Bolivians and puctuality

An interesting article about the "Bolivian Hour", exploring the Bolivian tradition of being casually late, most of the times. This is something to take in consideration when you have an invite at 7:00 p.m. and no body shows up until 7:30.


Late-running Bolivia considers punctuality 'bonuses'


By Andres Schipani

BBC News, La Paz







Many Bolivians admit they struggle to be on time

In almost any city, anywhere in the world, you could find yourself stuck in a traffic jam from 0700 to 0900.



But not in La Paz in Bolivia - 9am is when rush hour really starts.



People begin heading to work then, even if they were supposed to be at their office or factory 30 minutes or even an hour earlier.



This chronic lateness is the result of what is known as "Bolivian time" which the government is now aiming to tackle with bonuses for punctual workers.



Samuel Mendoza, a taxi driver in La Paz, considers himself a Bolivian exception. Because he works mainly with foreigners, he says, he is forced to be on time.





Taxi driver Samuel Mendoza has got used to being on time

Mr Mendoza knows his compatriots well. Most Bolivians, he explains, take being late as part of their duty.



"Bolivians are really irresponsible, there is no culture of punctuality here, they don't arrive on time to work or anywhere else, it seems they don't wear a watch on their wrist," he says.



"It is just something very Bolivian."



Indeed it is. In Bolivia, if you are told to meet somebody at a certain time, it is quite likely that the person will show up 30 minutes late - if you are lucky.



But the Bolivian government thinks things should change. It is working on a labour reform that, among other things, aims to break this national habit of arriving late for everything, from work to meetings to dates.





Bolivians aren't known for their time-keeping



Victor Hugo Chavez

Ministry of Labour lawyer

And the government has decided that the only way to change habits is to offer a financial incentive. In one of South America's poorest countries, that extra money might mean a lot to many people.



"Bolivians are not traditionally known for their time-keeping. So Bolivians who arrive at work on the dot every day could get a 'punctuality bonus', a recognition," Victor Hugo Chavez, a lawyer from the Ministry of Labour, told the BBC.



And it might mean a lot for the economy. The government of President Evo Morales believes Bolivians' tardiness costs the country millions of dollars in lost work time.



National sickness



"We think this will increase productivity, and hence be good for the economic development of our impoverished country," Mr Chavez said.



The reform is likely to be voted into law this month without being drastically changed, because Mr Morales' party has a majority in Congress.



It should be noted that Mr Morales also seems to suffer this national trait. He is often late for rallies and public appearances.



On one occasion, journalists - including your correspondent - walked out of the presidential palace in anger after he made them wait nearly two hours for a news conference.



Government projects seem to proceed at the same languid pace. Roadworks in the middle of La Paz, for example, should have produced a tunnel months ago. It has just been completed.







Bolivian student Patricia says even lecturers cannot be on time

"Workers are sometimes late, sometimes very late", said Aristoteles Ona, one of the site managers. "There's nothing one can do, that's 'Bolivian time'."



Students at a central university in La Paz also struggle to shed light on the national "condition".



"Sometimes my lecturers show up 15 minutes, sometimes half an hour late. And sometimes they don't even show up," says Patricia, who is taking a degree in computer science.



"It was the same when I was at kindergarten, primary and secondary school. So a lot of times I'm late too. I've been absorbing that lateness for years."



She adds, with some resignation: "That is our time, the 'Bolivian time'. I am not sure this bill will manage to change something so quintessentially Bolivian."

Other types of Bolivian visas: Work visa, Student visa, Marriage visa, residence, etc.

Particular object Visa / Work / Volunteer

A "definite object visa" is required to:  do business, obtain an employment contract, professional practices, unpaid voluntary social service, marriage, apply for temporary or permanent residence, filming movies with commercial purposes.

This visa is valid for 30 days. Upon arrival in Bolivia and may be extended for certain periods, by the National Immigration Service.

Requirements:

• Letter of request addressed to Consular Section of the Embassy or Honorary Consulates of Bolivia, showing address and telephone
• International certificate of yellow fever vaccine,
• Visa Application Form
• Passport valid for at least 6 months
• Recent photograph (3.5 x 4 cm.)
• Documentation certifying the purpose of the stay (e.g. employment contract, artistic, sports, etc.). Volunteers social and technical cooperation personnel must attach a certificate from the sponsoring organization to establish his qualifications
• Criminal record certificate, issued by Legal Court of Justice, in the country of which the applicant is citizen, or country of residence. IMPORTANT: This certificate must have a maximum age of one month to be submitted at the consulate. Applicants on business travel don’t need to file this certificate.
• Travel Permit for children under 18. The document must be notarized and to legalized by legal court to verify its authenticity.
• If the purpose of visit to Bolivia is the completion of filming, also must be obtained a special permit granted by the National Film Board Conacine Boliviano. see link
• Special case: Marriage. Foreigners wishing to marry in Bolivia need, in addition to the visa given object; an international certificate of birth and a affidavit of marital status issued by the Civil Registry of the relevant country. Both documents must be legalized at the Consular Section of the Embassy or Honorary Consulates of Bolivia

Cost: 85 US dollars

To know the cost of additional paperwork for visa (e.g., legalization of documents to obtain the visa), we recommend you to refer to the Consular Section of the Bolivian Embassy in your country of origin or Honorary Consulates.

