| Author | Message | ||
     Thomas New member Username: Peilab Post Number: 2 Registered: 5-2006 |
I have a question that regards the citizenship procedure, DNI, etc. At the end of the month my fiancée will be joining me here in Wisconsin to spend 2 weeks and even though it has been several weeks since my visit there it feels like years. The highlight of the stay will be our getting married and there are several reasons for doing this at this time even though she will be returning to BA. One of the reasons we are doing it now is so as to make it easier for me to obtain my citizenship in Argentina where we plan to live. Does anyone have any knowledge of this process of obtaining the citizenship as a spouse and the papers that she might have to fill out and sign before she returns home? My plans are to relocate there by the end of the calendar year and we feel that it is in our best interest to initiate the process as soon as possible.  Thomas | ||
| Roberto Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 520 Registered: 12-2004 |
-> it is in our best interest to initiate the process as soon as possible. Thomas, you got that part right. In general, any of the procedures that involves an argentine federal office are just a nightmare. One that you -as an american- cannot even conceive. I am not a lawyer and my advise will be of little use to you (translate into find a good attorney) but I seriously doubt your coming marriage in Wisconsin with an argentine woman will help you in anyway regarding your quest for an argentine citizenship. When I was married to an american citizen, that marriage was null in Argentina and meant nothing to my former wife in terms of local rights/citizenship... Apart from consulting a lawyer I recommend that you look at this wesbite carefully. I take you can handle some spanish if you are making this move to the southern hemisphere: http://www.mininterior.gov.ar/renaper/ http://www.mininterior.gov.ar/migraciones/radicaci on.asp For anything related to marrying an argentine citizen you should research the "Registro Civil" of your (future) local jurisdiction: http://www.mininterior.gov.ar/renaper/registros.as p Perhaps someone who has moved and married will chime in... P.S. the word radicacion spells the wrong way on this forum  | ||
| Riyad Anabtawi Junior Member Username: Riyada Post Number: 35 Registered: 12-2005 |
Oh yes I agree fully with Roberto.. Nightmare : Stale buraucracy rules in Immigration. For one I know that you cannot apply for citizneship right away. You need to apply for a residence permit, which could take for ever like in my case.. I applied for mine since I have an Argentine son here, and it has been something like 5 years, and nothing/no one knows whats up.. For all I know they might have lost it in their humungous rotting paper archives in BA. So I am stuck with a "precaria" (sort of a temporary permanent residence) piece of paper. This you have to renew once every three months paying 10 pesos each time. And you cannot stay out of the country for more than 3 months. Suppose you get your premanent residence you then have to wait for like 5 yrs till you get your citizenship.. So it is not that smooth.. Cheers | ||
| ana isabel mendez davila New member Username: Annie12 Post Number: 1 Registered: 6-2006 |
hi, im from colombia and looking forward to relocate in argentina, buenos aires before june ends...i havent find a job on the internet but i`ll look for i when i get there...i just want to know how are the migrants laws in argentina as i dont want to be illegal there...im a professional journalist. Can someone please help me with information please? thanks! | ||
| Riyad Anabtawi Junior Member Username: Riyada Post Number: 37 Registered: 12-2005 |
Hi there.. As in many countries, if and when you find a job here, it is normally easy for you to get a work permit and temporary residence through the company, which should arrange all the paperwork for you.. Cheers. | ||
| Thomas New member Username: Peilab Post Number: 3 Registered: 5-2006 |
Roberto and Riyad, Thanks so kindly for responding to my question regarding the the citizenship as a spouse to an Argentine. I am sure it is going to be an interesting process and one that I will have most the answers for after the process is over. The links and suggestions have been most helpful. Thomas | ||
| Roberto Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 523 Registered: 12-2004 |
Ana, please check those links I posted for earlier. The one you want to look in-depth is the one about 'radicaciones' http://www.mininterior.gov.ar/migraciones/radicacion.asp (Message edited by admin on October 29, 2006) | ||
| Arial New member Username: Arial Post Number: 8 Registered: 10-2006 |
I don't know if I should chime in here or not. I have applied for residency in Argentina and am waiting for approval from Migrations. Then I must appear at the Argentina Consulate in the US to pick up my residency papers. Another US expat I met in Bariloche obtained residency before he left the US and seemed to think it had been easy. For him, the nightmare was in bringing in their household possessions--particularly their car. His emphatic advice was to bring nothing unless I consider it irreplaceable in Argentina--like family heirlooms. So I am not sure what to think about these other posts. Maybe I am in for a rude awakening. Arial | ||
