Traveling across the border and back to renew stay?

[Alle1770]

Hola guys!

Now, I know there isn't an overflow of people living in/from Argentina on this forum, but maybe there's one or two reading this post that can help me out! Or, maybe this applies for other countries in South America too, I'm not really sure... Anyways! When I travel to Argentina I don't need a visa since I'm from Sweden, but this means I can only spend 90 days in the country before having to travel back. However, I've heard from many people that you can just travel across the border to another country (for example Chile or Uruguay) and back, to get another 90 days.

So, my question is just if there's anyone out there who has tried this, or know if it works? Because if it does, I could live with my SO for an infinity of time (seeing as he lives almost on the border to Chile) without needing to apply for a visa xD Our plan is for me to be able to apply for a fiance/spouse visa eventually, but since the waiting times can be long and all that, it would be nice to know if there's a way to go around this without me having to travel all the way back to Sweden every 90 days.

So yeah, confused and slightly rambly post, but it would be great if someone out there could answer my question!

[lucybelle]

Well, I don't know about Argentina, but I'll tell you about CR.

CR you get an immediate 90 days when you come into the country. Many expats decide to live in the country as what we like to call "perpetual tourists" where they make border runs every 90 days to renew their visa. With this, you are not allowed to work. Some still do, illegally, but remember if you get caught you will get in trouble.

Also, at least in CR and surely in Argentina where it seems like they're a little more organized, they are seriously cracking down on perpetual tourists. Now in order to open a bank account you need to have residency. You need to have residency to get a driver's license. Since you are not guaranteed a 90 day stamp, some PTs are getting only 30 and sometimes 7 days on their passport when the official notices they're border hopping a lot.

With that being said, I have PT friends who have lived and worked (again, I remind you illegally) in CR for over 5 years and have never had a problem.

I think it's perfectly fine to stay in the country for a year doing border runs every 3 months. But after that, have a little respect for the country. Find a way to get residency of some sort. I would never be okay with working illegally because if I get caught (the chances are slim, but still) I will be deported and possibly not allowed back into CR. That's not something I'm willing to risk when half of my family lives here.

Look up an expat forum for people living in Argentina. They'll answer a lot of your questions. And probably be mean to you about suggesting PT (at least the old bastards on my CR expat forum always are). But meh, whatever.

Good luck!

Oh- and let me add- check to see which country you have to border hop across. Here in Central America, Honduras, Nicaragua, and El Salvador have some sort of agreement. So you don't get a new stamp when going into those countries. So if you lived in Nicaragua you couldn't go to Honduras for your border run, you'd have to go to CR or Panama or Belize or whatever. Sort of like in the EU.

[Alle1770]

I can always trust you to answer my posts Lucy, thanks!

I suppose some things are similar between CR and Argentina, so thank you for your input even if it's for another country. It would never cross my mind to work illegally, I'm way too nice to do that and I find it very disrespectful of the country and it's residents, and I wouldn't in a million years risk being banned from entering the country again. If I would do border-hopping, it would probably just be once or twice so that we can sort out an actual visa and the like, while still being able to be together and not do it from afar, considering I would have to be in BsAs many times for medical exams/permits and whatnot. Plus, I think the same rules apply in Argentina as CR, you have to be a citizen to do most things except just being a tourist. So, making it possible to live and work there legally is a must, for both moral and practical reasons. So border-hopping would definitely not be a permanent solution, only temporary to be able to sort out lives out and get everything on track.

I will definitely have a look up at some forums out there, that makes a lot of sense, I didn't even think of that! Thanks again!

[kittyo9]

I've read before from people who have traveled in South America that you can do that and it works just fine. Just don't let it turn into a permanent thing. :P

[lucybelle]

So border-hopping would definitely not be a permanent solution, only temporary to be able to sort out lives out and get everything on track.

