Brazil-robbery before you arrive?
Sep 12, 2008 | 2:10 pm
#16
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Join Date: May 1998
Location: Escondido CA USA
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Thanks
I really wonder, if a cruise passenger, who got on elsewhere, ending in Brazil..
Sounds like the ship would not be allowed to offload such a passenger???
I really wonder, if a cruise passenger, who got on elsewhere, ending in Brazil..
Sounds like the ship would not be allowed to offload such a passenger???
Sep 12, 2008 | 2:24 pm
#17
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Join Date: Sep 2006
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For me since I live a few blocks to the Brazilian Consulate in NYC, the hassle was more standing in line at the Post Office to get the money order than the actual application of the Visa. (I could not believe the number of people that walked into the Consulate totally clueless and unprepared and subsequently were turned away).
My only wish would have been that they accepted cash, debit or credit card. As far as the fee, if the US would eliminate or reduce its visa fee and make it easier, Brazil would do same for us.
My only wish would have been that they accepted cash, debit or credit card. As far as the fee, if the US would eliminate or reduce its visa fee and make it easier, Brazil would do same for us.
Sep 12, 2008 | 4:48 pm
#19
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Southern California LAX, BUR
Programs: AA Plat; UA.
Posts: 262
"No cash, personal or company checks are accepted. Payment must be made by money order, cashiers check or certified check, made out to "Consulate General of Brazil". Please, only one money order/cashier's check/certified check for each application or a group of applications!"
I have always paid with a cashier's check. (In emergencies there is a bank on the ground floor of the building in which the consulate is located. Branches of most other California banks are found not far away.)
Sep 13, 2008 | 5:19 pm
#20
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Diego
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Use a courrier service for the Brazilian Visa
Someone please confirm that the data I am posting is accurate so I do not misled anyone.
Going on a cruise. Starts in Santiago. They want $131 when you get off the plane.
Cruise ends in Brazil. They require you have a Visa (no pun intended). I live in San Diego County, so I am only 250 or so miles RT to Los Angeles to drop off the needed documents to get a Visa, but you can't do that. You need to get the forms on the internet. Fill them out and take all kinds of stuff to the embassey and drop them off with your original passport. They you need to go back in a week or so and pick up your package, as they will not mail it! (hopefully one can call to check if the papers are ready).
Documentation includes: Drivers License (proof of residency), Computer generated flight itinerary, vaccinations if not USA, Original passport signed, applications forms, and photograph with specific requirements (color, white background, 2x2).
While I would only have to drive 500 miles and take 10-15 hours to do this, other that are not so "close" would have to do more.
An option is to use a service. ZVS was recommended to me by several people. They add to the requirements, their order form, and photocopies of everything, then mailed to them.
The charge as of the time I did the research was: $140 Consular fee, if you use ZVS add $58 per item and $24 for mailing. Naturally, you have to add to these numbers your cost of getting the copies, pictures, mailing, etc. Double these numbers to cover my wife.
To add to the fun. Our trip, from the time we leave San Diego county will be about 30 days. Our arrival and activity in Brazil will be the last 3-4 days of this trip. The Visa is only good for 90 days. It can take up to 21 days to get the Visa (according to ZVS). Fun time to insure you do not get the Visa issued too soon or too late (the latter would mean no passport or visa, no trip). The former would suggest a new Visa to get out of the docks (if expired, 90 days). I must admit the program in Chile seems much better for visitors.
We also go to Argentina where no charges to get in or out exist.
I beleive fully costed, we are looking at almost $600 for the Visa before setting foot in Brazil. Add hotel, transportation and a tour or two and that some really big money for 3 days, ie $200 a day for the right to enter and exit for the Visa. OUCH.
Our cruise line (HAL) does not disclose any of this. They just say passengers are responsible for any documents necessary for the trip. The standard "disclosure" is the same for all of its cruises. Likely this is the same on all lines?
WOW, I feel better already.
Thanks to anyone confirming or denying any of this for the benefit of others (hopefully, I have errored in my research).
Going on a cruise. Starts in Santiago. They want $131 when you get off the plane.
Cruise ends in Brazil. They require you have a Visa (no pun intended). I live in San Diego County, so I am only 250 or so miles RT to Los Angeles to drop off the needed documents to get a Visa, but you can't do that. You need to get the forms on the internet. Fill them out and take all kinds of stuff to the embassey and drop them off with your original passport. They you need to go back in a week or so and pick up your package, as they will not mail it! (hopefully one can call to check if the papers are ready).
Documentation includes: Drivers License (proof of residency), Computer generated flight itinerary, vaccinations if not USA, Original passport signed, applications forms, and photograph with specific requirements (color, white background, 2x2).
