432  Visa requirement for argentines entering USA

Date: Thu, 21 Feb 2002 09:56:40 -0300
From: SMC Administracion <adm@SMCAR.COM.AR>
Subject: Visa requirement for argentines entering USA

Dear friends from Tango List
Lisa Batan comment about the new requirements for visa to USA from today
February 21st,2001,since Argentina has been excluded from the Visa Waiver
program .
Follows a translation of an interview made by a local newspaper to employees
of the USA embassy in Buenos Aires, concerning FAQ for this new regulation

New requirements - answers to FAQ
****************************
Employees of the American consulate in Buenos Aires,Mike Hazel, Héctor
Tavera & David Hodge
answered FAQ about new regulations.

-¿What is needed to get a visa to USA from argentine citizen?

-To have argentine passport valid (not expired), present a 4x4 snapshot
white background, to show a payroll receipt,
or house/apartment ownership, or any other proof that make clear he/she is
resident in ARgentina and will come back
to the country ; to fill the consulate form and to present a deposit in
Banco Ciudad Buenos Aires for the visa fee of u$s 45.

-¿Where is the starting point for the visa?

-At any of the 4 branches of Banco Ciudad Buenos Aires entitled to collect
the consulate fee:
Avenida de Mayo 294, Leandro N. Alem 1051, Aeroparque (Jorge Newbery
Metropolitan Airport) y Las
Heras 3099), to pay the u$s 45 fee ( in argentine pesos, according the
parity rate of the day), and to retire the
form to apply for the visa.

With the form complete, receipt of fee payed and the other papers, present
at the USA consulate.

-¿What is the last step to get the visa ?

-A personal interview with an embassy authority.

-¿Which is the schedule to make the paperwork?

-During this week ( february 18 to february 22) , due to the number of
people that is coming, timetable will be from monday to friday from 8.45 am
to 11am. From next week on , only mondays, wednesdays and fridays ,from 9
am to 12 am, except of Argentine National Holidays or American National
Holidays .

-¿An indefinite time visa issued before the visa waiver is still valid ?

-No. Those having indefinite time visa , will have to present a new visa
requirement to enter in USA.

-¿Are still valid the fixed valid time visa issued before the Visa Waiver?

-Yes, those ones do not need new visa requirement

-¿And if this types of visa are in old passports already replaced by new
passports?

-Bring with you the two passports when travelling.

-¿How many time takes the new visa issue by the American consulate?

- Not less than two working days.

-¿Is visa required for those that make transit in USA?

-For the time being, no.

-¿Are visa required for those that actually are already at USA now, with
this suspension of Visa Waiver Program?

-Not for the time being. Maybe in the future they will be requiered an
authorization from the USA Migration Dept.

-¿Where we can get more detailed information?

-At the website of the embassy , www.state.gov/baires_embassy , or calling
to the consulate´s telephone,(54 11) 5 777-4533, or writing an e-mail to
BuenosAiresConsulate@state.gov.


Warm regards
Alberto Gesualdi
Buenos Aires