'I was there': the Argentines who immigrated to Spain and now work so that others can imitate them

Lorena Ribichini and Mariana Moreau

six and four years ago.

Seen from 

, there was nothing unique about why: better opportunities for their partners in the retail and energy industries.

But today they are

from

.

The two of them are 45 years old, emigrated with young children who are now teenagers and had the same doubts as the women who write to

the

huge virtual community that 

.

Thus they found their

.

They embarked on a niche that, by dint of permanent farewells in Ezeiza before boarding Iberia flights and at the rate of the boom in applications to obtain Spanish citizenship by the Grandchildren Law, does not stop offering itself on

.

It can already be said that in Spain there is a thriving segment of

.

It is not

(when the questions begin).

They are not tourist tips (nothing more).

Nor is it a management issue (only).

These are people who were

.

Which has its own cool papers.

That he overcame the territorial and emotional duel (without the sad connotation) of being uprooted to plant himself again, but in Europe.

Exactly, in Spain.

The most chosen destination today by those who are born in these lands and leave never to return.

The friends and partners in the first paragraph (they met in 2019 through a mutual friend in Spain) provide advice in which they are consulted from "How do I emigrate without citizenship?"

to "Which neighborhood is best to live in?", going through "What is the best type of school?", because there are

, which receive subsidies but still many charge fees.

They also organize events to introduce newcomers to the community.

But once they arrive, the bond with these advisers does not end.

"There are a thousand more questions, such as public or private healthcare? What procedures do I have to do when I arrive? How do I get my driver's license? How much do I spend in the supermarket? What other living costs do I have to consider? ?", they list.

That's when the community begins.

Which is

.

They released a

in which they classified all the information that was being shared in the WhatsApp groups.

They created a service guide to promote compatriot businesses.

But the added value of this venture is that there really is a meeting.

From the face-to-face

They have

, they have breakfast in Argentine confectioneries -"To support entrepreneurs who emigrated"-, they have barbecues and general meetings in the center of Madrid.

And there are even events in which they present to the community "the Argentines who arrived less than a month ago."

That's where the closeness begins.

"When you are outside your country and you are looking for a pediatrician, you would like an Argentine pediatrician more. Who knows where you come from, who knows you a little more. The same thing happens with a psychologist, a nutritionist, with the caregivers, yoga teachers, and so on," says Lorraine.

On this site, Argentines (regardless of gender) can "apply" and look for what they need.

There are from tax experts to real estate consultants and a job bank where entrepreneurs look for other Argentines to develop their businesses.

have been

there

If

you choose to go beyond reading the posts in the Facebook groups to emigrate to Spain, seeking

advice ranges from 5,000 to

, with a camera, absolutely personalized.

Then there are the

, with agency included (from 40,000 pesos for the most basic), for visas, citizenships, rentals and others.

In this paid "service", what adds the most to

"It happened to us when we met. That you saw another Argentine and wanted to stick with that person. Share your experiences and listen to others. It's what happens to everyone: take advantage of the experience of how good it is to be in a country that gives you more opportunities, but, on the other side of the scale, everything is missing, the affective, which is very difficult to replace here, because

," they describe.

"Here you don't have someone to count on if you have a sick child or you have to go to do a paperwork or go look for them. We are all very

. One day we said: 'Today we are, but it has to happen to many Argentines more. It can't be that in Madrid we Argentines don't cross paths.' That's how Instagram was born."

That account has more than 22,000 followers and WhatsApp groups reach 1,500 members.

Lorena's husband has already started with a

of this:

.

Share (or sell) the same plan 

When in 2014 the porteño and digital developer Eliana Diehl (55) changed the sea from Necochea (where she had moved before) for that of Malaga, she had a plan.

One that she shares today from

, the network that helps put together an 

scheme to go live in Europe.

"The decision to emigrate was the result of the stocks that did not allow us to export our digital services, added to the loss of values, respect and the crack of politics. There was also insecurity and that my children's studies took us back to the Capital or abroad. And we opted for the second option,"

this successful digital developer tells

Eliana Diehl defines herself as a "entrepreneurship facilitator and counselor" in Spain.

In four months they sold everything they had and flew.

First they booked an Airbnb for 15 days, then they tracked "a flat" (as apartments are called) for three weeks, got it, and moved in.

They stopped being tourists.

"We bought new computers and went to work.

. The good and the bad. You have to understand that you live in a state of uncertainty, you have to make friends and move forward. We are entrepreneurs serials, we motivate ourselves as a family. That's why today I am a

".

He started helping friends on Facebook who wanted to do the same, he created his own groups and from there he built a support network that grew exponentially in nine years.

"Today we have reached some 30,000 Argentines between networks, the web and the monthly newsletter that we send. I alone must have helped

to emigrate or make the decision to postpone the idea," he says.

Most of the advice is free and by mail.

But if you want to expand that information, the platform has different rates depending on the profile of the users.

They range from 5,000 to 10,000 pesos per Zoom.

the community there

"Yes, it is our

. But I couldn't say that 'we live by helping other Argentines to emigrate to Spain', because half of our work is

. And, Of course, these cases do not have to do with obtaining residency, but with assets, taxes, inheritances, wording of power to use in Argentina and similar issues," Lucio Boggio tells Clarín, who at 31, 20 years ago

emigrated to Barcelona from Rio Negro.

It highlights the sense of community: even when you are there, you still need to seek

.

In 2017, Lucio partnered with Miguel Ballabriga and they created the firm

. 

"We have a blog in which we explain what to do and how. It is intended as a free and open service. It is enough to resolve many situations and it will only be necessary to make an appointment with a lawyer from the firm when the case is more complex and requires analysis detail of the situation," he explains.

.

To those who want to emigrate, they offer the service of obtaining a work visa as self-employed, a non-profit residence visa and wealth tax advice.

"The first is a relatively easy type of visa to obtain for freelancers who already have a client base and can work online. We have had several cases of Argentine software developers and other roles in the IT sector, but it applies to many more professions

For example, we had an English translator for whom we managed this visa and she moved from Santa Fe to Salamanca."

The

is for people who emigrate to Spain and will live on income or savings.

"We have more and more cases of this type, especially Argentines with good retirements and/or a comfortable financial situation. It is a more accessible visa than it may seem. For a couple, a monthly income of $3,200 must be demonstrated. For a family four are 4,200 dollars," he details.

,

he says, is the great forgotten issue when it comes to emigrating.

"When you settle in Spain with little more than what is fair and you leave nothing in Argentina, it is not a problem. But if you come with some capital, a property there or clients who will be provided with online services, then the subject changes Typical situations to solve: Can you only travel with $10,000 in cash? How do I take the rest of the money I have saved?", closes Lucio.

But there are more Argentine questions that need Argentine answers.

Can I continue to be a monotributista in Argentina or do I have to unsubscribe and register in Spain to invoice as a tax resident?

I sold my house, how do I get the money there?

Can I collect my retirement directly in Spain?;

I have monthly income in Argentina, can I transfer it to Spain?

Do I have to declare them?

The answers are free.

But if there is any additional doubt,

.

There, again, comes the community.

And that fee is paid in pesos, to a national account.

ACE

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