While I would only have to drive 500 miles and take 10-15 hours to do this, other that are not so "close" would have to do more.
An option is to use a service. ZVS was recommended to me by several people. They add to the requirements, their order form, and photocopies of everything, then mailed to them.
The charge as of the time I did the research was: $140 Consular fee, if you use ZVS add $58 per item and $24 for mailing. Naturally, you have to add to these numbers your cost of getting the copies, pictures, mailing, etc. Double these numbers to cover my wife.
To add to the fun. Our trip, from the time we leave San Diego county will be about 30 days. Our arrival and activity in Brazil will be the last 3-4 days of this trip. The Visa is only good for 90 days. It can take up to 21 days to get the Visa (according to ZVS). Fun time to insure you do not get the Visa issued too soon or too late (the latter would mean no passport or visa, no trip). The former would suggest a new Visa to get out of the docks (if expired, 90 days). I must admit the program in Chile seems much better for visitors.
We also go to Argentina where no charges to get in or out exist.
I beleive fully costed, we are looking at almost $600 for the Visa before setting foot in Brazil. Add hotel, transportation and a tour or two and that some really big money for 3 days, ie $200 a day for the right to enter and exit for the Visa. OUCH.
Our cruise line (HAL) does not disclose any of this. They just say passengers are responsible for any documents necessary for the trip. The standard "disclosure" is the same for all of its cruises. Likely this is the same on all lines?
WOW, I feel better already.
Thanks to anyone confirming or denying any of this for the benefit of others (hopefully, I have errored in my research).
Sep 13, 2008 | 6:22 pm
#21
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Virginia and Vitoria, ES Brazil
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A couple of folks have mentioned that the Brazil visa is valid for 90 days or five years. This, I think, is not quite correct. While the Consulate can determine the length of validity and number of entries on any particular type of visa, the most common visa issued is for Tourist purposes and is a 5 year multiple entry visa that MUST be used at least once within a 90 day period. If the bearer of such a visa fails to enter Brazil within the ninety days, the visa is no longer valid.
I have read about one person's experience on FT, or maybe another forum, where they obtained a visa for Brazil and entered at Iguacu Falls, where passports are often not stamped. Theirs wasn't. When they subsequently tried to return to Brazil again, it wasn't possible with that visa.
Another personal experience was at the DC Consulate where an elderly lady, a US citizen, started taking to me as we waited. She had been denied boarding at IAD because the airline agent stated that her 5 year visa had not been used within the 90 day period. They instructed her to go to the Consulate. Unfortunately for her, her passport had been stamped, but it was very faint and difficult to see. Perhaps the agent was too busy to look closer, who knows, and I don't know what happened to her at the Consulate, but the point is, when you enter Brazil with this type of visa, make sure it is stamped and make sure the stamp is easily visible.
I have read about one person's experience on FT, or maybe another forum, where they obtained a visa for Brazil and entered at Iguacu Falls, where passports are often not stamped. Theirs wasn't. When they subsequently tried to return to Brazil again, it wasn't possible with that visa.
Another personal experience was at the DC Consulate where an elderly lady, a US citizen, started taking to me as we waited. She had been denied boarding at IAD because the airline agent stated that her 5 year visa had not been used within the 90 day period. They instructed her to go to the Consulate. Unfortunately for her, her passport had been stamped, but it was very faint and difficult to see. Perhaps the agent was too busy to look closer, who knows, and I don't know what happened to her at the Consulate, but the point is, when you enter Brazil with this type of visa, make sure it is stamped and make sure the stamp is easily visible.
Sep 19, 2008 | 12:39 pm
#22
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Southern California LAX, BUR
Programs: AA Plat; UA.
Posts: 262
I have read about one person's experience on FT, or maybe another forum, where they obtained a visa for Brazil and entered at Iguacu Falls, where passports are often not stamped. Theirs wasn't. When they subsequently tried to return to Brazil again, it wasn't possible with that visa.
.
The next time I went to Brazil I was a bit worried that the lack of proof of use in the passport might cause a problem, so I took with me a hotel receipt from Rio showing that I had been in Brazil during the 90 day period. The gate agent at American noticed the lack of an entry stamp. I expalined what had happend. She then called the consulate in Los Angeles, but they didn't know anything. Finally she said: "I hope this all works out" and gave me a boarding pass. On arrival at GIG they stamped my passport and admitted me to the country.
I assumed that meant that everything was OK for future trips since my passport now proved that I had been allowed to enter Brazil. My next trip created no problems. But when I went again the following year the gate agent almost refused to let me on the plane. Finally she agreed to talk to her supervisor. They let me board the plane, but told me that the airline had been fined by Brazil for letting me travel the previous occasion. (If that was really true I am not sure why they let me travel.)
