I've never been to South Africa

I realized the other day that I never updated what had happened with my situation at the Iguazu border crossing.

After having successfully exited Argentina and entered Brazil without handing in my Argentinean TVIP, I was worried about re-entering Argentina. I had my buddy drive me on his bike back to the Argentina border crossing to hand the TVIP back in. No problem leaving Brazil since it's basically an open border at the Iguazu crossing (ie never got stamped in/never got stamped out).

When I walked up to Aduanas to hand in my TVIP, I told the customs officer that when I left Argentina a couple days prior that there had been no one working in Aduanas. The officer took that in stride (think it's normal for no one to be working in Aduanas at Iguazu) and wanted to know where my bike was to inspect it. I told him it was broken and in the shop and I was unable to bring it to the border. He hemmed and hawed for several minutes, but when I pointed out that my TVIP was expiring soon and my bike was awaiting parts from the USA, he folded, took the paper, and told me I was good to go. Success! Upon re-entering Argentina a few days later, no hay problemas!

For anyone reading this thread, trying to do what I did, I highly recommend using the Iguazu, Brazil border crossing. Just make sure you hand in the TVIP when leaving the country. I don't know that there would have been problems with reentering had I not handed the TVIP in (especially with new plates and papers), but the VIN # may have brought up a red flag. Not sure.

Thank you so much for posting your experience! I plan on doing the same thing - buy a US plated car in Argentina, register it in Washington and a big concern I had was about swapping the plates. Thanks again! When you exited did you need to show the old title of the car? Or just the poder? Also, how was your experience registering it in Washington? Are you from the US or somewhere else?

What you need to show depends on the post or the day or the person.
Iguazu was particularly slack.

Theoretically you might be dealing with one person as is common at say Paso Sico so he will have your passport and then the TIP and if even slightly awake will notice the two documents don't match. Then he will ask for the Poder which should explain the discrepancy.... Even if the Immigration and aduana are separated, they often ask for passport and tip together. Wanting to see the title on the way out is uncommon but possible, especially if the officer is a bit suspicious.

Don't count on there being a "nomansland" because things can change overnight and combined border posts are becoming common.