| Orlando Martinez New member Username: Bracsim Post Number: 9 Registered: 9-2006 |
I did not know you could get permanent recidency before you left the USA, anybody knows anything about that, can that be done that way????????????. Also I heard that if somebody is investing over $30 000 dollars in Argentina they could get recidency a lot easy, is that a fact????? | ||
| movingtoargentina.typepad.com Junior Member Username: Sapphos Post Number: 46 Registered: 2-2006 |
Orlando, You are actually supposed to start all of your residency requests in your country in origin, not after you've gotten to Argentina. That's why you should really start a good five or six months before you plan to come here. The investing in Argentina is one way, you also have rentista and retiree visas you can explore as well as a few other options. You can read more about the different types of visas at http://www.mininterior.gov.ar/migraciones/permisos.asp Good luck, Laura (Message edited by admin on October 29, 2006) | ||
| Arial New member Username: Arial Post Number: 12 Registered: 10-2006 |
This forum is a wonderful service. My sincere thanks to those who are providing it. Someone on this forum wrote of a bad experience with AFN Visas. That person apparently had a disagreement with them and they refused even to return his documents. As far as the information that we have here, I can't say anything to defend that. However, my experience with AFN has been so excellent that I feel obligated to share my own experience. My visa will be the retiree visa and I do know that the investment visas are much more difficult. One immigration attorney advised a relative of mine not to even try it right now. The interesting outlook in Latin America seems to be that things change frequently so if it is not favorable now, wait until it is. I have learned that it is necessary to learn the culture in order to understand what is going on and this seems to be the culture. A lot of patience is required and people coming here need to understand that. You just don't hurry much of anything and understanding that early is a big plus. When I was thwarted in buying real estate in Bariloche, a real estate agent strongly advised me not to move on but to stay there and rent because it will all change in a year or two. She said that is the beauty of Argentina, it is totally disfunctional! (giggle-giggle I have to laugh! But that has been confirmed for me by other Argentines.) But back to the subject . . . I proceeded with my visa and AFN has been absolutely wonderful to me. How could I ever say enough good about them? I personally would recommend them without hesitation. We have hit a number of snags but they are so patient, even in one case paying the expense to solve one of them just to get it done quickly, when it was not their obligation. They are so encouraging and reassuring with my worries when they arise. I do not have the visa yet but I think we are in the final stretch and I promise to keep you informed. I will be happy to give the name of the person at AFN who has handled almost everything for me if that would be of interest to anyone. I am also happy to answer any questions that I can, as I have already stated elsewhere on this forum. Arial | ||
| Roberto Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 837 Registered: 12-2004 |
That is very nice of you Arial, thank you. I don't know anything about AFN. What is it? Do they have a website too? I may have to get girlfriend's paperwork for Argentina in order... any info you want to post will be of great help. | ||
| Arial New member Username: Arial Post Number: 15 Registered: 10-2006 |
The web site for AFN is www.afnvisas.com. AFN specializes in residencies for companies who bring foreign employees to Argentina. But they will handle visas for individuals. The person who has handled most of my visa work is Mariana. You can contact her at info@afnvisas.com. I recommend her highly. However, she assures me that everyone there gives the same quality of service that she does. There have been quite a few snags in my journey to residency. All were caused by Immigration, even though the visa I applied for is supposedly the easiest to get. Mariana has competently handed them all with Immigration and has been very reassuring to me at times when I thought all was lost. It all takes time, plus you have a deadline that if you don't have it complete by then, your other papers are out of date and you have to start over. So once you start, don't waste time. You have no idea what delay you could have along the way and there is that deadline looming ahead! If you contact AFN I hope you will let me know your experience. I receive no benefit for this recommendation but I would like to know that they do a good job for anyone who contacts them because of me. Mariana knows this is my concern in recommending them so if you contact her, I hope you will tell her that Arial from the Argentina forum sent you! One last bit of advice. If you plan an extended stay in Argentina, get your visa while you are in the US. It is much easier. Without residency you will be denied quite a few things that might be important to you, such as Internet and a telephone, both of which are essential for my business. Also, I like the area in the mountains to the west (Mendoza, San Rafael, Bariloche). Without a resident visa you have to cross the border every 90 days. I can tell you that crossing the Andes by bus into Chile from Bariloche in the middle of winter is no picnic! If you will be near the Uruguay border, have no need for phone or Internet or find a landlord willing to arrange those things for you and take responsibility for them, it may not matter to you. Otherwise, life is so much easier if you have the visa before you go. I tried it the other way. Which is why I am now getting a visa! Also, if you can manage it, I do recommend an extended stay, if not a permanent move, to Argentina. It is a beautiful and wonderful country with beautiful and wonderful people. Arial | ||
