Experience of getting Permanencia in BRAZIL

[Marina-Del 10]

Oi Gente!!

I am going to be getting married here in Brazil to my Brazlian fiancee in a couple months! I'm trying to go ahead and get together all of the documents that we'll need for me to apply for permanencia in Brazil.

As a back story, we want to get married here in Brazil and live here for about 1 year. After that, we want to move to the US. So, I'll apply for Permanencia after the wedding so that I can live here and work here but most likely, since it takes over a year, I wont actually ever get it! Around January of next year we plan on applying DCF.

So, I think I pretty much have everything I need to get Permanencia except for the police background check. I've asked around on Gringoes.com and talked to other people who have gone through the process and I keep getting different answers! Some say that they got the FBI background check (which requires fingerprints) and others say they just went to their local sheirff's office and got a police record from there (most of which do not require fingerprints). I plan on calling the Policia Federal here tomorrow, but I wanted to see what others had experienced. Presumably since it is done through the PF it SHOULD be uniform throughout Brazil (but most of us know that that is unlikely!).

I do know of people who have been approved with only a local police record and so I am most inclined to do that as it will be cheaper and a lot faster...but has anyone experienced this not working? Or, has anyone specifically heard that it is supposed to be the FBI check?

I have an appointment at the Sao Paulo American Consulate on Thursday to get a statement that I am single and free to marry and so if I do need to get fingerprints that would be the most convenvient time to do it! So hopefully, I'll have an answer before then! Also, if you answer that I do need to get the FBI check, then where is it cheaper and easier to get fingerprints done....the American Consualte (USD$80.00) or the PF (price unknown)?

Thanks guys!

[Precious 2]

I'm sorry I can't help you with specifics, but I'm under the impression that the American Consulate in SP can answer your questions.

The PF - as common for public services - is a bit confusing . SP is known to be a good place to get things done, they are far better organized than Rio, for instance.

Try calling the PF bureau and see if you can get a straight answer. They have a website with a specific link for foreigns: Policia Federal see under Estrangeiro.

Hope this helps and good luck in your journey! God bless.

[bora bora 1]

Oi Gente!!

I am going to be getting married here in Brazil to my Brazlian fiancee in a couple months! I'm trying to go ahead and get together all of the documents that we'll need for me to apply for permanencia in Brazil.

As a back story, we want to get married here in Brazil and live here for about 1 year. After that, we want to move to the US. So, I'll apply for Permanencia after the wedding so that I can live here and work here but most likely, since it takes over a year, I wont actually ever get it! Around January of next year we plan on applying DCF.

So, I think I pretty much have everything I need to get Permanencia except for the police background check. I've asked around on Gringoes.com and talked to other people who have gone through the process and I keep getting different answers! Some say that they got the FBI background check (which requires fingerprints) and others say they just went to their local sheirff's office and got a police record from there (most of which do not require fingerprints). I plan on calling the Policia Federal here tomorrow, but I wanted to see what others had experienced. Presumably since it is done through the PF it SHOULD be uniform throughout Brazil (but most of us know that that is unlikely!).

I do know of people who have been approved with only a local police record and so I am most inclined to do that as it will be cheaper and a lot faster...but has anyone experienced this not working? Or, has anyone specifically heard that it is supposed to be the FBI check?

I have an appointment at the Sao Paulo American Consulate on Thursday to get a statement that I am single and free to marry and so if I do need to get fingerprints that would be the most convenvient time to do it! So hopefully, I'll have an answer before then! Also, if you answer that I do need to get the FBI check, then where is it cheaper and easier to get fingerprints done....the American Consualte (USD$80.00) or the PF (price unknown)?

Thanks guys!

Let us know how this goes please - it's good to know. I plan on applying for a permanent visa while in the U.S. since I read on the Miami consulate's website that it is possible. We want to move back to Brazil in a couple of years and I want to be able to work as soon as I get there so I don't want to wait 'til Brazil.

But if I had to your experience would be helpful. I think I'll start w/ registering our marriage in the Brazilian consulate.

[Marina-Del 10]

Yes, I know that you have to have your marriage registered at the Brazilian consulate in the US before you can even think about applying there. Also, I have heard that if you have been married over 5 years, that the process of getting it in the US will only take a month (or possibly less) because if you have been married more than 5 years then the consulate can do all of the paperwork. However, if you have been married less than 5 years the consulate has to send the paperwork to Brazil to be completed. But, even so, I have heard that it only takes a month or two to get the actual residency card if you apply from the US, whereas here it can take something like 2 years! Although, I'll still be able to work after I apply....

Here is the link for getting permanencia because of marriage to a brazilian (in portuguese but if you don't speak portuguese you can always go to google/language tools and have them translate the website) http://www.mj.gov.br/data/Pages/MJA1BC41DE...EEDB4PTBRNN.htm

The list of documents that are needed there do not mention ANYTHING about any type of criminal background check (although they do need one!). It does say that other documents may be requested based on the case though. I was looking through the frequently asked questions on the PF website and it asked what documents were needed to get permancenia based on a family reunion and one document they listed was a criminal background check from the country of origin. Again this doesn't really answer the question! That could mean from the whole country -meaning FBI...or that could mean coming from the country of origin -meaning any place in the country!