Before my next trip to Brazil I obtained a new visa. Anyone who gets a 5 year visa for Brazil and thinks there is any possibility that they might want to go to Brazil again in that 5 year period should make sure that the Brazilian authorities stamp the passport.
Sep 23, 2008 | 7:15 am
#23
Join Date: Oct 2004
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Posts: 1,420
Just for you to have an idea, here is the current waiting time a Brazilian has to endure to schedule an interview with the US Consulate in Brazil to apply for a US visa:
Brasilia - 27 days
Recife - 69 days
Rio de Janeiro - 50 days
Sao Paulo - 74 days
In addition, a personal interview is compulsory, which means you cannot send your application by post. The applicant has to apply in person for a US visa. This entails that say if a person lives in Manaus-MAO, he/she would need to buy an airplane ticket to Brasilia for the interview, or if the person lives in Porto Alegre-POA he/she would need to buy an airplane ticket to Sao Paulo. Considering Brazil is a continental country, you can imagine the cost, time and hassle this interview process involves!!!
Guess who is getting robbed???
What makes things more puzzling is that Brazilians do NOT require visa (up to 90 days stay) for any country in Europe, including the UK and Switzerland!!
Rgs,
Brasilia - 27 days
Recife - 69 days
Rio de Janeiro - 50 days
Sao Paulo - 74 days
In addition, a personal interview is compulsory, which means you cannot send your application by post. The applicant has to apply in person for a US visa. This entails that say if a person lives in Manaus-MAO, he/she would need to buy an airplane ticket to Brasilia for the interview, or if the person lives in Porto Alegre-POA he/she would need to buy an airplane ticket to Sao Paulo. Considering Brazil is a continental country, you can imagine the cost, time and hassle this interview process involves!!!
Guess who is getting robbed???
What makes things more puzzling is that Brazilians do NOT require visa (up to 90 days stay) for any country in Europe, including the UK and Switzerland!!
Rgs,
Sep 25, 2008 | 12:14 pm
#24
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 9,784
Though I don't agree with either policy - I would like to know how many illlegal US citizens live in Brazil - as opposed to the reverse.
While it may feel good, retaliatory visa fees only hurt Brazil as it reduces the number of US business and leisure travelers.
While it may feel good, retaliatory visa fees only hurt Brazil as it reduces the number of US business and leisure travelers.
Sep 25, 2008 | 2:13 pm
#25
Join Date: Oct 2004
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I dispute the fact it only hurts Brazil.
US companies hold vast investment interests in Brazil which also provides an important emerging market to US exports [different from China, the US has a huge trade surplus with Brazil]. In addition, Brazilians are now ranked as number 5 as foreign tourists in the US and no. 3 as the tourists that spent more dollars per day in the US after UK and Japanese tourists.
Brazilians do not need visa to a many countries exactly because of the "reciprocity policy" which explains why Brazilians do not need visa for Europe including UK and Switzerland and many other countries.
Rgs,
US companies hold vast investment interests in Brazil which also provides an important emerging market to US exports [different from China, the US has a huge trade surplus with Brazil]. In addition, Brazilians are now ranked as number 5 as foreign tourists in the US and no. 3 as the tourists that spent more dollars per day in the US after UK and Japanese tourists.
Brazilians do not need visa to a many countries exactly because of the "reciprocity policy" which explains why Brazilians do not need visa for Europe including UK and Switzerland and many other countries.
Rgs,
Sep 25, 2008 | 2:14 pm
#26
Join Date: Feb 1999
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Perhaps European tourists (who need no visa for Brazil) take up the slack. I admit, it does feel good for U.S. citizens to endure a small taste of what they inflict on others. I don't see any reason for an American to complain about Brazil's visa process until the U.S. fixes theirs. The complexity of getting a U.S. tourist visa certainly hurts the U.S. tourist economy as well, so we might be shooting ourselves in the foot here.
Sep 25, 2008 | 2:18 pm
#27
Join Date: Oct 2004
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Rgs,
Sep 25, 2008 | 2:27 pm
#28
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: NYC
Posts: 9,784
If you compare the growth in tourism of Brazil with other countries in the region where you can get a visa on arrival (Argentina, Chile) you can deduce that any impendement to entry does not help.
Besides - two wrongs do not make a right in my book.
Besides - two wrongs do not make a right in my book.
Sep 25, 2008 | 3:22 pm
#29
Join Date: Oct 2004
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Rgs,
Sep 26, 2008 | 1:46 am
#30
Join Date: Feb 1999
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