90+ day tourist visa for Chile
We're planning to spend the next 6 months cycling around Chile, and were told by the Chilean embassy in London that there is no such thing as a "tourist visa" for that long. We were told we'll get 60/90 days on arrival at the airport of Santiago (as most visitors from EU countries do), and will then need to renew (at least twice...) by visiting "local immigration offices".
- Can someone who has spent more than 2-3 months at a time in Chile confirm this model?
- How prevalent are these "immigration offices"?
- How strict are they about renewing on time?
- Is the cost the extortionate USD100 we've been told?
- What's the risk we'll be denied renewal and have to cut our trip short?
- Is it possible to renew at any time?
- How strict are they about people overstaying their visas?
We'll be on bicycles and thus not super mobile, and I'd hate to have to factor in where the next immigration office is to our route planning just because some genius decided issuing a 6-month tourist visa should not be possible...
|