Gaucho100K

If you mean December 2015 then I think that is a very very very long shot.

But I do think that Argentina (again) joining the VWP sometime in 2016 is a very very distinct possibility. Relations between the two Governments (I mean between the Obama Administration and the incoming Macri Government) have already warmed up considerably, Joe Biden will be attending Marci's Inauguration Ceremonies and today there is ample talk among the local press that Obama is strongly considering a visit to Argentina before the end of his term. Sure, Obama is now a lame duck but in context, given where the idiotic K regime had taken Argentine/US relations all this is a big step in the right direction.

Even despite the Economic woes that Argentina has had over the past years, it has still maintained a very low refusal rate for US Visas so it actually qualifies for consideration into the VWP. As far as I know, this never got anywhere because the K regime refused to share some basic information on its citizens with the US Government - all this because of domestic political issues that the outgoing administration had.....

Of course, if the overall VWP is being questioned in the USA for Security Reasons, then that is of course another entirely different issue. Argentina is not a breeding ground for radical Islamists so I am guessing that once the new Administration takes office this issue will get on the bilateral Agenda sooner rather than later.

MSPeconomist

I've heard that the visa refusal rate is a major consideration, but now the political climate in the USA (and elsewhere) seems to be against the visa waiver program. The concern wouldn't so much be terrorists, overstayers, and illegal immigrants from Argentina, but rather that terrorists from third countries could somehow enter through Argentina, either by fraudulent/stolen passports or quick and easy citizenship by marriage, needed technical skills and educational background, and other provisions. Of course, a lot of these possibilities could be reduced through information sharing and a general toughening of the law and its enforcement.

I'd be reluctant to make a prediction on which way this will go.

duranza

I said next December not this December.. so yes 2016

SoFlyOn

Democrats and Republicans in both the House and Senate are eyeing ways to tighten the visa-waiver program, which allows foreign citizens of 38 countries to enter the U.S. for as long as 90 days without a visa, avoiding an in-person interview at an embassy or consulate.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/visa-wai...iny-1448836856

Gaucho100K

Yes, the below points are the key issues.... the US has been asking Argentina to share information in the same way that Governments like France and Germany do as part of their VWP participation. Of course, the nations I refer to are close US allies in other areas so they cooperate in more and deeper forms that will be the case with Argentina, but in terms of VWP, what matters is basic sharing of biometric and other travel security related areas (organized crime, terrorism, drug activity, $$$ laundering, etc.) and that's what Im pointing to.

With the new Argentine Government in place, it is very clear that Argentina will restore its normal relations with the US government and a relevant part of this will be sharing of information and also close collaboration with key law enforcement agencies like the DEA, the FBI and also the US Military with their proper Argentine Counterparts. I don't think that Macri will return to the "carnal relations" sponsored by Menem in the 90's but its clear that Macri wants to have serious and comprehensive diplomatic ties to the US that will mean closer collaboration on various fronts and through various agencies, despite a couple of various points on which both countries have different views and geo-political interests. What it important is that Macri does not feel that countries & governments need to agree 100% on everything to still be able to have fruitful ties for both parties in the areas where there is common interest.... he is quite "pragmatic" and his record shows it very clearly.

Eastbay1K

Yes, he even flies American Airlines! Of course, I only witnessed it once (a row ahead of me). He's appointing someone immediately to head Aerolineas (a real businessperson with lots of business experience in a world where you're profitable or go broke), so maybe there's a bit of hope. Well, until the first strike and the second strike and the third strike.

GUWonder

The US VWP is but a carrot and a stick used by the US to get foreign countries to do as the US wants while facilitating money-making opportunities for US parties and otherwise satisfying home market constituencies.

The US visa refusal rate in Argentina has been dropping substantially, but it won't be allowed into the US VWP unless and until Argentina does all that the US wants Argentina to do in terms of information/surveillance sharing/control demands when it comes to domestic, regional and international passenger flows, Argentine passport "security", guns in passenger cabins on flights between Argentina and the US, and other such linked items.

By this time next year, the possibility of re-inclusion into the US VWP will come down to how much the Argentine government wants to do for the US.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/check...gree-fams.html

And by this time next year, I am betting that the reciprocity fee charged to Americans will be facing its mortality, even if it takes it into 2017, or have been terminated.

GUWonder

This provides a window into some of what the US demands of countries that want to get into the US VWP or even to stay in it:

http://www.heritage.org/research/rep...-security-tool

If you're curious about more of what goes on when the US VISA WAIVER PROGRAM is used as a carrot and a stick, check out the linked thread noted in the prior post today mentioning FAMs.

AA_EXP09

Neither is HK, yet HK can't qualify for the VWP either...
(and they also have a low rate of visa refusals, and I doubt the majority of HK people that go to America want to overstay their visas. Though, I do suppose that some unskilled HK people that only earn HKD $5-6k/month may want to do so, I am not convinced that their income working as an illegal is very likely similar to this amount. Plus, they have to pay for the plane ticket to America.)

tinchote

For another data point, in 2002 I saw him fly EZE-ATL in Delta.

pashber

I paid the Argentinian Reciprocity Fee online a couple of days ago. The fee is listed at $160 apiece, but the charge is processed as pesos. Fortunately, I caught that, so used my Delta AMEX gold card, which doesn't charge FT Fees. I still got caught a tiny bit, with the charge posting today as $321.05 for two reciprocity fees.

iahphx

I think there's a good chance that you are correct.

I just took my family to Chile for vacation and plan to do so again later this year. Without the Argentine visa fee, at least one of those visits would have included Argentina.

While I would have preferred crossing the border when I was in Chilean Patagonia, as a repeat visitor, it wasn't worth $160 each and the nasty extra fees for taking the car across the border. And I think Chile's Lake District is the best R&R destination in the Southern Cone, so I don't feel like I'm missing much. I'm happy to "wait out" the politics. I don't think the current arrangement is in anyone's interest.

jc719

I paid the fee in 2013 and upon entry, they stamped my US passport with the entrada stamp and wrote the fee receipt number above the stamp. There was no sticker. Upon return in 2016, I offered this to the United check-in agent and she refused to accept this, insisting on the paper reciprocity fee receipt with bar code. I had a copy of the paper receipt so proceeded to EZE. There, I presented the paper bar code and they just stamped the passport with the entrada stamp.

United timatic says:
Holders of normal passports issued to nationals of USA must pay a reciprocity fee online, in advance via: https://reciprocidad.provincianet.com.ar/ . An electronic or a printed payment receipt, containing a barcode, must be presented at check-in and upon arrival to immigration authorities.

So was I incorrect in thinking that the old stamp was sufficient?

danielsilano

Sorry,

Maybe has asked here again
I have also a Canadian passport.
Can I avoid the fee entering with the canadian pass?

Gaucho100K

Im almost sure you cannot, as Argentines need a Visa for Canada.

Perhaps someone else can confirm this 100%...?