MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina will apply a tit-for-tat visa charges policy

Argentina will apply a tit-for-tat visa charges policy for visitors and new immigration rules to be introduced in the near future announced Interior Minister Florencio Randazzo at a Government House, Casa Rosada, press conference.

The new rules will replace the regulations dating back to the 1976-1983 military dictatorship. Among the innovations will be the introduction of reciprocal visa charges whereby the cost of a visa for foreigners wishing to enter Argentina will be similar to that charged to Argentines applying for a comparable visa. Randazzo said that the new rule is based on "the premise that Argentina should have never lost sight of its role regarding immigration". He added that "Argentina grew and developed on the strength of immigration". Randazzo proceeded to identify the cornerstone of the new immigration legislation. "Equal requirements for all, regardless of country of origin," he underlined, and stated that the new law amounted to "returning to the concept of welcoming (foreigners) with arms open wide, the same spirit our grandparents were received with." Referring to Europe recently tightening its immigration legislation, Randazzo said that Argentina's implementation of a new law encouraging immigration at a time the world is showing an increasingly negative attitude to migratory currents was to be lauded, and that it placed the country "on the forefront of migratory policies." The new law, No. 25871, brings an end to legislation dating back to the 1976-1983 dictatorship. The new regulations were drawn up with the help of the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations' High Commission for Refugees and the Permanent Assembly for Human Rights, among other organizations. The decision to implement the new law, Randazzo said, was reached by "considerable consensus," and that such a piece of legislation had been in the offing for "more than four years." With regard to the introduction of reciprocal visa charges, Randazzo said the measure would affect citizens of countries such as Australia, the United States and Canada. The measure, he continued, "will allow us (the government) to raise funds for the modernization of border passes across the country." According to estimates, the new charges will result in earnings of around 40 million dollars per year. Randazzo added that some of Argentina's neighbouring countries, such as Chile, Bolivia and Brazil, had already implemented similar policies. He then pointed out to the unfair situation whereby "Argentine citizens visiting the United Sates must pay a visa fee of 134 dollars, while US citizens visiting Argentina may enter the country for 90 days free of charge." "This is an act of justice," Randazzo said, adding that it will apply to tourists and immigrants. "The fee is reciprocal; it is not restrictive in nature, not at all".