Brazilian Visa
 

Well Well it seems that the fee for a visa is up: $100 for Americans, we disscused this previously:

Edited to add: I don't know how to post the link but for those interested the Topic was:

Extra pages for passports

in TravelBuzz!

If it's gona cost $100 I'm going to have to think it over if it's worth the trip.

Does anyone have any experiance with the Consulate in New York City?

Do I have to bring proof of travel (Why on earth do they want that in the first place?)

Do I have to bring any picture?

It's a royal pain for me to go into the city, is there anyway to not have to go in twice?

Will it really cost $100, maybe they'll take into consideration that I got a 90 day Visa a couple years ago, instead of a 5 year Visa which would have still been good? (Because I went to a consulate outside the U.S. to get that Visa)

[This message has been edited by Kidz (edited 09-07-2003).]

USD100 was raised last year when US raised is fee for many countries -- CL/TR/BR etc.

Need a proof of Travel before Visa is issued. Photo required - Here is the URL for the Visa form http://www.brazilny.org/forms/visaform.pdf

[This message has been edited by akhullar (edited 09-07-2003).]

I did it at the New York office a couple years ago, it was fairly painles,s though the wait was a bit longer then I would have liked. You have to sit and wait with number 206 while they are still calling number 110. Besides me and a couple of the visa service guys with 50 applications in an envelope, almost everybody else was turned away from a flight the night before at Kennedy because they didn't know you needed a visa. The people were friendly and pleasant, and listening to all the stories made the time go by very fast (there really isn't any privacy from the counter people).

Maybe you can give them a Fedex or something to return the passport to you, you may want to call and ask.

You can always pay one of the visa services to do it all for you, you are the only one who knows if that's worth it or not.

Don't bring cash, if you do they give you a deposit slip, and you have to go to the bank downstairs and stand in line and deposit the money, then go back up with the receipt from the deposit. Bring a money order instead.

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. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/mad.gif

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. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...thumbsdown.gif

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[This message has been edited by ozstamps (edited 09-08-2003).]

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).

I would never argue with over a BILLION fish. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif

And there are nearly as many fish in Brazil as the USA.

You are right with your statement but they will be both countries to be reckoned with before too much time passes by. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

Short a 100 million or so, for now at least.

Can you still get the visas via fedex? When I got mine in 2001, we fedexed our applications with pictures and included a return fedex envelope. I'm afraid they may have changed this with the new restrictions on Brazilians getting US visas. Thanks US government!

No FedEx. You can FedEx them your stuff but you will need to include a USPS envelope to get your stuff back.

Speaking of India, if ANY FT members EVER have a problem with acquiring an Indian visa, please let me know and I will be very pleased to send you an official invitation from my company (incorporated in India) that will speed things up.

I got a Brazilian visa at the Embassy in Lima in 2000. It cost USD $30-35 for a 5 year. It took a couple of days. Then my passport expired. I could have used the visa in my old passport but that would require me carrying the expired one with the valid one. I decided against it. I went to up to the city (SF) and got another visa. 2 photos were required both in Peru and in San Francisco. In Peru I had to go to the bank across the street to pay my fee. In SF I wrote them a check and got my visa on the spot good for 5 years. Note: My receipt from the Brazilian embassy in Peru states the fee is "in reciprocity of the fee charged" by the USA visa to Brazilians......Greg

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See it's your reaction: "Thanks US government" that they (Brazilians) are looking for. They want you to pressure your Gov. to change policy.

I don't know about the fees but no giving a visa unless applied in person after 9/11 sounds to me like very good policy. Just bec the Brazilians are gona get smart with us is no reason for the US gov. to not be as carefull as possible.
I just wonder when was the last time an American commited a terrorist act or immigrated illegaly into Brazil. Obviously they're only looking to put pressure on the U.S. Gov which dosen't seem to be working.
That being said I wonder at their decisions not only to be pained in the neck by U.S. policy but also turning tourists away from comming to spend their green dollars in Brazil.

As it turns out, I personally was considering making the 2 hour trip (each way) to Manhattan twice and pay the $60 that I thought it was going to cost, but add another $40 and I'm leaning on not going. (Hey their are other nice places to go, plus as stated in first post I went there once already, this would be a second time, for $100 it's just not worth the 2 days I was planning on being there)

[This message has been edited by Kidz (edited 09-08-2003).]

[This message has been edited by GUWonder (edited 09-08-2003).]

A lot of folks from the US tend to overstay in Brazil - Especially many in GIG; and quite afew of them hang out in Copacabana beach and other places......

Visa costs are out of control in the past year or two. On top of all the other insane taxes we get whacked with buried in our ticket price.

I noticed last year in Chile US passport holders needed to hand over $US100 cash BEFORE customs/immigation. I was in Turkey in July - same deal - same $US100. Also cash.

I was in Papua New Guinea a couple weeks back, and on top of the all the other taxes built in to ticket they also wanted a handful of cash to enter, (local currency only of course to slow entry down by another 45 minutes waiting in line to hcange money from the sole clerk http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/mad.gif )AND a K30 "Airport Tax" as well. etc.