United States visa requirements for Argentine citizens

U.S. Embassy in Buenos Aires (the only consular post in Argentina); processing and appointments at ustraveldocs.com/ar

Unlike Chile — the only Latin American country in the Visa Waiver Program — Argentina is not included: its nationals need a nonimmigrant visa (B1/B2 for tourism or business) and cannot travel on ESTA. What is specific to this corridor is the reason why: Argentina was in the program from 1996 to 2002 and was the first country ever removed from it, after the 2001 economic crisis. On 28 July 2025 the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security signed a statement of intent to begin the process of bringing Argentina back, but that process is not finished: until re-entry is officially announced, the visa stays mandatory. The process is the DS-160, the MRV fee (USD 185, checked September 2026) and an interview at the Embassy in Buenos Aires, the country's only U.S. consular post, through ustraveldocs.com/ar. Since September 2025 the interview waiver has been narrowed to little more than B1/B2 renewals within twelve months of the prior visa's expiry.

Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands: different entry rules

Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands have their own visa waiver programme, the G-CNMI VWP, with a list of eligible nationalities that is not the ESTA list. Since 30 November 2024, anyone travelling under that programme needs its own electronic authorisation, the G-CNMI-eTA, which replaced the paper form I-736 and is checked before boarding. Travellers entering under the general visa waiver programme still use their ESTA.

Source: cbp.gov, Carrier Liaison Program, publicación 3923-1124 de 25/11/2024 (comprobado 18/09/2026)

Authorization system

ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization)

Mandatory for citizens of the 42 countries in the Visa Waiver Program traveling for tourism or business for up to 90 days. Managed by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Be wary of any website other than esta.cbp.dhs.gov: there are many third-party sites that overcharge.

Fee

USD 40.27

ESTA application fee.

Processing time

Usually fast (minutes to hours); no official maximum processing time has been confirmed.

Required documents

• A passport valid for at least six months beyond your intended period of stay. If your nationality is on CBP's exemption list, it need only cover the stay itself (CBP, Carrier Liaison Program, 18 December 2025)
• A valid nonimmigrant visa or, if your country takes part in the Visa Waiver Program, an approved ESTA authorisation before you board
• To travel under the Visa Waiver Program your passport must be an e-Passport: embedded chip, machine-readable zone and a printed digital photograph. The programme covers stays of up to 90 days for tourism or business (DHS)
• An approved ESTA does not guarantee you entry: CBP states plainly that the authorisation does not determine admissibility, which the officer decides at the port of entry

Vaccinations

• No mandatory vaccines for entry: no international certificate of vaccination (yellow fever included) is required under the International Health Regulations.

Health insurance

Not mandatory for this destination.

Transit rules

The United States has no visa-free transit, and it is the misunderstanding that costs travellers most: there is no international transit zone where you can wait without entering the country. Since 2 August 2003, anyone transiting the United States needs a C-category nonimmigrant visa. Nationals of Visa Waiver Program countries need an ESTA or a visa to transit as well. In practice, even if you are only changing planes you must clear immigration and customs, and collect and re-check your baggage.

Customs limits

Cash

Declare if cash or monetary instruments exceed 10,000 USD (additional FinCEN 105 form required if exceeded).

Alcohol

1 liter (or 3 beers) per month, a very limited personal exemption.

Tobacco

1 carton (200 cigarettes or 100 cigars) per month.

Overstay penalties

Under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP/ESTA): a single overstay results in the PERMANENT loss of the right to travel without a visa — a B1/B2 visa will be required for any future trip. In addition, a 3-year re-entry ban if the overstay exceeds 180 days, or 10 years if it exceeds 1 year; it can become a lifetime ban in cases of deportation or subsequent illegal entry.

Common reasons for denial

• Having accrued more than 180 days but less than 1 year of unlawful presence during a single stay (on or after 1 April 1997) and seeking admission again within 3 years of leaving: this is the 3-year bar under INA 212(a)(9)(B)(i)(I).
• Having accrued 1 year or more of unlawful presence during a single stay and seeking admission again within 10 years: this is the 10-year bar under INA 212(a)(9)(B)(i)(II).
• It is worth understanding when the clock starts: the 3 and 10 years run from the moment you leave the United States, not from when the unlawful stay began. Waiting it out inside the country does not shorten the bar, it deepens it.