Extension: The extension of a visa in Bolivia particular object has a cost established by the National Immigration Service.

Student visa

This visa is granted to foreign students coming to study in a Bolivian university or college students going to school for an internship. It is valid for 60 days in the country. In Bolivia may be extended by the National Immigration Service under conditions similar to the extension of a visa given object.

Requirements:

• Letter of request addressed to Consular Section of the Embassy or Honorary Consulates of Bolivia, showing address and telephone
• Visa Application Form
• Passport valid for at least 6 months
• Recent photograph (3.5 x 4 cm.)
• Criminal record certificate, issued by Legal Court of Justice, in the country of which the applicant is citizen, or country of residence. IMPORTANT: This certificate must have a maximum age of one month to submit at the consulate.
• Medical certificate and translation to Spanish, incl. ELISA test for HIV. Important: This certificate must have a maximum age of one month to be submitted at the consulate.
• Travel authorization for minors see link "for applicants under age 18. The document should legalize by a notary and then endorsed at a regional court.
• Certification of financial solvency of parents with attached photocopy of their identity documents or passports.
• Letter of Acceptance of a university or educational institution in Bolivia and / or similar
• Photocopy of student card, duly authenticated and translated by an accredited Spanish translator. For a list of translators contact the Consular Section of the Bolivian Embassy in your country of origin or Honorary Consulates.
• International certificate of yellow fever vaccine if you plan to travel to tropical zone or at higher risk of contagion. People, who for health reasons can not be vaccinated, must submit a medical certificate (in Spanish or English).

Cost: 43 US dollars

To know the cost of additional paperwork for visa (e.g., legalization of documents to obtain the visa), we recommend you to refer to the Consular Section of the Bolivian Embassy in your country of origin or Honorary Consulates.

Extension: The extension in Bolivia of a student visa has a cost established by the National Immigration Service

Courtesy Visa

This visa is granted to high officials of state or international agencies and cultural and religious personalities. Call each case the respective Bolivian Consulate.

Requirements:

• Letter of request addressed to Consular Section of the Embassy or Honorary Consulates of Bolivia, showing address and telephone
• Visa Application Form
• Passport valid for at least 6 months
• Recent photograph (3.5 x 4 cm.)
• An official document that proves the activity of interest in Bolivia
• International certificate of yellow fever vaccine if you plan to travel to tropical zone or at higher risk of contagion. People, who for health reasons can not be vaccinated, must submit a medical certificate (in Spanish or English).

Cost: free

Read the previuos post for Application form, lagalization of documents, etc.

Visa requierements to enter Bolivia

Requirements and documentation necessary for obtaining a visa to Bolivia

Before submitting a visa application to the Consular Section of the Embassy or Honorary Consulates of Bolivia, the applicant must verify all required documentation is complete.  In the case of missing documents, translations and authentications, you can not process the request.

Here’s a link to the Bolivian Visa Application Form

Visa Application Form

To enter Bolivia you are required to submit an international certificate of yellow fever vaccine, if you plan to travel to tropical and risk of infection. People, who for health reasons can not be vaccinated, must submit a medical certificate (in English or Spanish).

If you want to know the rates of the Consular services, here’s a link to it:

Consular Fees

More information consular (Normasconsulares and migration / regulations / Legalization / etc.)

(Suggestion: Don’t forget to visit the Website of the Bolivian Ministry of International Relations for updates to this rates www.rree.gov.bo )

Diplomatic and Official Visa

It gives foreign passport holders of diplomatic, official or equivalent in accordance with existing bilateral agreements with relevant countries. This visa is granted only at the Embassy of Bolivia.

To enter Bolivia you are required to submit an international certificate of yellow fever vaccine, if you plan to travel to tropical and risk of infection. People, who for health reasons can not be vaccinated, must submit a medical certificate (in English or Spanish).

Tourist Visa

To enter Bolivia you are required to submit an international certificate of yellow fever vaccine, if you plan to travel to tropical and risk of infection. People, who for health reasons can not be vaccinated, must submit a medical certificate (in English or Spanish).

In order to grant a tourist visa to enter Bolivia, there are three groups of countries:

1. Countries whose citizens do not require a tourist visa (group I)
2. Countries whose citizens require a tourist visa without first consulting the National Migration Service (Group II)
3. Countries whose citizens require a tourist visa with prior consultation of the National Migration Service (Group III)

Before applying for a tourist visa, please consult the lists of countries listed below:

 List of countries that do not require tourist visa to enter Bolivia (group I)
List of countries that require tourist visa to enter Bolivia (group II)
List of countries that require tourist visa to enter Bolivia (Group III)

For additional information you can also visit the Website of the Bolivian Ministry of International Relations by using this link www.rree.gov.bo

 In the next post we will include information on other types of Visa (e.g. Working Visa, Student Visa, Etc.).

