Brazil visa requirement

[stefang]

Hi I am going to Brazil for the first time around July. I met my girlfriend in Portugal but never went to Brazil before. The question I have is it seems you have to get the Brazilian visa in person you cannot send for it by mail in the midwest. Does anybody know if this is correct and if it is who might you know that I could use to have it processed for me in person so I don't have to be there. Thanks for any response.

[ConfederateDave]

... in response to Brazil visa requirement, posted by stefang on Apr 22, 2003

Stefang,

I just sent my Visa request off yesterday to the Brazilian Embasy in Washington.  When and Where are you going when you go to Brazil.  I will be there in July also.  If you want, email me at davidmiller4@nospam.com.

[stefang]

... in response to Re: Brazil visa requirement, posted by ConfederateDave on Apr 24, 2003

Hi I am going to Brazil probably the last weekend in June to mid July. I will be staying with my girlfriends family in Rio Claro a city north of Sao Paolo. I don't know where from there because my girlfriend says she wants to visit some places and we will travel. I still don't have a ticket yet but I am pretty sure of this time will start to look for a flight maybe this weekend.

[stefang]

... in response to Brazil visa requirement, posted by stefang on Apr 22, 2003

Thanks for the messages I did look at the consulate site and Chicago is where I have to get my visa. They don't accept by mail and I didn't see any expediting service but I will call them instead. I am looking forward to going and It will be around the end of June to Mid-July so I do have time on my side. I will buy a ticket in a week or two so I shouldn't have any problems. I know the visa is now $100 because that is what the US charges Brazilian citizens.

I will stay with her mother as my girlfriend has been helping pay a house for her mother and herself. I met a few of her friends when I was in Portugal and they all seem to want to help and take care of you, they are very nice people.

[Bueller]

... in response to Re: Brazil visa requirement, posted by stefang on Apr 23, 2003

I got my visa to Ukraine through their Chicago consulate while living near Detroit, via an expeditor in Troy, MI called International Express Services, (248) 244-8470. Maybe they can help you with Brazil.

[stefang]

... in response to Re: Re: Brazil visa requirement, posted by Bueller on Apr 23, 2003

Thanks for the info I think I will give them a call because if they do it, I can just drive over and drop my info to them. Thanks again.

[Bueller]

... in response to Brazil visa requirement, posted by stefang on Apr 22, 2003

Go to the consulate website and find out which branch you will have to use-- which one depends on the state you live in. The website will also specify whether you can send the app by mail, and how long it takes. It will also have a list of expediting services they work with, and they may require that you either apply in person or use one of these services.

 I got my tourist visa for Brazil in Barcelona, when I was living in Valencia. A Brazilian friend called them for info, got me the app and instructions, and I took the train up one day and had visa in hand a few hours later.

 Applying for my student visa while already here in Brazil, I had to go through the San Francisco consulate only, and if I remember right it was either go there in person or use one of the expediting services they list on their website. The one I chose charged $60 and moved documents only by Federal Express, so no worries whatsoever about anything getting lost.

[Brazilophile]

... in response to Brazil visa requirement, posted by stefang on Apr 22, 2003

Miguel is correct.  You can obtain a Brazilian tourist visa by mail or messenger, though it is not recommended.  Partly due to the possibility of a delay in processing and partly due to the possibility of your passport getting lost in transit.  

On my first trip to Brazil, I got my visa in Miami the same day I left for Brazil.  I had arrived in Miami the previous night and applied for the visa the next morning.  They accept visa applications in person between 10 am and noon, and then return your passport with the visa the next day at 3 pm.  However, if you ask nicely and show need for expediency, they will process the request and return your passport and visa the same day.  

You might want to consider that option depending on your route to Brazil.  The flights to Brazil all leave at night, between 8 and 11 pm.  It is your choice for a same day or previous evening flight into your gateway city.

Enjoy your time in Brazil.

[Miguel]

... in response to Brazil visa requirement, posted by stefang on Apr 22, 2003

I did this about a year ago, and applied through Brazilian consulate in Houston. If you're in Midwest, you'll want to go through the consulate in Houston or Chicago, I think. The Houston consulate would not accept applications by mail.  I downloaded the visa application form from web site, filled it in, and forwarded to a visa services firm in Houston along with a passport photo, copy of my airline ticket and payment. They returned the passport/visa to me. I think the service I used was Express Visa, but I'm not sure.  Anyway, here's link to a list of commercial visa services on the Brazilian Consulate's web site.  I would strongly recommend calling whichever service you're going to use first, to get their price and their advice regarding what they'll need from you, before mailing them anything. Anyway, here's address for a list of commercial visa services on the Brazilian Consulate's (Houston) web site.

http://www.brazilhouston.org/ingles/viagency.htm

Here's address for what they'll need to issue you a tourist visa.

http://www.brazilhouston.org/ingles/vitur.htm

[Miguel]

... in response to Re: Brazil visa requirement, posted by Miguel on Apr 22, 2003

Sorry, actually, their web site says you can apply for the visa by mail.  But considering "average" processing time is 4 weeks, and that you'll need to send them a copy of your airline ticket, and that you're at their mercy if you make a mistake in filling out the form, you probably don't want to do this unless it's going to be a long time between when you're ticketed and when you travel.

[Hiker]

... in response to Brazil visa requirement, posted by stefang on Apr 22, 2003

You might search the archives for post made by "Onephd".  He made a few trips there and I know he did a lot of research before he went.  I would tend to have a lot of confidence in what he posts.