| movingtoargentina.typepad.com Member Username: Sapphos Post Number: 60 Registered: 2-2006 |
I can second the experience with AFN, they were very professional and were 1/3 the price of another company that comes up all the time in web searches. We ended up not using them in the end as I got pregnant and we can now go a different route for our visas. One thing I want to say though is you shouldn't have to worry, at least around Buenos Aires, about getting Internet without your visa. We have both cable and internet that we got just with out passports, with Cablevision and Fibertel. You should really check around because there are several companies that will allow you to take Internet just with your passport. Laura | ||
| Arial New member Username: Arial Post Number: 16 Registered: 10-2006 |
Laura, thank you so much for including that information about getting those services on your passport in Buenos Aires. My experience is confined to Bariloche. You could, of course, get a cell phone. But you could get a landline or cable connection to your apartment only if a resident/citizen was willing to do it for you in their own name. Apparently it varies by area or else there has been one of Argentina's frequent changes! Thanks for the input. Arial | ||
| Roberto Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 853 Registered: 12-2004 |
Arial and Laura, thank you. Yes, once I contact Mariana I will let her know it was you who referred me but this won't happen till Feb/March next year. | ||
| Arial New member Username: Arial Post Number: 23 Registered: 10-2006 |
Yayyyyy! My residency is moving toward completion. All paperwork is complete, has preliminary approval by Argentina immigration and now I am dealing with the Argentina Consulate in Miami. I hope that before January is over it will be complete. Can anyone give me advice or share experience about shipping personal items to Argentina? Someone in Bariloche told me not to bring ANYTHING unless it was not replaceable in Argentina. He told me a horror story about not knowing to fill out a certain form on a car he shipped there from Florida and they fined him as much as the car was worth! He said he only shipped it because his wife wanted the manual shift. Also had to pay fees or duty or something on other items. I have a cargo trailer 6 x 10 with everything packed in it and would like to ship that. Any advice? Either on whether to do it at all, what companies to call, or any suggestion at all will be SO welcome. Arial | ||
| Arial New member Username: Arial Post Number: 24 Registered: 10-2006 |
I want to add one more comment. We discussed AFN Visas a while back. Although I may be writing this too soon (I do not yet have Visa in hand) they have handled this entire process for me and have been wonderful to me every step of the way. Mariana, whom I formerly recommended as a contact, has moved on to a different job as a certified translator and Natalia is now handling my residency procedure. My time with her has been brief but equally competent. Just have to give credit where credit is due. Arial | ||
| Riyad Anabtawi Intermediate Member Username: Riyada Post Number: 128 Registered: 12-2005 |
Arial: Depends what you have in that trailer. Can you not easily replace in Arg? When I read this, the first word that came to mind: "SUICIDE", and there followed the following additional ones : Major Pain, Hassles, Forever, Never, $$$$$'s............. It is best to come here light weight. Riyad | ||
| Roberto Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 903 Registered: 12-2004 |
Arial, are you in Miami or south Florida? If you are, your best bet will be to pick up one of those local gazettes that are in stands just like 'New Times". Argentines publish one for the argentine residents in the Miami area and I have seen numerous moving companies advertising. These guys should know all about it. If you are not close to any stand I'll walk around the corner and see if I can find an issue and post the information here. | ||
| Arial Junior Member Username: Arial Post Number: 27 Registered: 10-2006 |
