Brazil to Stop Requiring Visa from Americans

[Hoda]

This came from from the Brazzil site yesterday!

Brazil to Stop Requiring Visa from Americans
Written by Iolando Lourenço
Wednesday, 06 April 2005

The President of Brazil's Chamber of Deputies, Severino Cavalcanti (from the Progressive Party of the state of Pernambuco), promised to representatives of the hotel industry agility to vote the law project that facilitates entry of American tourists in Brazil, through the removal of visa requirements for United States citizens.

According to the President of the Brazilian Association of the Hotel Industry, Eraldo Alves da Cruz, the project's approval will represent an addition of hundreds of millions of dollars to the tourism in the country.

For the industry's representatives, the risk of terrorism forces the United States to restrict visitors' entry to that country, but Brazil needs the money and jobs generated by the sector.

They reminded Severino Cavalcanti that except to Venezuela, Suriname, and Brazil, no other South American country requests visa from American citizens.

The project is awaiting deliberation of the Chamber's Commission of Foreign Relations.

It already counts on the positive opinion of the final report writer, Deputy Arnon Bezerra (Brazilian Labor Party from Ceará state).

After this Commission's approval, the project will go to the Commission of Constitution and Justice before being voted at the plenary.

[Pete E]

... in response to Brazil to Stop Requiring Visa from Ameri..., posted by Hoda on Apr 7, 2005

Howard,
They were requiring a visa from us for no other reason than we were reequiring one from them.Tit for tat.They were hurting their tourist industry because a pride only issue.When we started finger printing and photographing
thier citizens they started doing the same  for ours.Problem is we could do it in 10 miniutes,they were taking 12 hours.The hotel industry was getting killed over it and that got changed.This rule too hopefully.

Pete

[jason]

... in response to Re: Brazil to Stop Requiring Visa from A..., posted by Pete E on Apr 8, 2005

I was in Brazil last November, and passed through Sao Paolo on the way to Florianopolis.  The line was 3 hours long for customs at GRU, and this was already after they stopped taking photos.  At the Brazilian embassy in SF, they gave me a 90 day tourist visa (for $100) instead of the 5-year renewable one, without any explanation other than the fact that they could do whatever they felt like.  If they want their economy to improve, they really need to take steps to make the process more tourist-friendly.

[Malandro]

... in response to Brazil to Stop Requiring Visa from Ameri..., posted by Hoda on Apr 7, 2005

the Venezuelan embassy says there is no requirement and I never needed one unless this is something very new.

the visa in Brazil is valid for 5 years but costs $100. hopefully they will eliminate the visa requirement.

[valleydude]

... in response to Venezuela does not require a visa for US..., posted by Malandro on Apr 8, 2005

Yeah this had me puzzled too. Technically you do need a VISA to enter Venezuela, but it's issued right there on the spot.

It's the paper you get on the plane besides in addition to the declaration form. You get back the yellow copy after clearing customs.

I almost threw it out before leaving, but hung on to it and it turns out to be your VISA.

V-Dude