Originally Posted by
JDiver
In both cases, if yo're a Murrikin
you will need to pay $$$ (thanks to reciprocity fees for the US price of visas) for both countries. Chile will give you a visa document good for the remaining longevity of your passport, no future fees - good on 'em!
However if one is connecting only through SCL ( I know the OP is actually entering both Brasil and Chile for the start/end of the cruise) , their ITI system avoids immigration. You get diverted on the way to immigration . go through another security check (quick) and then off to the gates.
SCL is an all around great airport to arrive at or connect through and DFW is the obvious choice vs. MIA regardless of arrival time. I don't think deep SA flights arrive at 9 p.m. as someone said and as such since they are all arriving really at once in the a.m. , immigration in MIA can be a nightmare. Not that the time matters that much as the triumvirate of INS, Customs and TSA is always horrible in MIA.