Oh dear, Riyad. Suicide? You sound suspiciously like my Bariloche friend. Well, let's see. I emptied a four bedroom house with attic, a garage with attic, and, believe it or not, a shed . . . with attic. Have disposed of everthing except what's in the trailer. I can part with the trailer. Inside the trailer I have tools for a relative also going down--several years of accumulation that he thinks he can't live without. I do a lot of raw food preparation that requires a dehydrator. I have a good one. Also a serious juicer, linens, sterling silver (one of the few valuables that I kept) a few good stainless pots (what I saw in Argentina was junk). I am technically retired because I qualify for retirement. But I am not! I do a lot of writing and serious stock market investing. I have boxes of books that are important to me. Plus two laptops with peripherals. Are you getting the picture? I kept one piece of furniture that I love, but I will part with if I have to. But there are going to be a lot of tears! It is an antique gate leg table. I am into "small" these days and it is one of those old ones with leaves that drop to the floor and sets nicely out of the way against the wall. I have two extra removable leaves and with the dropped leaves raised and removable leaves in place, it seats ten people, twelve if there are no lefties in the group  I did not keep the chairs. They are not so important. I might as well face the truth now and make other arrangements if that is necessary. Appreciate your input. Arial | ||
| Arial Junior Member Username: Arial Post Number: 28 Registered: 10-2006 |
Thank you for the tip, Roberto, about moving companies advertising in the NYT. I am sure I can get the Times here. Really appreciate that. Arial | ||
| Tom Advanced Member Username: Diverdown48 Post Number: 303 Registered: 6-2006  |
Hey Arial I read the NY Times online every day. http://www.nytimes.com I have mine set up to get an email from them everyday. Hasta Luego | ||
| movingtoargentina.typepad.com Member Username: Sapphos Post Number: 65 Registered: 2-2006 |
Arial, I can also suggest a company here in Argentina who might be able to get you with someone. They worked with our friends who shipped from France (including their car) and were excellent. Lily who I have spoken to a couple of times is very professional and has lived in the States, has excellent English, and knows all the ins and outs of shipping here. Try sending her an email or giving her a call. Here's the contact information. Lily Campbell UNIVERSAL CARGO S.R.L. Tacuarí 202 piso 1º C1071AAF) Buenos Aires - Argentina Tel: 4331-5145 / 4342-3557 Fax: 4331-6161 Email: lcampbell@universalcargo.com.ar http://www.universalcargo.com.ar Laura http://movingtoargentina.typepad.com/ebook | ||
| Riyad Anabtawi Intermediate Member Username: Riyada Post Number: 129 Registered: 12-2005 |
Arial.. Best bet also is go see the guys at the Argentinian consulate who gave you the residency here, and ask them if customs here will allow you to bring in everything personal you want to bring in. They might just let you since you're moving in to live here for the first time. They might then ask you to make a list of all the suff you are bringing and have them give you the green light, so to speak.. Never know Riyad | ||
| Arial Junior Member Username: Arial Post Number: 49 Registered: 10-2006 |
Hello All!!!! Good news. I just returned from the Argentina Embassy in Miami and wonder of wonders, I got my visa today. I have all papers in hand and pick up my DNI in Buenos Aires! Although there have been several challenges, the most interesting, negatively speaking, is the fact that my name on my passport is not the same as the one on my birth certificate. That's because I married. It seems they just can't undertand how the person on the birth certificate and the one on the US passport can be the same person with two different last names. In Argentina, a woman does not acquire her husband's last name. At first Argentina migrations insisted I present them with a passport in the same name as the birth certificate. I checked to see if that was possible and found out that the only way to do that is to hire a lawyer and legally change my name in court. My immigration attorney in Buenos Aires finally convinced Migrations to grant me residency in spite of the discrepancy but I was told at the embassy today that this name situation is "one big problem." It makes me wonder if no other North American woman ever applied before. But . . . I take it a step at a time and today is a milemarker day! | ||
| Roberto Board Administrator Username: Admin Post Number: 1008 Registered: 12-2004 |
Arial C-O-N-G-R-A-T-U-L-A-T-I-O-N-S!!!! This is an argentine *classic*. It has all the signs. I have seen that "one big problem" first hand in the Miami consulate too while watching couples from Mexico, other latin countries and even argentines struggling to get things done because of the small, innocent discrepancy. For us, witnesses it was both unbelievable yet so familiar. If it makes you feel any better many have gone -and are going- through the same. So it is not personal. If you can solve the issue and remain emotionally unscath, then you are ready for your new life down south. | ||
| Arial Junior Member Username: Arial Post Number: 50 Registered: 10-2006 |
Hello again. I realize that some of you have given me some much appreciated information and advice for which I have not thanked you. And so I decided to write a belated BIG THANK YOU! Roberto, I love your web site. As one new post-er wrote lately, this is the "mother load." Thanks. Arial | ||
| movingtoargentina.typepad.com Member Username: Sapphos Post Number: 74 Registered: 2-2006 |
