<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by ozstamps:
I have travelled to about 120 countries and without a DOUBT the Brazil Gestapo here in SYD take the all time prize for rudeness and lack of ease to deal with. 
I went there each year on vacation in recent years, and may do again at xmas/NYE (NYE in Rio everyone MUST do sometime!) and all ozzies could get were 90 day Visas - at the same mad cost as US citizens now pay.
EACH time it was a major drama. Long delays, INCREDIBLY rude staff, stupid requests like last 3 months bank statements etc. And expensive.
In the end wrote their Consul and said unless they could offer me a better smoother system I would go to Argentina instead on vacation. (Who charge zippo for entry to ozzies.)
He OK'd a 5 year Business VISA thank goodness as "an exception", but Brazil consulate staff in general I found a right Royal pain in the butt. <IMG SRC="http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/thumbsdown.gif">
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Brazil and India have the following problem: They are big fish in a little pond as well as small fish in a big pond. Consequently, they have developed a complex about the reality that they are small (albeit growing) fish in a big pond (on the international scene) which creates a level of arrogance in the foreign policy and political circles that is disproportionate to the level of impact these countries have on the international stages (beyond their regional theaters).