Urgent - made a huge mistake with Chile visa

[Dicci]

Hi all,

Hoping for some constructive advice as I'm beating myself up enough as it is. I have unfortunately totally blanked on applying for a Chile visa due to other things going on my life. I know this is a significant mistake and may not have a solution but hoping there is some insight I can get out of this situation.

I am scheduled to fly to Santiago on Monday 15th Jan and applied for my visa this morning Tuesday 9th Jan. Definitely not enough time if following standard protocol.

Have I got any chance in getting this through if I visit the Sydney consulate first thing tomorrow morning?

Could I alternatively book an onward ticket to somewhere like Buenos Aires and just fly back to Santiago for my next connecting flight to Medellin on Wednesday 24th Jan? I understand this would perhaps need to be organised in time for check-in in Sydney? Would I have issues with this approach if the onward flight to BA is on a different ticket i.e. with rechecking luggage?

I have a lot invested in my onward travel plus my dad will arrive in Chile before I do (he's travelling on a Chilean passport) and will be waiting for me at the airport.

I remember the days when we just arrived in Santiago, paid the reciprocity fee and moved on. Oh how I long for that now despite the disdain I had for it back then...

Thanks very much in advance for any suggestion.

 

[VPS]

Welcome to AFF

Have a look at this thread

@RooFlyer may be up in the air at the moment and not able to comment

Obtaining a visa for Chile

I started another thread about what I saw as the bizarre process for applying for a visa for Chile. Starting this new one as I think it best to have a clear explanation of the process post application that I and others have experienced. One was my Travel Agent's boss, who had exactly the same...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[muppet]

Hi all,

Hoping for some constructive advice as I'm beating myself up enough as it is. I have unfortunately totally blanked on applying for a Chile visa due to other things going on my life. I know this is a significant mistake and may not have a solution but hoping there is some insight I can get out of this situation.

I am scheduled to fly to Santiago on Monday 15th Jan and applied for my visa this morning Tuesday 9th Jan. Definitely not enough time if following standard protocol.

Have I got any chance in getting this through if I visit the Sydney consulate first thing tomorrow morning?

Could I alternatively book an onward ticket to somewhere like Buenos Aires and just fly back to Santiago for my next connecting flight to Medellin on Wednesday 24th Jan? I understand this would perhaps need to be organised in time for check-in in Sydney? Would I have issues with this approach if the onward flight to BA is on a different ticket i.e. with rechecking luggage?

I have a lot invested in my onward travel plus my dad will arrive in Chile before I do (he's travelling on a Chilean passport) and will be waiting for me at the airport.

I remember the days when we just arrived in Santiago, paid the reciprocity fee and moved on. Oh how I long for that now despite the disdain I had for it back then...

Thanks very much in advance for any suggestion.

I think you’ve pretty much got it covered. Show up tomorrow morning and in the meantime, look at a refundable ticket onwards to Buenos Aires - however this won’t work well with checked baggage unless it happens to be the same airline i.e. LATAM to LATAM. Your bags may need to go with your dad if that’s the case.

 

[SYD]

Yes, if you can front up with details of what you’ve lodged already you should be ok.

I’m flying mid Feb and applied literally just before Christmas in a slight panic noting holidays etc but received the email asking for $$$ (lots of $$$) on Friday which I’ll pay this week… (A$176 for anyone playing at home). They claimed 5 biz days turnaround but as per the other thread, others have received confirmed visas while at the Consulate.

 

[Dicci]

So say I was to purchase a one way flight SCL to EZE on a LA flight number and ask Qantas to link it to my original SYD-SCL flight, that should work?

And then if I purchase another one way flight EZE to SCL also on a LA flight number, they should also be able to link it to my original SCL-MED flight?

That way my check in luggage would travel with me?

I’d need to weigh up if that would be more beneficial than simply paying for my dad to meet me in BA for a few days.

Geez I’m up the creek with this one

 

[SYD]

I would try the consulate approach first - be there when they open.

 

[Dicci]

I would try the consulate approach first - be there when they open.

Yep, planning to be there at 8:30 tomorrow morning ahead of their 9:00 opening. This is route 1. If they are negative to my approach then I’m trying to circumvent Chile altogether.

 

[RooFlyer]

i’m pretty confident showing up the consulate will work. In fact, applying for a Visa through the Melbourne Consulate I and others have found that's the only way to get a Visa issued. - Show up about a week or less before you fly.