Arial, First, congrats! Did you finish out the whole procedure with AFN? Second, I'm not at all surprised at the name problem. Yes it's a huge problem in general, but for women it is confusing. I really threw them for a loop when we registered Caitlyn's birth certificate at the Registro Civil in December. I had to show them my passport and my birth certificate and my marriage license because the woman was a bit confused about the name and I wanted to make sure everything was correctly recorded so that when the day comes that we want to apply for permanent residency under our Argentine daughter we can. Of course it took us two trips to get all the paperwork straight because the midwife at our birth didn't record my middle initial so I had to have the papers redone before the Registro Civil would accept. Speaking of this, it is true that the bueracracy here is a nightmare. My friend had to take her 90 year old mother to claim her deceased husbands benefits. They got there and took number 4**, asked someone else what number they were on (at 1 pm) and it was like 250 or something. The place was hot, no ac, full of people. Finally after a long wait they got to the window and something was missing in her name, like an initial or something and they turned them away to come back. The woman refused to do anything to help even though she could have tried. So they had to make another trip on another day. As Roberto said, it's not personal. Congrats again, Laura http://movingtoargentina.typepad.com/ebook | ||
| Arial Member Username: Arial Post Number: 51 Registered: 10-2006 |
Laura and Roberto, thanks for your encouraging words. I didn't take it personally. I find most Argentines laugh at their bureaucracy and I try to take my cues from the locals. Yes, all completed with AFN. I have paid them in full but I still got an email from them last night asking how I am doing and reminding me that they stand available if any problem should arise. I still have to deal with Argentina immigrations again upon my return (for my DNI). The agent in Miami gave me a choice between immigrations in BsAS or Mendoza, Mendoza being the area where I plan to be. I am going to travel to BsAs immigrations office because it would be more convenient for AFN--in case I still need their assistance. Yesterday was my second trip to the Miami Embassy. I wrote on this forum before that it is 3 hours. I estimated by mileage without considering curb to curb traffic. Yesterday, I observed that the trip back to Central Florida actually took SIX HOURS! Another thing, I could not have done this without my Spanish-speaking son who graciously flew here to help me. The lovely Argentina woman at the Embassy speaks English at roughly the same level that I speak Spanish. Enough for polite, surface conversation but not all this legal stuff. Had it not been for my son, I would have had to hire an interpreter to go along. I have to smile that, in a state where even answering machines answer in Spanish AND English, the Argentina embassy in downtown Miami, Florida does not offer service in English. Or at least in my case they did not. But all is well. I have included information here about AFN, which I frankly love! However, I seldom make recommendations for anything, and never intentionally recommend anyone who is not dependable. If anyone here uses them and has a problem, please, please please let me know. I would definitely check with them, and unless I am satisfied, will not recommend them to others. But for now, I don't see how they could have done more for me than they have. This is a great place to post information for all to see. Thanks for all of your contributions Arial | ||
| Riyad Anabtawi Intermediate Member Username: Riyada Post Number: 144 Registered: 12-2005 |
Arial.. I have just gotten my permanent residence here approved.. My question is do I really have to get the DNI? Can I not just move around with the certificate of residency? I dont really want the DNI, as I am not planning on living here all that long term.. Thanks Riyad | ||
| Simon Fawkes New member Username: Expatba Post Number: 8 Registered: 1-2007  |
Riyad DNI numbers are an essential part of life in Argentina and are needed for many transactions, particularly where contracts are involved, and for interactions with government and the banking system. Although a passport can often be used instead, showing a DNI is much easier. Foreigners with a DNI are entitled to the same rights (except voting) and legal protections as Argentinean citizens - those without a DNI are not. In short, you don't *actually* need one, but having one will certainly make things simpler. I hope this helps. Simon Fawkes Author, The Complete Guide To Real Estate Investment in Argentina, ISBN 1430303980, http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1430303980 | ||
| Arial Member Username: Arial Post Number: 52 Registered: 10-2006 |
Riyad, thanks to Simon you apparently have an answer. My answer is that, for you, I don't know. In Bariloche last year I couldn't even get a phone or cable internet in my apartment without a DNI. Someone else on this forum wrote that you can get a phone in BsAs without one. I am going for permanent residence--maybe even citizenship eventually--and all I can see to having one is advantages. But what would be your reason for not getting it? Will you leave soon and never return? Arial | ||
| Riyad Anabtawi Intermediate Member Username: Riyada Post Number: 145 Registered: 12-2005 |
Hi all.. Never really had a reason for a DNI.. I have been living here for 7 yrs and not needed one.. I just use my own documents for everything, for phones/internet/buying property.. basically everything.. I dont want to collect docs and I am not planning on living here for ever.. Simon: would you please expand on this? "entitled to the same rights (except voting) and legal protections" what rights and protections? Thanks Riyad | ||
