I'll be heading from Buenos Aires to Iguasu Falls next week and thought about going through Paraguay. Is it possible to get a visa at the border, or does it have to be done in Buenos Aires? Also, how long does it take and what is the cost. Thanks

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Steve Barnett
Panama City, Panama

Steve, take this with a grain of salt (of course), but the LP guide says visas in advance only for Americans, one day service, $45.

Hope that helps.

Mark

Stbarnett, somewhere on the Hubb,a couple years ago, I have posted my experience of obtaining a visa for Paraguay, from the Consul of Paraguay in Buenos Aires.

I did get the Visa, but I remember the amount of the fee, the official demanded, was double the amount on the receipt and when I protested, he gave me a steely eyed grin and said " What!!! you got a problem with
paying?," then you won't get any Visa from this Consul.

I paid, and then I was informed that I would have to surrender my passport to the Consul and could pick it up the next business day. This was not explained in advance, nor were there any instructions posted in the Consul.

So, make sure there is not a weekend, or an Argentine holiday or a Paraguay holiday on the day after you surrender your passport. You can only pick up your passport with the full page insert, that is the Visa for Paraguay, if the Consul is open. Also, check the hours of operation for the Consul.

I had never surrendered, my passport overnight, to anyone. But, when I protested this too, the official made me understand that if I did not turn in my passport I would not get the Visa and that was OK with him, so against my better judgement I gave him my passport. He had already stuck my money in his pocket, so I understood there would be no refund if I did give him my passport.

I have an old type US passport, and when I picked up my passport with the Visa for Paraguay glued to one of its' pages, it looked as if someone had messed with my photograph. I often wondered if another picture could have been put in place of mine, and then my passport copied. I did report this incident to the US Embassy, they did not think it was a problem.

In retrospect, I may have been a little over sensitive about leaving my passport, but on the other hand, I feel the need to share this experience with others. This was the only time I can remember being double charged by a foreign Consul. This Consul also had some problems with the importation of vehicles into Argentina, . I do not know what happened or if charges were brought against the Diplomats.

I do not know if Visas for Paraguay for US Citizens are issued at the border. I doubt it, but do not know for sure, so I suggest you contact the Consul in Buenos Aires and ask.


Buena Suerte, xfiltrate

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Motorcycle Parking Buenos Aires, Argentina
www.xfiltrate.com

Lots of places will keep your passport overnight for visas. You can't really afford to get upset about this. It's the ones which keep your passport for a week or two which bother me (c.f. India High Commission in London, or Russia and certain ex-Soviet republics). The worst are the ones which might keep your passport for a week, then refuse to grant a visa.

Count your blessings.