Job Discussion Forums

roro825 · Joined: 25 Jul 2006 Posts: 20 Location: potomac, md

hey, i'm leaving for santiago in about a week and was wondering what people are doing in terms of banking down there? did you get an account before leaving or did you wait till you got down there? how are you paid? i'm thinking of opening an account with citibank once i'm down there if that's possible so i can deposit checks and stuff but i'm not sure.

also, what vaccines are needed down there? I got hep a awhile ago and tetanus, typhoid (though i may need a booster of that since it was 5 yrs ago), and some others. what did everyone get before they got there or what do you think is needed?

in terms of perscriptions, how hard is it to get perscribed stuff down there? for the girls out there, what are you doin about ob kinda stuff?

also, anyone have any recs for last minute things that should def be done before getting down there?

thanks!

roaster · Joined: 22 Jan 2006 Posts: 21

vaccine wise- they never asked me for any certificates when I arrived, so i think tetanus and typhoid and hep a are just advised, rather than required.

banking- Other people know more about this than me I'm sure, but I have been told that getting a bank account here is a long winded process trapped in a lot of red tape, so I would maybe sort out some kind of thing with your home account? I have one with nationwide that firstly doesnt charge me for withdrawels over here, and also comes with internet banking.

I have no idea about prescriptions i'm afraid!

good luck!

PeroPero · Joined: 18 Jul 2006 Posts: 35 Location: Santiago, Chile

let's see.....
i didnt get any vaccine and they never asked me to...
i'm paid by check..i just need to go to the bank with my passport and that's it. money! ^^
i've heard it's a pain in the ass tring to get a bank account here..so i didnt bother..
prescriptions....huuuuun...never had problems with this..

i'm not a girl
but i've seen those ob things in drugstores and supermarkets...i have no idea if they are the same in different countries, though.

i hope it helped ^^

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

prescriptions you need to get from a doctor. there's a trick to get basic prescription medicine (like antibiotics) without having to pay the doctor.

You call up a farmacia that does delivery (ahumada for example), they'll tell you on the phone that you'll need to show the prescription to the delivery guy. You simply pretend to look around for a couple of minutes until the the guy gets bored and has to leave. And hey presto...prescription medicine without a prescription.

or you stock up when you go to mendoza-most medicine is available over the counter and at a 1/4 of the cost of chile.

eileen · Joined: 15 May 2004 Posts: 71

bank account: get one you can do internet banking on from home. You will not be able to get a bank account in Chile until you have your carnet, which could take a few months, at least. Even after I had it, it took a long time. Citibank, SA is not the same as your Citibank. They will not allow you to have an account there. You will most likely be paid by check, which you cash at the bank on which it is drawn.

Prescriptions are only necessary for antibiotics, pretty much. Nearly everything else you can get without one, including Prozac and the like. That could change, but I've heard right now it's possible. If you need something that they won't sell you at a chain, go to a little local one, and sometimes you can do better.

OB tampons are 100% unavailable here. You can get Tampax or Playtex or some other applicator-kinds. I have been living here for 2-plus years, and OB ain't happening. Tampax are very expensive, but available in the grocery stores in slightly posh neighborhoods, but not in every one.

Vaccinations- you don't need anything in particular, and everything is available here, including yellow fever (if you're going to certain places in Brazil or Bolivia, it is recommended, Vacunatorio at Salvador Hospital is the place to go). Vaccs are cheaper here than there, but not reimbursable by Chilean health insurance.

hth!

JanineSusanHogg · Joined: 05 Aug 2006 Posts: 10 Location: Santiago

Can I withdraw from bank machines there...I have a TD account

eileen · Joined: 15 May 2004 Posts: 71

I don't know what a TD account is. I have never heard of a foreigner not being able to draw on their account from home in Chile. My bank card (from Santander Santiago) says Cirrus, and Maestro on it. If you have a citibank card, you can certainly take out cash from a citibank in Chile. I was able to. I think I could take out from other banks too, but I forget. I stopped using it as soon as I could.

Just to be safe, perhaps you could put some cash onto your credit card and establish a PIN before you leave, so you could always do cash advances. Don't know the ins and outs of this, but have seen it done.

chuckenchile · Joined: 10 Sep 2006 Posts: 12

Get online bank outside of Chile with an VISA symbol on it and you can withdraw money from any ATM in Chile. Etrade is a good online bank.

There almost no way to get a checking account here without being friends with someone at the bank. Even with residency, you need to establish income for over 6 months before they will talk to you about it.

Most schools will pay you with a check, and you can cash it at the teller window of the bank with your passport.