crossing from Brazil to see the Argentine side of the falls for a few hours? You will still need the visa. You should phone the consulate rather than wait for them to answer your emails.
I went to the website and there is a phone number, information on visas by nationality and an application (bajar el formulario).
http://www.consuladoargentino-losang...=visas_turismo
Notice business hours are only from 9-12:30.
I went to the website and there is a phone number, information on visas by nationality and an application (bajar el formulario).
http://www.consuladoargentino-losang...=visas_turismo
Notice business hours are only from 9-12:30.
Oct 22nd, 2010, 07:50 PM
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Yeah I am planning to see Argentina side of the falls for a few hours. I did called the consulate, but they asked me to email. They said that they can not say anything on phone. For visa application and all other question we have to email them.
Oct 22nd, 2010, 08:07 PM
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The $140 fee is not "exactly" correct: Canadians need to pay $75 US each time they enter Argentina per http://argentina.visahq.ca/ while Americans pay $140 once each 10 years.
Oct 24th, 2010, 05:45 AM
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Tootsall, the OP said "Argentina visa consulate is in LA and I live in San Jose." .. so in this case, the fee for the US was correct. .. and the OP has also not stated where they are actually from, passport-wise.
I think the OP needs to contact the Consulate of the whatever country he/ his Passport is from..
I think the OP needs to contact the Consulate of the whatever country he/ his Passport is from..
Oct 27th, 2010, 07:01 AM
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Scarlett, I agree that the OP restricted their question to US citizens; however at least one of the replies mentioned other nationals and implied that they were bound by the same $140 fee. My post was an attempt to correct that possible missimpression.
Oct 27th, 2010, 10:36 AM
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GAIL answered the question succinctly and accurately. In May of 2010, I spent 10 days in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I followed the same procedure as she specified.
<I found some of the answers to Janvi's query a little unusual. Janvi posted clearly what was sought; a few persons did NOT address what was being asked!>
<I found some of the answers to Janvi's query a little unusual. Janvi posted clearly what was sought; a few persons did NOT address what was being asked!>
Nov 8th, 2010, 02:35 PM
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Hi everyone,
I have the same situation. I am not a US citizen but currently live in San Jose. I need a visa to go to Argentina. I've tried calling them and emailing them for 2 weeks (same thing happened to me. When I called, the lady just kept telling me to email), but I've not got any response yet. I am planning this business trip in early Dec so i really need the info. Does anyone have experience in applying for their visa in LA consulate? Do you need to make appointment or you can just drop in? Thanks!
I have the same situation. I am not a US citizen but currently live in San Jose. I need a visa to go to Argentina. I've tried calling them and emailing them for 2 weeks (same thing happened to me. When I called, the lady just kept telling me to email), but I've not got any response yet. I am planning this business trip in early Dec so i really need the info. Does anyone have experience in applying for their visa in LA consulate? Do you need to make appointment or you can just drop in? Thanks!
Nov 10th, 2010, 09:48 AM
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janvi123 & fggirl,
My wife just got an Argentine visa at the DC office. Unfortuntately you will have to go to their embassy in order to process your visa. Your wait at their embassy is only about 20mins max. They will have you write a letter there to explain why you are going to Argentina. They can help you translate to spanish. We live about 4hrs from the DC and they weren't responding to emails so she drove down. It's takes about 21days before your visa is ready. Take a prepaid Fedex envelop with you when you are going down so when your visa is ready they can mail your passport.
Good luck !
My wife just got an Argentine visa at the DC office. Unfortuntately you will have to go to their embassy in order to process your visa. Your wait at their embassy is only about 20mins max. They will have you write a letter there to explain why you are going to Argentina. They can help you translate to spanish. We live about 4hrs from the DC and they weren't responding to emails so she drove down. It's takes about 21days before your visa is ready. Take a prepaid Fedex envelop with you when you are going down so when your visa is ready they can mail your passport.
Good luck !
Nov 13th, 2010, 10:23 AM
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OK guys - there is an easy way to find out if you need a visa and that's the delta airlines website
http://www.delta.com/planning_reserv...tion/index.jsp
Basically you type in your nationality and residence (for janvi the residency is US) and then your destination and it would tell you if you require a visa or not. If you do, then of course you need to deal with non-responsive consulates as is common in 90% of all consulates. Good Luck
http://www.delta.com/planning_reserv...tion/index.jsp
Basically you type in your nationality and residence (for janvi the residency is US) and then your destination and it would tell you if you require a visa or not. If you do, then of course you need to deal with non-responsive consulates as is common in 90% of all consulates. Good Luck
