Visa requirements for Spouse in South America

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Visa requirements for Spouse in South America

Hi guys,
I'm joining a vessel doing the US East coaat to South America West coast run. I'll be joining with my wife...so I just wanted to know if anyone knows what are the spouse visa requirements for Panama and south american countries like Columbia,Ecaudor,Peru and Chile.
This is the first time I'll be visiting this side of the world so I have absolutely no idea about which countries need visas and what is the duration. My company guys say they dont know either (weird!).
I'd be very obliged if anyone could enlighten me.
Thanks in advance,
Krishna

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  Hi Krishna,
        Firstly hope you have pleasant sailing experience with your wife. If the company is not having much info then the next bet is to ask the local agents and seek help from the onboard captain.
  
  While I never sailed with my wife to South American countries but the people seemed OK to me in Chile, Peru, Columbia. Ecuador few years ago blacklisted Indians and Bangladeshi but no info about now.
  
  With my personal experience of sailing with spouse is that nobody is very sure for supernumeraries , including the Customs and immigration guys. Mostly people advise you what to do if your wife does not have Visa OR will not allow your wife to go ashore. In some cases they might impose fine the exact amount is still unknown to anyone with rumors ranging from 200 to 2000 USD. Remember if this range is on the higher side its just a scam and you can negotiate with authority (demands skill).
  
  I know it is frustrating and even more so when you are sailing with your wife and everyday you are told that your wife will have to sign off at next port and the damn thing continues till the end of contract, but this is a risk you have to decide whether you want to take or not ? Just make up your mind that it will be expensive and RIP ;-)
  
  Best of luck and bon voyage.

  Rishi Kashyap | 19-Apr-2013 03:32 | EDIT | REPLY
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  @ Rishi Kashyap sir,
  
  I think this is the best piece of information and for person like me who is amateur in this field, this information is like 100$ bill. It was nice to know what actually seafarers are facing when they are going with their wife.
  
  My personal view is that, since seafarers already face too much agony of missing their social life, imposing fines on their spouses is no where justified. I don't what the hell IMO is doing; they should look in to these matters. After all, the pain and suffering of seafarers can be best understood by the other seafarers only.

  Sindbaad Sailor | 21-Apr-2013 10:27 | EDIT | REPLY