I have not seen anything more in the local media than what I've posted on the thread already. Maybe Alex has seen something more ...? I wouldn't be surprised that it won't be known until right up to implementation (given the current administration's track record for drop of a hat decisions ...).

I was in EZE immigration yesterday, and I can't see how they're going to fit another booth/line for the fee. The area is already full when there are two flights clearing immigration.

John

It's not even real reciprocity
 

The thing which frustrates me the most about the fee argentina's proposing and which Chile, Paraguay, and Brazil already have is this.

IT'S NOT RECIPROCITY!

I'm a US citizen with permanent residency in Uruguay, which is part of Mercosur (kind of the south american nafta).

But if i were in the US and entering canada or vice versa, both countries use the residency NOT nationality of the passport for assessing visa requirements. An Argentine who has a green card can enter Canada as if they were a US citizen. The same goes the other direction. No fees, no visa application, just show up and cross the boarder.

I have to get a visa every time i enter Brazil, and it costs. As a result i don't go very often. Even though it's a quick and pretty cheap flight. For me, the visa costs as MUCH as the flight. And i have to take a week or two when i don't need my passport to go the Brazilian embassy to get the visa. They refuse to give me a multientry visa because they say i need to go to the Brazilian embassy in the US to get that. But the Brazilian embassy in the US won't get me a multi-entry visa because i need a ticket from the US to Brazil directly.

I mean if the US really wanted to stop people flying up to work, they'd stop American Airlines and others from letting you buy "round trip" tickets in 6 or 12 easy payments. If you can only afford $100 a month to pay for your vacation to New York, you probably aren't really going on vacation.

The whole visa situation is a real pain. It doesn't stop anybody from moving anywhere, it only makes it difficult and expensive. Those who can't pay end up being 'illegal' and exploited.

Depends on what you're after
 

Well it depends a lot of why you're going to the country. Going to see Patagonia? Sure you pay in both Chile and Argentina. Going for Tango? Well then there's Montevideo across the river, no visa fee, petty theft, basically same Tango. Amazingly after railing against the Uruguayans for the Pulp plant, now Kirchner has gone and given a gift to the Uruguayan economy.

I've traveled a LOT, to over 40 countries around the world. The cost of the visa does make a difference. Do i plan on visiting Chile someday? Sure, have i had half a dozen chances when i could have scheduled a stop-over, sure, but the cost of the visa has kept me from doing a short visit. It's no accident that i've never been to Paraguay or Chile. They charge big visa fees.

So does Brazil, but they've got something unique to offer. In the case of Argentina, their draws are shared with all the neighboring countries. Iguazu with Brazil, Tango and Meat with Uruguay, Wine and Patagonia with Chile. Is Buenos Aires still a great place to visit, sure, but this will hurt tourism.

rabble,

You can enter Chile via land or sea and NO fee is collected. Fee is only collected at SCL.

You can also obtain a 5-year Brazil tourist visa at the Brazilian consulate in Santiago. Many residents and travelers can attest to this.

-C90D

We are flying in to Buenos Aires in January for two days and I just found out about this reciprocity fee! We were both born in England and hold British and Canadian passports. Does anyone know if it would be better to use one rather than the other when arriving there? I was told by the Chilean Consulate in Canada that if we show our British passport when arriving in Santiago, we will not have to pay their reciprocity fee. Hopefully it will be the same in Buenos Aires. Hopefully someone can advise us!

Wirelessly posted (Palm TX: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows 98; PalmSource/Palm-D050; Blazer/4.3) 16;320x320)

Brit pass will be good for no entry fee.

Thanks, Gaucho. That's a relief!

I've read the whole thread and haven't seen any confirmation on the above question.

Does anyone know?

I fly into Argentina on 12/28, so no problem there, but will be going to Uruguay and back after the New Year by car.

Post #12 in this thread suggests it will probably not include arrivals by car, but there is no definite answer.

Not in all instances. Canada has this practice, yes, but the US doesn't. If you're a Landed Immigrant in Canada and your citizenship needs a visa for the US, then you still ALWAYS need a visa for the US.

I have not seen an update on this on-arrival Visa situation..... at least nothing relevant has been announced in the local press.

Me neither. The other question that is unresolved, as yet, is whether the fee will be collected at the Buquebus terminus.

John

They will probably just make it up as they go along. And I will likely be one of the cui, as I'm returning on 2 Jan. Fortunately it isn't at an hour with a lot of US flights. Maybe Cristina will forget to implement it, as she hasn't been in Argentina very much lately.

That's par for the course here I'm afraid! I was checking the migraciones website for an update on this fairly major change that's supposed to be coming in on January 1 and.......nothing!!

:D:D:D Suerte!!

Did you expect it to be any other way? :)

There is currently a cheap airfare from LGA to EZE (less than $600 all in, I posted it in the mileagerun forum) and I wouldn't be a bit surprised if some people who might buy the tickets won't because they're afraid of getting hit for the extra money.

Maybe this will not be implemented at all....??? With this K regime... anything can happen... :rolleyes: