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I know this new fee will certainly lower the number of Americans going
to Argentina. Some of my friends here don't travel to Brazil, for example,
because of the visa fees. It's not so much the money, it's the hassle of
it. Many countries like Costa Rica and Mexico are much more welcoming of
tourists dollars.
And by the way, could someone explain to me, if this fee is a one time fee
good for 5 years like Brazil, or if it is to be pay every single time we enter
Argentina?
DWC
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[QUOTE=Dancesw /Chicas]Some of my friends here don't travel to Brazil, for example, because of the visa fees. It's not so much the money, it's the hassle of it.[/QUOTE]That describes me perfectly. After my last visa expired, I decided not to go to Brazil anymore. For sure I would have done a couple of trips in the last two years, if it wasn't so difficult.
Fewer tourists will come and bring fewer tourist dollars. Government officials can never see the side effects of their policies.
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[QUOTE=Monger514]Fewer tourists will come and bring fewer tourist dollars. Government officials can never see the side effects of their policies.[/QUOTE]So following normal Argentine business practices at this point they will increase the visa amount?
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Precisely. It's like that old Steve Martin routine where he started calculating how much he would make if he started charging $800 a ticket.
After tourism drops off, they'll double the fee.
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US passport holders will pay $131 each trip on arrival.
I wonder how short exits will be handled? For example, if during a visit to BA, you go to Colonia for a day. Do you get wacked for another $131 to re-enter Argentina? If you are on a cruise that does BA, Malvinas, Ushuia, Punta Arenas, and BA, do need to pay $131x3? What about the workers on ship with affected passports? Do they have to pay to get off the ship for a few hours? What about airline crews? I've seen nothing about these kinds of situations.
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[QUOTE=Easy Go]US passport holders will pay $131 each trip on arrival. What about the workers on ship with affected passports? Do they have to pay to get off the ship for a few hours? [/QUOTE]Easy Go,
Workers of ships (namely seamen aka sailors aka marineros) never have to pay anything to get off the ship for few hours when the ship is visiting the port. Every seamen has something called a "seaman's book" along with his passport. Before the ship comes to port, the data on every crew member is sent before hand to the officials of the country via a hired agent by the company of the ship. When the ship comes to port (say to Mar del Plata) the immigration officials come and meet the captain (eg me!) They check the passport & seamen's books of all the seamen, do some more paper work and issue what is called "shore pass" for every seamen. This shore pass is issued without charging any fees to the seaman ( even if he is an American!!). This shore pass is enough for the sea man to go ashore for a few hours within the international laws.
FYI, the shore pass does has some limitations. It can not be used to travel to another city of the country. eg, The seaman comes to Buenos aires. He can not go on "shore leave" to Mar del Plata and catch a flight to Mendoza. It would be illegal and he would be legally penalized for it ( Its called desertion of the vessel)! However, if the same ship goes from BA to another port of Argentina, another shore pass to each seaman will be issued via the same procedure.
You may think why is this shore pass for free. Nothing is free in this world! The company of the ship usually pays something called "port dues" to the port. This money goes in the treasury of the country/Port. However this port dues comprises of many things on behalf of the company than just the seaman's shore pass. The port dues are directly handled between the company and the port and usually the Captain, just signs some documents on behalf of the company, and doesn't deal with it.
Trust this answers all your queries regarding the above topic.
Saludos.
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Pain in the ass
The fee is a pain in the ass but if it doesn't have the complications of Brazil I doubt it will affect tourism. Brazil is a pain in the ass because you have to go through an application process, if this is more like a cover charge like Chile it would be ok. Chili is about 100 bucks and the visa is good for unlimited arrivals for the life of the passport.
Cover charge=common practice.
Complicated visa application=bad news.
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Yeah DR I agree. I don't think they're really doing anything more than trying to make some money. Therefore, I think that going to a visa application process would be more than just trying to get more money - it basically would be a complete reversal of Argentina policy related to immigration, as far as having mostly open borders.
I'm going to see a lawyer tomorow about some issues related to getting my residency. Today I specifically asked him about this new law and he said he didn't think it would be a problem as far as entry to the country goes, just a monetary issue. But he didn't know everything about it yet.
He is going to have a meeting with some immigration officials in the morning and promised to learn more and talk to me about what he learns in our meeting. I'll pass along whatever I find out.
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[QUOTE=Daddy Rulz]The fee is a pain in the ass but if it doesn't have the complications of Brazil I doubt it will affect tourism. Brazil is a pain in the ass because you have to go through an application process, if this is more like a cover charge like Chile it would be ok. Chili is about 100 bucks and the visa is good for unlimited arrivals for the life of the passport.