| Riyad Anabtawi Intermediate Member Username: Riyada Post Number: 146 Registered: 12-2005 |
In answer to your question Arial, as I said I am not planning on living here for ever.. I prefer to be near the ocean in Brasil. None here in Mendoza.. Eventually I'll just be coming back and forth to Argentina. Riyad | ||
| Simon Fawkes New member Username: Expatba Post Number: 9 Registered: 1-2007 |
Hi Riyad Regarding your question: "...entitled to the same rights (except voting) and legal protections" effectively means the State treats you as an Argentinean citizen rather than a foreigner. The implications of this are many and varied - e.g. entitlement to government help in certain situations, and legal recourse if the State has breached its duties to you as a citizen. In short, you you have the same rights of redress as any other citizen. Also your rights may be stronger in any legal dispute with another Argentinean party. Look on the various Consular websites if you need any more information. I hope this helps. Simon Fawkes Author, The Complete Guide To Real Estate Investment in Argentina, ISBN 1430303980, http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1430303980 | ||
| A. D. Hudgens New member Username: Hijo_de_tejas Post Number: 7 Registered: 8-2006 |
Let me first thank you Arial for the very informative post you have provided on this forum. Also thank you for telling me about the book "And the Money Keeps Rolling In And Out" This was very informative because I had no idea how the IMF and other agencies like that worked. I plan for an extended stay in Patagonia begining September of this year. The DNI would help reduce the cost if I could get airline tickets at the same price as the local people. What can I expect the help from AFN to cost for my wife and myself? Will I have time to get this before I depart? Will you lose your retiree visa if you stay out of Argentina for an extended time? Will having the retiree visa prevent you from working (self employment)because of the type of visa? Arial, I pray you have returned to Argentina by now and are having the time of your life. My wife and I are in our 60's and enjoyed our 18 days in Argentina last November. Lovely place and people. My desire is to spend three months each year along the Andes as long as our health will allow and the money holds out. Roberto, thank you for provideing this forum, it's one of the best I have found on Argentina. And thank you other people for the many post in relpy to questions and comments. A. D. Hudgens | ||
| A. D. Hudgens New member Username: Hijo_de_tejas Post Number: 8 Registered: 8-2006 |
A Sheesh, I make an apology for the mistake above when I said Arial told me about the book: And the Money Kept Rolling In (and Out) by Paul Blustein. I had forgotten it was you on this thread. Thank you very much for the recommendation. It was an excellent read full of facts without putting the blame on only one group. It is highly recommended by me after reading it. A. D. Hudgens | ||
| Arial Member Username: Arial Post Number: 74 Registered: 10-2006  |
Hello all you wonderful people! True to my word I am reporting on my appointment in Buenos Aires at Immigration today. I am happy to say that it appears that this process is nearly complete. My appointment was at 9:30 a.m. I arrived at 8:30. My assistant from AFN was already there. She had arrived early to take a number so our wait would be as brief as possible. But we were still there for two hours past the time of the appointment before the agent called my name. The place was a madhouse with too many people in a large but still uncomfortably crowded room. So it is no wonder it was a two-hour wait. Although I was required to provide passport pictures to the embassy in Miami, they took their own picture today. The picture was 5 pesos. Then the long wait. The AFN representative, a darling young woman named Anabel, prepared me in advance for a private interview with the agent. She told me everyone else would have to leave and I would stay for the interview. However, although my vocabulary is large enough that I can almost always achieve basic communication, conversation is a challenge. We immediately had communication problems. So she called the "chica" from AFN back in and the interview consisted of nothing more than signing in about five places, another fingerprinting session and instructions for picking up my DNI--which should be ready in two weeks to three weeks. I dont know if they were just so busy they skipped this final interview, or if she just gave up on my castellano. The fee for this meeting with the agent was another 50 pesos. I know that some of you are planning to complete the DNI process on your own. If you can figure out how to maneuver through the process, it may be possible if you are reasonably proficient in the language. You may recall that even the agent who interviewed me in Miami spoke little English. I see this is a major obstacle. My son went with me to the Miami interview, and the AFN representative was with me today. For what I paid AFN, it has been well worth every cent in my case. If you do manage it on your own, I hope that you will post the entire procedure, challenges, solutions, and so on, for those who may come after you. If anyone has any que |
