[rafaelm]

The govt created this central organism that controls your annual foreign currency allowance (it was called Cadivi, now called cencoex). You need to submit a bunch of docs to the bank you want your allowance at. So you can only spend your money using the credit cards issued by that bank.

For example, I sent in my papers to my bank at the beginning of the year. They activate my cards with that bank to be used online. You cannot use any other bank for online purchases.

We also get a $2500 yearly allowance for spending outside the country (if you travel) under a similar, more bureocratic mechanism.Unfortunately, since the govt has a MASSIVE debt with international airlines, most of them have cut most of their flights and you cannot get a flight out of Venezuela unless you are rich and can pay in dollars.