You probably haven’t received the email requesting payment so be prepared to pay at the consulate. If you have paid, be prepared there to show your proof of payment as their recordkeeping seems pretty sloppy.

tell us how you get on.

 

[muppet]

So say I was to purchase a one way flight SCL to EZE on a LA flight number and ask Qantas to link it to my original SYD-SCL flight, that should work?

And then if I purchase another one way flight EZE to SCL also on a LA flight number, they should also be able to link it to my original SCL-MED flight?

That way my check in luggage would travel with me?

I’d need to weigh up if that would be more beneficial than simply paying for my dad to meet me in BA for a few days.

Geez I’m up the creek with this one

Hopefully you get the visa from the consulate this morning as i’m almost certain that Qantas will not interline bags to LATAM on a seperate ticket.

 

[Dicci]

Well that turned out to be a storm in a teacup. No need to have pulled my hair out about it after all.

We were first in line at the consulate, walk in take a seat for a moment. Then when it’s my turn, I briefly explain I’m there about a visa and let them know I made an application yesterday for travel on Monday. They take my passport for 10 mins or so then come back, take my payment and the visa is in my inbox within 30 minutes. They do quickly admonish me and let me know it usually takes 10 days, I wholeheartedly agree then leave while counting my lucky stars.

Still would not recommend the stress and panic caused by this scenario so to anyone reading this, make sure you don’t forget your Chile visas and apply well ahead of time.

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions.

 

[RooFlyer]

They do quickly admonish me and let me know it usually takes 10 days,

this is nonsense in my experience. It usually takes 15 minutes once they get around to doing it.

Still would not recommend the stress and panic caused by this scenario so to anyone reading this, make sure you don’t forget your Chile visas and apply well ahead of time.

The Melbourne consulate specifically told me that they do not process visas until about two weeks before departure time. They don’t even do that, and usually just a day or three before hand.

Actually applying at the consulate saved you from all the angst of the really rubbish online Visa application.

 

[SYD]

Well that turned out to be a storm in a teacup. No need to have pulled my hair out about it after all.

We were first in line at the consulate, walk in take a seat for a moment. Then when it’s my turn, I briefly explain I’m there about a visa and let them know I made an application yesterday for travel on Monday. They take my passport for 10 mins or so then come back, take my payment and the visa is in my inbox within 30 minutes. They do quickly admonish me and let me know it usually takes 10 days, I wholeheartedly agree then leave while counting my lucky stars.

Still would not recommend the stress and panic caused by this scenario so to anyone reading this, make sure you don’t forget your Chile visas and apply well ahead of time.

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions.

Glad it worked out and a useful data point for others who recall the old pay on arrival fee and don’t know there’s a new visa process.

As an aside, I must pay for mine this week and report back how long it actually takes to get the visa. Fortunately I’m not flying until Feb.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Well that turned out to be a storm in a teacup. No need to have pulled my hair out about it after all.

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions.

Glad it has worked out for you @Dicci
and welcome to AFF.
Lots of knowledgeable folk here.
Happy travels

 

[RooFlyer]

As an aside, I must pay for mine this week and report back how long it actually takes to get the visa. Fortunately I’m not flying until Feb.

I’m guessing Sydney Consulate? Let us know how you get on please.

 

[SYD]

I’m guessing Sydney Consulate? Let us know how you get on please.

Yes, in your other thread as a datapoint. Apparently as reported here and elsewhere the SYD consulate is more efficient - let’s hope so.

 

[moa999]

Easier solution is just to take Chile off the travel list.
Stupid decisions deserve consequences.

 

[RooFlyer]

Easier solution is just to take Chile off the travel list.
Stupid decisions deserve consequences.

I have certainly vowed not to bother with Chile again. However there is the issue that it’s the only air Gateway to Australia from South America and the starting point for many cruises such as in my case.

 

[Dicci]

If I didn't have family there, I'd never go back to Chile on principle. In fact, I still might...

 

[SYD]

Yes, in your other thread as a datapoint. Apparently as reported here and elsewhere the SYD consulate is more efficient - let’s hope so.

I can confirm that SYD was pretty efficient! Visa emails received today (timeline posted over in the other thread).

 

[antycbr]

I seriously have to question how much the Chilean Government even looks at all of the documentation that AU citizens upload. I suspect it is all a facade to put AU citizens through what CL citizens have to do. I suspect it all goes in the bin basically.

If you want to prove a point, just stick with the reciprocity fee at SCL. Simple.