Argentina Spring 2016
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Study Abroad Argentina Spring 2016 International Center Bldg 58E/Room 2300 TELF: (904) 620-2657 FAX: (904) 620-3925 E-mail: [email protected] Quick Facts PASSPORT VALIDITY: Must be valid at time of entry BLANK PASSPORT PAGES: One page required for entry stamp TOURIST VISA REQUIRED: Not required for stays of 90 days or less. However, prior to arrival in Argentina, U.S. citizen tourist and business travelers must pay a $160 reciprocity fee. See Entry, Exit & Visa Requirements for detailed information. VACCINATIONS: None CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS FOR ENTRY: None CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS FOR EXIT: None Destination Description Argentina's cultural and culinary traditions, natural beauty and diversity, as well as its business opportunities attract several hundred thousand U.S. citizen visitors each year. Buenos Aires, other large cities, as well as some rural destinations, have well- developed tourist facilities and services, including many four- and five-star hotels. The quality of tourist facilities in smaller towns outside the capital varies. Read the Department of State’s Fact Sheet on Argentina for additional information on U.S.- Argentina relations. Entry, Exit & Visa Requirements 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. Argentine law requires that, prior to arrival in Argentina at any entry point, U.S. citizen tourist and business travelers pay a 160 USD reciprocity fee by credit card online at the Provincia Pagos website. For English instructions, checkOnline Payment brocuhure. Once paid, travelers must print out the receipt and present it to the Argentine immigration officer at the time of entry. The fee is valid for 10 years from the date of payment and for multiple entries. It is advisable to keep multiple copies of the receipt, as it must be presented every time you enter Argentina. The fee applies only to bearers of tourist passports. Travelers bearing diplomatic or official passports are required to get visas prior to arrival in Argentina but are not charged the reciprocity fee, nor are travelers transiting and not entering Argentina. U.S. citizens who arrive in Argentina with expired or damaged passports may be refused entry and returned to the United States at their own expense. The U.S. Embassy cannot provide guarantees on behalf of travelers in such situations, and we encourage you to ensure that your travel documents are valid and in good condition prior to departure from the United States. Different rules apply to U.S. citizens who also have Argentine nationality, depending on their dates of U.S. naturalization. For more information, check theArgentine Ministry of the Interior website. Argentine-born naturalized U.S. citizens who enter Argentina as temporary visitors may depart using their U.S. passports as long as they remain no longer than the period granted by the Argentine immigration officer at the time of entry (typically 60-180 days). Travelers in this category who overstay will be required to obtain an Argentine passport to depart. Children under 18 years of age who reside in Argentina, regardless of nationality, are required to present a notarized document that certifies both parents' permission for the child's departure from Argentina when the child is traveling alone, with only one parent, or in someone else's custody (click on the "international parental child abduction" link below for more information). U.S. citizens wishing to enter Brazil or Paraguay from Argentina are required to obtain a visa in advance from the Brazilian and/or Paraguayan embassy or consulate nearest to the traveler's place of residence. Please note that this requirement applies to the popular cross-border day trips many travelers take when visiting Iguazu Falls. Travelers transiting between Brazil or Paraguay and Argentina should always make sure to present their passports to Argentine immigration officials to have their entry and exit from Argentina recorded. The U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires cannot assist travelers with obtaining Brazilian or Paraguayan visas. For more information, see the Country Specific Information for Brazil and Paraguay. Visit the Embassy of Argentina’s website for the most current visa information. The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Argentina. Information about dual nationality and the prevention ofinternational parental child abduction can be found on our website. According to current customs regulations, U.S. tourists entering Argentina are permitted to bring their electronic devices for personal use free of customs fees, but the devices must be declared on the appropriate customs forms. