Anyone who has lived in Argentina will tell you its not exactly the poster boy of efficiency. So when it came time to renew my tourist visa I was able to accomplish it in 32 simple steps.
In Argentina the tourist visa is good for 90 days. This visa can be renewed by leaving and re-entering the country however given that I find myself in the center of the country in Córdoba that’s not always an option.
Just recently I extended my visa at the immigration office in Córdoba using these 32 simple steps.
- Realize your 90 day tourist visa is expiring soon
- Attempt to leave to Chile during a trip to Patagonia
- Realize Chile is an 8 hour bus ride away and not feasible given your trip’s schedule
- Research online to find immigration office in Córdoba, Argentina located at Caseros 676
- Walk to the immigration office
- Return home because the immigration office is closed at 4pm.
- Return to immigration office the next morning
- Enter immigration office to find a waiting room of 20 people and take a number
- Wait
- Have your number called only to have another person sprint up and take your place
- Wait
- Aggressively sprint towards the free chair once the next number is called.
- Be informed that the office to extend visas is actually upstairs
- Head upstairs and knock on a few office doors until you find the right one. Door is labeled “Prorroga“
- Explain the situation, sign paperwork, and receive a document to take to the bank
- Leave migration office to get photocopy of passport and pay the fee at the bank
- Walk 7 blocks to Humberto Primo to find the bank to pay the 600 peso fee.
- Enter the lobby of the bank and be informed that the bank to make payments is actually around the corner
- Find the bank and pay 300 peso fee
- Walk back 7 blocks to migration office
- Stop to buy a bottle of water (sin gas)
- Photocopy passport and page with most recent stamp
- Re-enter migration office and head directly to the second floor
- Find a waiting room of 6 people
- Wait
- Smile at nice lady each time she leaves her office to indicate you’ve brought everything back.
- Wait
- Read Che Boludo! to brush up on your Argentine slang
- Wait while playing blackjack on your phone
- Lose $2100 fictional dollars playing blackjack
- Get called into the office and be given the passport with a fresh 90 days as well as all other additional paperwork.
- Kiss nice lady on the cheek and leave to enjoy 90 more days in Argentina
Simple as that.