The national government temporarily suspended the granting of visas to foreign citizens from the countries most affected by the coronavirus, after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a pandemic yesterday.
This was resolved by the National Directorate of Migration through the provision 1644/2020 published this Thursday (12.03.2020) in the Official Gazette.
«Temporarily suspend the processing of applications for admission as 'temporary resident' of foreigners who are abroad and are nationals and/or originate from the People's Republic of China, South Korea, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the states of the European Union and the countries that make up the Schengen area"says Article 1 of the regulation.
It also specifies that foreigners who are classified as "migrant workers, annuitants, pensioners, investors, scientists and specialized personnel, athletes, artists, religious members of officially recognized religions, academics and students" will be covered.
Article 2 establishes that "the processing of applications for admission as 'temporary residents' of foreigners who are abroad and are nationals and/or originate from those countries" is temporarily suspended.
Meanwhile, Article 3 provides for the "temporary" suspension of "the processing of applications for special temporary residence for foreigners who are abroad and are nationals and/or originating from those countries" and who "wish to enter the national territory in order to carry out paid or unpaid work in the scientific, professional, technical, religious or artistic fields."
At the same time, it is also suspended the online processing of Electronic Travel Authorizations (AVE), as resolved by the provision
Finally, the processing of entry permits and visas for temporary and/or transitory residents of the aforementioned countries is temporarily suspended in Argentine consulates, as delegated authority of this National Directorate.
In a statement, the Ministry of the Interior specified that, in the cases of Japan, the United States and Europe - whose citizens do not require a visa to enter as tourists - they must "adhere to the current health recommendations of 14 days of isolation from entering the country."
«In all cases of origin from the affected countries, They will also suspend the granting of specific visas for sports, cultural, work and educational purposes.", added that portfolio.
The Immigration Department also asked the National Civil Aviation Authority (ANAC) and airport authorities to "coordinate measures to avoid the concentration of passengers at Ezeiza International Airport."
As part of the protocol established by the Border Health Directorate of the Ministry of Health regarding the circulation of coronavirus, Immigration also adopted double glazing in the processing booths and made the use of alcohol gel mandatory.
The provision, signed by the National Director of Migration, María Florencia Carignano, comes into force immediately.
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