Job Discussion Forums

ranafroggy · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 3

I've heard visitors on tourist visas are supposed to have a return or continuing plane ticket out of Argentina upon entering the country (through an airport). If you're planning to stay longer than 3 months, is there any way to get around this without paying for a ticket and letting it go to waste?

Thanks for your suggestions,

Jess

Stevie-G · Joined: 15 Oct 2005 Posts: 58 Location: Rosario, Argentina

Only US based airlines ask for a return ticket (and not always). I know Lan-Chile doesn't care if you have a return ticket.

Hope that helps.

ranafroggy · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 3

thanks for your response.

so it's not the argentine officials who want to see the return ticket but the airlines themselves?

sheena maclean · Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 3:21 pm Post subject:

You don't actually say that you are from the USA ranafrog so just to let you know it's not only US airlines that have that policy, I know that I know that British Airways runs that policy too because I nearly didn't get let on one of their planes because my return ticket was futher ahead than 3 months.

edawg217 · Joined: 05 Jan 2005 Posts: 19

I came to BA from Madrid in March and I had only bought a one way ticket because it was cheaper and had read that they didn t really stop you if you didn t have a return ticket. Well, either it s absolutely necessary now to have one or I was unlucky because AirMadrid made me buy a return ticket (of course I bought a non refundable one) before I could get on board and then I just got my money back when I got to BA. It did cost me 50 Euros in commission to buy the ticket, which really isn t too bad.

Stevie-G · Joined: 15 Oct 2005 Posts: 58 Location: Rosario, Argentina

Well I can only speak for my experiences and those of people I directly know. Lan-chile does not ask for a return ticket!

Steve

matttheboy · Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Posts: 854 Location: Valparaiso, Chile

depends on the person on the check in counter. a woman at the aerolineas argentinas counter in miami almost refused to let me on whilst her colleague on the next counter happily (and loudly) let on someone who didn't have a return ticket. british airways asked me, airmadrid asked me (and, despite me being resident here, still almost refused to let me board without a return ticket). in reality, every single airline has the policy of not allowing people board without a return ticket because it's the airline that gets majorly fined if, for some inexplicable reason, argentine immigration kick up a fuss and refuse you entry for not having a ticket out. they will only accept an air ticket so don't think you can get around it by buying a bus or boat ticket online. it's basically luck of the draw. best to have enough money on your credit card to buy a 100% refundable ticket just in case. you will never be asked for a return ticket when flying within south america, it's only on the long-haul international flights that they sometimes act like little hitlers.

michaelgoertzen · Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 2 Location: Vancouver

Then, if I were to take 3 or 4 week esl teaching program in Buenos Aires, could I come into the country from Canada as a student, on a student visa, and stay longer than 3 months?

sheena maclean · Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 8:57 pm Post subject:

I may be wrong on this, but I'm pretty sure that unless you are a resident of Argentina you need to have a return ticket. To be honest it's probably the best thing to do anyway if you want to be on the safe side. That way if things don't work out you are not stranded without a ticket home. You don't need a student visa to do the TEFL course and I'm not even sure you would get a student visa by enrolling for a TEFL course!! I would imagine all the paperwork and cost of the student visa would almost outweigh then minimal extra cost of buying a return ticket.

nomadamericana · Joined: 18 Dec 2004 Posts: 146 Location: Minneapolis, MN

In March I flew from Miami to Buenos Aires (with a layover in Sao Paulo) on the Brazilian Airline TAM. I was never asked to see any sort of ticket by airline or immigration workers.

dub_vibrations · Joined: 27 Oct 2005 Posts: 15

Maria Kirby · Joined: 26 May 2004 Posts: 56

gigisehr · Joined: 24 Feb 2006 Posts: 17

About the student visas: they only last for as long as the program you are enrolled in, so you would actually get a visa for less time than the tourist visa (four weeks versus three months). Unfortunately you can't lie about this (as I did for my visa in Thailand), because your visa depends on an official letter of acceptance from the school which has to be legalized by the education ministry, and the letter has to give exact dates for the program. I'm applying for a visa for grad school right now and trust me, I could explain all the crap they require for student visas (although it is free for US, French and Brazilian citizens staying less than one year), but I'll spare you the gory details. Good luck!

che2007 · Joined: 25 Nov 2006 Posts: 43

Anything new on this issue of having a round ticket or a one-way ticket?

I'm coming in late January... I'd like any advice, any new stories or mishaps? Anybody? Anything?

Thanks. Keep in touch!

And if anyone hear knows of apartments or houses to share please let me know as I will need one soon!

Thanks again,

Julian