Before you move to Bolivia

Going to live abroad is a major decision to take. It makes sense to get a wide range of information in advance and advice to help you plan and make sure the move goes smoothly.

Before you go, you should:

• Make sure you have a valid passport, any visas you might need and a full health plan
• Be clear about your financial situation.
• Check whether you can continue to vote in you’re country of origin
• Find out about accommodations.
• Make sure your car is in line with local regulations and you have the necessary driving permit
• Try to learn the language (spanish) before you go
• It sounds obvious but let people know your new address (and any future changes). As well as friends and family you also need to inform the authorities
• When you arrive, register with the local authorities and get a residence permit.
• You also need to register with you’re local embassy.
• You may also need a local bank account
• And you’ll need full travel insurance for your trip or health care and other appropriate cover if you are living abroad.

In following post we’ll add more relevant information on legal issues and documentation you'll requiere like Bolivian visas, temporary and permanent residence, consular services and more.

Facts you need to know about the Bolivian Economy

Despite all the horror stories you read on the media about Bolivia’s economic outlook. Bolivia has the most positive macroeconomic variables in its history between 2006 and 2009 that placed it as the country with the highest growth in Latin America 3.7%, with the highest level in increasing Net International Reserves (RIN), 8580 million dollars and with an evolution of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) historical since the 70s of 6.15% in 2008, among the most remarkable data.

In the Monetary Policy Report of the Central Bank of Bolivia (BCB) released Monday (1/11/10) by the president of the BCB, Gabriel Loza, highlighting the most important macroeconomic indicators of the four years of the first term of President Evo Morales, who were described as positive despite the historic international financial crisis.

An important chapter is the Net International Reserves until 2009 reached 8580 million dollars, the highest level in history in Bolivia. This amount represents 50.1% of GDP and represents the highest percentage among the countries of Latin America.

Also noted is the behavior of the inflation rate in 2009 stood at 0.26%, the lowest in the past 50 years.

“As never before in economic history were recorded fiscal surpluses in four consecutive years, resulting from higher revenues coming from the nationalization of the oil industry and proper fiscal management.“ says the report of the BCB.

The National Budget surpluses from 2006 to2008 reached record highs in Bolivian history. While 2009, ended with a surplus of 2.5% despite the international crisis.

For the first time in the history of Bolivia, in 2008 the International Investment Position (IIP) registered a positive balance of 12.6% of GDP and up to September 2009 the balance is of a positive 16%.

The National Debt presented significant reduction coming from the initiatives for debt relief and fiscal surpluses in recent years. The balance of National debt of mid and long term to December 2009 represents 15% of GDP, well below the numbers in 2003 of 63% of GDP.

The public deposits in the national banking system at the end of 2009 represent more than double the deposit in late 2005. Between 2005 and 2009, deposits grew by 130% while between 2001 and 2005 deposits decreased by 9%.

In 2010 the national economic growth is projected to be in the range 4.5% - 5.5% as a result of the realization of public investment projects in oil, mining and infrastructure, in the framework of the economic program for the next presidency, concludes the Monetary Policy Report of the Central Bank of Bolivia (BCB).

We hope this in depth information about the Bolivian economy; will help you clarify a lot of the noise you normally read on the media about Bolivia.

Learning about Bolivia

Planning of living or moving to Bolivia, well you are not alone. There are many people in the same situation, feeling lost and confused and having a hard time getting adjusted. In this Blog we will try to give you a good head start on this enterprise you are about to begin called Bolivia. First lest learn a little about the country, with some fast facts.

Facts about Bolivia

Bolivia's location in the world

Full name: Plurinational State of Bolivia (Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia)

Short: Bolivia

Population: 9.1 million (UN, 2005)

Capital: Sucre (official), La Paz (administrative)

Largest city: La Paz metropolitan area (includes: La Paz, El Alto and Viacha) 1.6 millions Habitants.

Area: 1.1 million sq km (424,164 sq miles)

Major languages: Spanish, Quechua, Aymara, Guarani

Bolivian Flag

Major religion: Christianity

Life expectancy: 62 years (men), 66 years (women) (UN)

Monetary unit: 1 boliviano = 100 centavos (1 US$=7.02 Bolivianos as of 1/14/09)

Main exports: Natural gas, zinc, gold, silver, lead, tin, antimony, wood, sugar and soy beans

GNI per capita: US$1,010 (World Bank, 2006)

Internet domain: .bo

International dialing code: +591

Living and learning about other cultures makes you wiser. We hope this information has helped you understanding a little bit more about the Bolivia. In the following posts we will talk more about the cost of living, economy, medical assistance, legal assistance, entertaiment, etc.