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Shipping to BA

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dianejneedham
  11/1/2015 11:30 EST

We are moving to Argentina next March. Anyone with good reports for your shipping company. If so, what company. What troubles did you experience at customs in B.A.?

elhombresinnombre
  11/1/2015 19:25 EST

You don't say enough about yourselves to enable specific advice (Short-term contract? Type of visa? Burning bridges elsewhere? Both/all foreigners? etc. etc etc) but if you search the forum you'll find lots of advice for specific circumstances, most of it suggesting you leave all but your most personal things back home. The process is a nightmare and most people don't deserve that level of brain-damage. But if you do search the forum and come back with specifics that you don't think have been elsewhere covered adequate to your needs, you can be sure people here will do their best to help..

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TomP
  11/2/2015 08:32 EST

Alhambra hit the nail on the head.

I have lived in Argentina for five years and been involved for eight and I have never heard of one good result from Foreigners shipping goods to Argentina, especially through Buenos Aires that is famous for it corruption. There are cases where the Foreigners gave up with he paperwork and bribes and just abandoned their vehicles and goods. Oh, I do know of one success story that everything went smoothly for an American who shipped a container with an SUV, paintings, furnitures etc., his wife was Argentine and thus a citizen.

Just bring your necessities and see if you really want to live ion the country, then apply for some form of residency although its process is hell too.

TomP
  11/2/2015 08:43 EST

Sorry ElHombre, my spellchecker took over and plucked the name of the town in the USA "Alhambra".

dianejneedham
  11/2/2015 13:53 EST

Thanks 4 responding. I live now in North Carolina, USA. Moving permanently. Is there another port in Argentina that is better 2 land at? WE ACTUALLY WANT 2 end up in Patagonia around barriloche or El Bolson. Any ideas? Thanks.

TomP
  11/2/2015 14:41 EST

You might try coming in through the Port in Santiago, Chile.

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dianejneedham
  11/2/2015 14:47 EST

Thanks again. Is Chile better 2 come in through? Have u heard of any corruption in chile?

todikaios
  11/2/2015 15:30 EST

If you are flying from USA to Argentina you will only be able to land at Ezeiza which is the sole international airport with full custom and immigration services. You could fly to Uruguay and then to the domestic airport in Buenos Aires, or you could fly to Santiago, Chile and fly to Cordoba. However these airports typically do not have the wherewithal to process a new immigrant that has a large amount of personal goods. If you are coming by ship, you could try Puerto Madryn which is in Chubut, province and part of Patagonia. I would definitely follow the previous advice and come as a tourist for 90 days, and spend these 90 days aclimating yourself to the Argentine way of doing things (which is far different that here in the USA), and you can learn how to make the arrangements for your personal goods to be shipped safely and with minimal red tape. There is going to be a new President in December (the run-off election is set for 22 November), and if Señor Macri wins you may see a loosening of some of the ridiculous and tortuous steps one must follow to import anything into Argentina. If Señor Scioli wins, you should expect a continuation of the present state of affairs, at least for a couple of years. In either case, the smart talk on the street is that there will be a significant devaluation of the Argentina Peso...currently 9.50 to 1 US dollar (official) and close to 16 to 1 on the street. Expect the official rate to go to at least 12 to one, and the unofficial to 20 to 1, unless the new government ends the cepo (the set of restrictions to get US dollars by common citizens and businesses).
As I've said before...I enjoy visiting Argentina, but having worked in the country and traveled to all 23 provinces...there is really NOT a lot of good reasons to move there permanently. Perhaps 3 - 4 months a year during the summer (the USA winter months), but otherwise, I believe it's pretty much a losing proposition....housing values are terrible, nobody has $$ to buy, prices are high now and with inflation at 25% or more, they are going higher....and selection of goods from the USA are very limited...as the current government has pushed nationalism (everything has to be made in Argentina) to an extreme and it hurts the average Argentine...but they are a VERY proud (and arrogant) people, so they accept this situation. As a famous Nobel Prize author recently said: The Argentines have a pecuilar knack of persisting in error and enjoying it! (my paraphrase.). Again, if you have not yet visited Argentina. I urge you to do so, before you cut all your USA ties, and burn your bridges behind you....the romantic views of the country being full of the tango, the gaucho, and lots of good beef-eating, are quickly dulled when you face the reality of daily strikes, and seemingly everyone wanting to get something for nothing....over 40% of the population are now receiving some form of government dole in one form or another. While in the USA this is a growing trend....I don't believe we have reached these levels yet.

dianejneedham
  11/2/2015 17:36 EST

thanks for all the info. do you know anything about Puerto Montt in Chile? If we could enter there, could we enter Argentina by ferry? Would they have customs at the ferry? I am trying to avoid BA after all that has been said. Any info is so appreciated,

SaintJohn
  11/2/2015 20:40 EST

I suggest you consult a map to see where is Puerto Montt.

Between Puerto Montt and Argentina you will see a mountain range called Codilleras de Los Andes with "very few" (zero) ferries in between.

I suggest you follow the todikaios's advice and visit Argentina as a tourist for 90 days, or else you will get some very unpleasant surprises.

TomP
  11/3/2015 08:04 EST

You are lucky people like Todikaios will take the time to write lengthy replies and you should take what Todikaios says to heart.

Candidly, it sounds like you have done very little research and bought into some romantic concept of what Argentina (or any other country) represents and has to offer. In my eight years of Argentine experience both living there and owning a 108-acre vineyard development I have found that there is a direct correlation between the amount of money one has and the degree of his/her romantic notions. If you have a bundle, say US1,000,000 or more you can probably do okay in almost any country but for those who show up to Argentina with but a few pesos in their pockets believing the country will support you, please, think again. I have witnessed many a couple go back to the USA broke, busted and disgusted because the country they chose with little due diligence failed to deliver unrealistic expectations.

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fartlet57
  2/19/2016 09:40 EST

I hear from several here that shipping to Buenos Aires Argentina from anywhere is difficult and not advised. Well my question is is there another city or port that would be better if getting goods through BA is not advised?

TomP
  2/19/2016 11:02 EST

I agree that BA is the last place you want to have goods shipped to and through because of the corruption.
Try Santiago Chile.

pampas
  2/19/2016 15:13 EST

I agree that Mendoza may be a better port of entry.

pampas
  2/19/2016 15:13 EST

I agree that Mendoza may be a better port of entry.

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