Then it's perfectly fine. Like I said, I think staying for a year or so as a PT is just fine. When I first moved to CR I had to make about 3 border runs before I finally applied for residency. Get your life together, maybe find a job to sponsor you to get residency. Whatever. Just, like kitty said, don't make it a permanent thing

[Alle1770]

Then it's perfectly fine. Like I said, I think staying for a year or so as a PT is just fine. When I first moved to CR I had to make about 3 border runs before I finally applied for residency. Get your life together, maybe find a job to sponsor you to get residency. Whatever. Just, like kitty said, don't make it a permanent thing

I've read before from people who have traveled in South America that you can do that and it works just fine. Just don't let it turn into a permanent thing. :P

Well, it's nice to know I'm not the only one possibly doing border runs then Thanks again guys, promise I won't make it a permanent solution. You're all free to slap me in the face if I do!

[leonsfangirl]

I'd be careful.
I know in the UK they keep eyes on people doing that (It's not illegal but it's frowned upon) and they have stopped people re entering. Obviously, it's a different country but its still something to bare in mind.

[kittyo9]

I'd be careful.
I know in the UK they keep eyes on people doing that (It's not illegal but it's frowned upon) and they have stopped people re entering. Obviously, it's a different country but its still something to bare in mind.

That's because it's the UK. :P

In general, South American countries are more lax about tourism and extended visas, especially from "first world" countries. They aren't as worried about people coming to them solely to make money.

[lucybelle]

That's because it's the UK. :P

In general, South American countries are more lax about tourism and extended visas, especially from "first world" countries. They aren't as worried about people coming to them solely to make money.

Yup The most recent time I flew back into CR the airline in the USA made a huge freaking deal about how I have to have a return ticket and they won't let me into the country if I didn't. I get to immigration, the guy asks me 0 questions, stamps my passport and I move on.

[Alle1770]

Yeah, I know it does differ a lot between Sweden and Argentina as well... When I got to immigration there and they asked what adress I'd be staying at, I had no idea because it hadn't occured to me before that I needed to know that, so I told the guy the truth and he just said "Ah, well, I'll just say you'll be staying at Hotel Buenos Aires then" x) Whilst when I got to Sweden, they asked me where I'd been, what I'd done there, what I was going to do in Sweden now... And I'm a citizen xD Oh well, I'll be careful still though, thanks for the heads up

[MattDavies86]

I don't know about South America, but in Thailand for example (of course) its common for people to do a visa run every 90 days to renew, you get a standard month when you enter via airport, and a 15 day through foot / border, but you can extend those to 90 days at the embassy, rinse and repeat.

[Tooki]

Wait you get probed with questions when you go back to Sweden Alle? Even in Australia they don't that, they just go through my declaration card.

I know one guy from my High School who is currently doing the PT thing in South America. As far as I'm aware, he has had no problems thus far.

[Alle1770]

Wait you get probed with questions when you go back to Sweden Alle? Even in Australia they don't that, they just go through my declaration card.

I know one guy from my High School who is currently doing the PT thing in South America. As far as I'm aware, he has had no problems thus far.

Yeah, I did that time, I have no idea what was going on though because it's never happened before... Maybe I looked suspicious or something Hopefully it was just a one-time thing though. Seems as this PT thing is very varied, some people have no problem at all and some people get totally busted... We'll see what happens

[lucybelle]

Yeah, I did that time, I have no idea what was going on though because it's never happened before... Maybe I looked suspicious or something Hopefully it was just a one-time thing though. Seems as this PT thing is very varied, some people have no problem at all and some people get totally busted... We'll see what happens

I always get grilled coming from a Latin American country. They don't say shit when I come back from Europe. It's blatant discrimination.

[Dezface]

I always get grilled coming from a Latin American country. They don't say shit when I come back from Europe. It's blatant discrimination.

I got minorly grilled going back to the US after leaving here in September. They didn't ask me anything when I arrived here here though. Then I came here on my working holiday and expected at least a few questions. And all the lady asked me was if they gave me a bag for my alcohol at duty free. American customs just has issues I think.