...and Canadian ...and Australian, as well.
As intimated in The Argentine Post yesterday, today's La Nacion states that it is more than a rumor.
"El ministro del Interior, Florencio Randazzo, sostuvo hoy que "es un acto de Justicia" el cobro de la tasa de reciprocidad para los ciudadanos de países que exijan visa a los argentinos que viajan a ese país... Nos parece una injusticia que un argentino viaje a Estados Unidos y le cobren la visa a un costo de 134 dólares."On one hand, the "Montevideo Two-step" that many of us shuffle through every 90 days is about to be institutionalized ...that is, it probably was never actually legal in the first place but now will never come into question. On the other, it will put a big crimp in the budgets of many, many foreigners.
I was just sitting on the lovely balcony of Casa de Deby today, enjoying the view ...but looking at yet another unfinished apartment tower, chatting with the proprietress herself about what looks like an upcoming expat exodus. It's already been reported in the local press that tourism is already down due to the bolonqui in the financial markets allá. Deby says that her reservations for the coming year have never been so low.
Considering the slowing of funds from the old country, this proposed tasa could push our community to the brink. An extra $134 EVERY 90 days could radically change the finances of most of the expats I know and love... especially in light of, albeit slightly, higher prices for just about everything compared to five years ago.
The alternative, of course, is going bare-back. That could work for awhile but it would come with some unaccustomed looking over the shoulder for first-worlders. Enforcement will be key to making decisions ...but with a bounty of more than $400 pesos plus fines, penalties, and maybe a night in the hoosegow (juezgado) hanging over the heads of anyone that can't or won't pay the tax at Buquebus customs, you can imagine that open season on angloparlantes could become quite a bounty sport.
I've heard many porteños saying that "finally we'll get out city back"... something that drives my wife nuts as completely counterproductive.
5 comments:
I"m gonna have to pay us$131 to enter Chile (on our repositioning cruise from Ft Lauderadle) due to this tit for tat mentality. I guess its "just desserts"
I know for Chile, it's a one time tax that's stamped in the passport. (US$131)
Looks like the fee will be good for 10 years.
10 years? Cool! Where'd you get that?
I'm suspicious, tho... it doesn't sound like reciprocity.
It wouldn't surpise me if they demand this tax in USD, even for the Canadians. Will it will be the same amount that the USA charges Argentinians, or will they stick to us even more because everyone here knows that all Americans wipe themselves with $100 bills?
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