Cover charge=common practice.
Complicated visa application=bad news.[/QUOTE]Everything I've read so far tells me the process will be a simple process. The Government expects to collect only 12 milliom per year which is a modest amount. What we don't know is the lenght of the visa and if it will allow for multiple entries. I've written to the Ministerio del Interior and hopefully his representative will respond shortly.
Suerte
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Dni
Senior Moore,
Your post says a DNI will exempt the holder, extranero - foreign temporary residency visa holder, from the impending "Visa TAX".
Please provide the source for this as it effects a lot of us come and go mongers.
Thanks, Jackpot
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Mongers, Jackpot, etal-
Holders of valid DNI's with either temporary or permanent residency obviously will not have to pay any tourist visa tax to enter Argentina because they are entering on a temporary residency visa, NOT a tourist visa. When I renew my residency every August, I pay $200 AR for the priviledge. Once this becomes permanent after next year, I will not have to pay anything more.
Suerte,
Rock Harders
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[QUOTE=Facundo]Everything I've read so far tells me the process will be a simple process. The Government expects to collect only 12 milliom per year which is a modest amount.[/QUOTE]I'm not questioning your figures, but if I've done my math right then $12 million per year would be less than 100,000 taxable tourists just from the U. S. Per year. Perhaps I'm just over-estimating the level of tourism in Argentina, but this would be just 250 or so new U. S. Tourists per day. Seems like there are many more than that on the flights that I've taken down, and in the non-resident entry lines I've waited in at EZE. Add in the rest of the countries subject to tax and it seems the $12 million number should be still higher.
I assume all of these figures are in dollars, not pesos, correct? Are the same people who tabulate the inflation data responsible for these numbers? Is $12 million the government's take and the rest goes to the Kirchner re-election fund?
Again, Facundo, I don't mean to imply that I'm attacking you. You've been extremely helpful and I appreciate it.
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[QUOTE=Stan Da Man]I'm not questioning your figures, but if I've done my math right then $12 million per year would be less than 100,000 taxable tourists just from the U. S. Per year. Perhaps I'm just over-estimating the level of tourism in Argentina, but this would be just 250 or so new U. S. Tourists per day. Seems like there are many more than that on the flights that I've taken down, and in the non-resident entry lines I've waited in at EZE. Add in the rest of the countries subject to tax and it seems the $12 million number should be still higher.
I assume all of these figures are in dollars, not pesos, correct? Are the same people who tabulate the inflation data responsible for these numbers? Is $12 million the government's take and the rest goes to the Kirchner re-election fund?
Again, Facundo, I don't mean to imply that I'm attacking you. You've been extremely helpful and I appreciate it.[/QUOTE]Stan da Man, I don't feel attacked. I've also questioned the figures. Over 400,000 visitors per year come from North America, but the various newspapers reported that the annual take from the new visa regulations that impact 22 countries will be about US$12 million or $40 million pesos (El ministerio del Interior estima que se recaudarán con los visados $ 40 millones al año)
Stan, bienvenido a Argentina a country of contradictions, shoddy stats, and a country without memory, but then again, we are here for all the other stuff; beautiful women, a rich culture, great writers, artists, and the opportunity to encounter different people if one just travels a few miles outside of the center of the Buenos Aires.
I hope to have more info on this story as soon as they release it.
Suerte.
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12 mllion
[QUOTE=Stan Da Man]I'm not questioning your figures, but if I've done my math right then $12 million per year would be less than 100,000 taxable tourists just from the U. S. Per year. Perhaps I'm just over-estimating the level of tourism in Argentina, but this would be just 250 or so new U. S. Tourists per day. Seems like there are many more than that on the flights that I've taken down, and in the non-resident entry lines I've waited in at EZE. Add in the rest of the countries subject to tax and it seems the $12 million number should be still higher.
I assume all of these figures are in dollars, not pesos, correct? Are the same people who tabulate the inflation data responsible for these numbers? Is $12 million the government's take and the rest goes to the Kirchner re-election fund?
Again, Facundo, I don't mean to imply that I'm attacking you. You've been extremely helpful and I appreciate it.[/QUOTE]That was reported in error, 12 million will be the skim, not the amount raised.
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[QUOTE=Jackpot]Senior Moore,
Your post says a DNI will exempt the holder, extranero - foreign temporary residency visa holder, from the impending "Visa TAX".
Please provide the source for this as it effects a lot of us come and go mongers.
Thanks, Jackpot[/QUOTE]Sorry, I don't understand the question. Could you point out the post you're referring to?
I think Rock may have answered it below.