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information page and refer to the Argentine customs page for current regulations. Safety and Security To stay connected: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program so we can keep you up to date with important safety and security announcements. Follow the Bureau of Consular Affairs on Twitter andFacebook. Bookmark the Bureau of Consular Affairs website, which contains the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts as well as the Worldwide Caution. Follow the U.S. Embassy in Argentina on Twitter and visiting the Embassy’s website. In the event of an emergency, contact us at 1-888-407-4747 toll-free within the United States and Canada, or via a regular toll line, 1-202-501-4444, from other countries. Take some time before traveling to consider your personal security and check useful tips for traveling safely abroad. Pedestrians and drivers should exercise caution, as drivers frequently ignore traffic laws and vehicles often travel at excessive speeds. The U.S. government is supportive of coordinated efforts by Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay to combat illegal activity in the tri-border region where there is a long- standing pattern of trafficking of illicit goods. U.S. citizens crossing from Argentina into Paraguay or Brazil may wish to consult the most recent Country Specific Information for Brazil and Paraguay. Demonstrations are common in metropolitan Buenos Aires and occur in other major cities as well. Protesters on occasion block streets, highways, and major intersections, causing traffic jams and delaying travel. While demonstrations are usually nonviolent, some individuals break from larger groups and sometimes seek confrontation with the police and vandalize private property. Groups occasionally protest in front of the U.S. Embassy and U.S.-affiliated businesses. U.S. citizens should take common-sense precautions and avoid gatherings or any other event where crowds congregate to protest. Information about the location of possible demonstrations is available from a variety of sources, including the local media. Domestic flight schedules can be unreliable. Occasional work stoppages, over- scheduling of flights, and technical problems can result in flight delays, cancellations, or missed connections. Consult local media or the airline company for information about possible strikes or slow-downs before planning travel within Argentina. Public transportation is generally reliable and safe. The preferred option for travel within Buenos Aires and other major cities is by radio taxi or "remise" (private car with driver). The best way to obtain safe taxis and remises is to call for one or go to an established stand, rather than hailing one on the street. Hotels, restaurants, and other businesses can order remises or radio taxis, or provide phone numbers for such services. Passengers on buses, trains, and the subway should be alert for pickpockets, especially during rush hours. Passengers should also be aware that these forms of transport are sometimes interrupted by strikes or work stoppages. There have been accidents involving inter-urban trains in Buenos Aires in recent years resulting in passenger injuries and deaths. Inter-urban passenger train service has been largely replaced by bus and plane service as a feasible and reliable option for most travelers. CRIME: Most U.S. citizens visit Argentina without incident. Nevertheless, street crime in the larger cities, especially greater Buenos Aires, Rosario and Mendoza, is a constant problem for residents and visitors alike. As in any big city, visitors to Buenos Aires and popular tourist destinations should be alert to muggers, pickpockets, scam artists, and purse-snatchers on the street, in hotel lobbies, at bus and train stations, and in cruise ship ports. Be careful in San Telmo, an older traditional neighborhood specializing in antique stores, Recoleta, and La Boca (home to the famous “Caminito” street and “Boca Juniors” soccer stadium) in Buenos Aires, where violent robberies have been occurring with increasing frequency. While crime can occur at all times of day, tourists who go to La Boca should limit their visits to the designated tourist street during daylight hours only. Visitors should be aware that “villas” or shanty towns are present throughout Buenos Aires and other major cities, even in tourist zones, and should avoid entering these areas. A number of scams involving yellow and black taxis have been reported at international airports and around Buenos Aires. The most frequently reported scams include a “handler” at the airport requesting hundreds of pesos (an amount that far exceeds the likely fare) from the traveler as s/he getsinto the cab. The traveler assumes s/he is paying a flat rate up front. When the cab ride is finished, the driver demands the ride fare stating to have no association with the handler at the airport and that the fee paid was to get placed in the cab. Another version of the scam involves the taxi breaking down on the side of the freeway and another cab coming to retrieve the passenger. The first driver demands payment for the whole fare to the destination, as does the second driver who completes the trip.