Quick question; not sure if this post should be merged into an existing thread or not.

mwg25 and I are going to Brazil in a little over a month to visit my college roommate. She is a resident of NJ, hence in the NYC consulate's jurisdiction. I am officially a resident of CO, so technically in the Houston jurisdiction, but I de facto live in the Washington, DC area these days, so I went in to the DC consulate and applied for my visa there - their website says, "The Consulate General will process visa applications submitted by individuals who are not residents within its consular jurisdiction only if applicant comes in person to the Consulate." So, I was able to apply for myself, but not for her.

As her schedule is extremely busy, it would be difficult to take the time to go into NYC, wait in line, etc. So here is the question (the answer to which as far as I can tell should be "yes," but I want to make sure before we send someone on a wild goose chase and waste that person's time):

Would one of her friends who lives in NYC, if given all the proper documentation (printed "receipt" from the online app, passport, $160 money order [$140 + $20 "proxy" fee], 2x passport-sized photos, and a copy of our flight itinerary), be allowed to apply for the visa at the consulate for her, and then pick it up 1-2 weeks later when ready?

Thanks!

No stand ins. She must present herself to apply. Possibly, they might cut some slack on picking the Visa/passport up. Another word to the wise, paperwork needs to be perfect. Last time I went, they were turning people away that had not stabled their documentation together and would not even provide a stabler. Also, she should get there early, around 830AM-9AM. First come, first serve.

OK - so that policy is specific to the NYC consulate, then? 'Cause I'd be allowed to do it for her at the DC consulate, regardless of whether or not she herself were present, if only she lived within the DC consulate's jurisdiction.

Is there anywhere you can point me to on the website that gives that specific information? I'm not trying to contradict you, I'm just curious why they'd even bother to list a fee of $20 on the website for "Processing of visa applications not presented personally by the passport holder" (see http://en.brazilny.org/index.php?/co.../consular_fees)?

You may want to email them to be sure. That "might" be a fee handed by "approved" expeditor firms only. Maybe other posters may have had better luck with the NYC consulate. The good thing is that they are much quicker but from what I have seen very strict. That day I was there, just about everyone was turned away because their documentation was not proper.

OK, I called the consulate this afternoon. They assured me that with the extra $20 fee, as well as a copy of mwg25's drivers license showing she lives in the consulate's jurisdiction, a friend would have no problem applying for the visa for her. I guess there's no harm in trying...

I have done it for others. It is not a problem as long as you have the proof of non-jurisdictional residence. A drivers license works. It is also a good idea to bring a copy of the consular reference. I always carry the regulations with me when visiting bureaucrats. It sometimes helps and never hurts. The Brazilians want each piece of paper presented in order, just like the US ones do. As long as you do that you'll have no problem. Just don't come without each document they have specified.