I don't know. As suggested I am going to call the PF today and if they don't give me a straight answer, I'm going to give them a visit after my appointment at the American consulate on Thursday. I'll keep you posted! If anyone else has any information that would be great!!!

[bora bora 1]

Yes, I know that you have to have your marriage registered at the Brazilian consulate in the US before you can even think about applying there. Also, I have heard that if you have been married over 5 years, that the process of getting it in the US will only take a month (or possibly less) because if you have been married more than 5 years then the consulate can do all of the paperwork. However, if you have been married less than 5 years the consulate has to send the paperwork to Brazil to be completed. But, even so, I have heard that it only takes a month or two to get the actual residency card if you apply from the US, whereas here it can take something like 2 years! Although, I'll still be able to work after I apply....

Here is the link for getting permanencia because of marriage to a brazilian (in portuguese but if you don't speak portuguese you can always go to google/language tools and have them translate the website) http://www.mj.gov.br/data/Pages/MJA1BC41DE...EEDB4PTBRNN.htm

The list of documents that are needed there do not mention ANYTHING about any type of criminal background check (although they do need one!). It does say that other documents may be requested based on the case though. I was looking through the frequently asked questions on the PF website and it asked what documents were needed to get permancenia based on a family reunion and one document they listed was a criminal background check from the country of origin. Again this doesn't really answer the question! That could mean from the whole country -meaning FBI...or that could mean coming from the country of origin -meaning any place in the country!

I don't know. As suggested I am going to call the PF today and if they don't give me a straight answer, I'm going to give them a visit after my appointment at the American consulate on Thursday. I'll keep you posted! If anyone else has any information that would be great!!!

Wow, thanks...that link is great! I know Portuguese so no worries there.

I didn't even know I could apply for residency while in the U.S. until I stumbled upon that while looking to register our marriage. We're not going to move yet but I figured it'd be good to do a bit of research.

[Ladylethal 12]

Bora Bora, be aware that the permanent visa for spouses is only valid if you intend to live in Brasil, it's not made for multiple entries as a substitute of the regular tourist visa.

[Marina-Del 10]

Hello again!

So, I went to the federal police today in Lapa de Baixo here in Sao Paulo and got a list of documents that you need to present to start to file Permanencia.

One of the item is "Atestado de antecedentes criminais do estrangeiro, expedido pelo pais de sua nacionalidade, VALIDO, legalizado no Consulado ou Representacao Diplomatica Brasileira no pais de origem e traduzido por tradutor publico juramentado no Brasil (documents emitidos nos seguintes paises nao necessitam de traducao: Argentina, Parraguai, Uruguai, Bolivia e Chile)".

We specifically asked if it had to be a criminal check from the FBI or if one from my state of residence was sufficient. The man asked what state I was from (not sure how this was relevent! but I answered that I was from Georgia) and he said that that would be fine. I could just get one from the police in GA! Sooooo....that's good! I have no idea what is actually going to happen when I bring that to file...but I got the mans name!

Based on this and others that I know that have succeeded (at least at the Federal Police stage) makes me think that it is not necessary to get the FBI police!!

Good luck and let me know what you find out too!

[Ali e Jeff 0]

Bora Bora, be aware that the permanent visa for spouses is only valid if you intend to live in Brasil, it's not made for multiple entries as a substitute of the regular tourist visa.

Laura, when you said that is not made for multiple entries...what that mean? We want to apply for a permanent visa for Jeff, because we want to live there for more than 6 months, and we have plans to come back sometime next year and go back to Brasil again...but we cannot be limited to 6 months (tourist visa) every year...so that's way he have to apply for permanent...there is no other way to be there for 8 or 9 months in a roll...help me please...Ja da uma dor de barriga de pensar que isso nao sera possivel. Obrigada..!

[bora bora 1]

Bora Bora, be aware that the permanent visa for spouses is only valid if you intend to live in Brasil, it's not made for multiple entries as a substitute of the regular tourist visa.

Yea, I read that. I'd only apply for residency in order to live there.

[Marina-Del 10]

I'm not Laura, but I can answer your question Ali and Jeff!!

The Permanencia "visa" that you are thinking about getting in Brazil is basically exactly like the 10 year Greencards our LPR husbands and wives are getting/got/will get.

Once you get LPR for the United States you have to continue living in the United States or you will lose it. It is called a Legal PERMANENT Resident status for a reason. If the LPR at anytime decides they will no longer be a permanent resident of the United States, they will lose their LPR status. And after this point if they ever decide to come back into the United States to live, they have to start all. the. way. over. again. It's okay for LPR's to leave the country for holiday or to visit family back at home, but only for a certain period of time (I *think* it's 6 months). LPR's have to stay in the US for at least 6 months out of the year or they risk losing their LPR status. There are SOME exceptions, but it's almost impossible to get one, so I hear. For example, your mother -God forbid- is really sick and you are the only one that can care for her so you have to be out of the US for a year and then once that is taken care of you want to come back. There are always some exceptions, but all of that has to be approved before you leave the US...just for example.

Anyway, the permanencia in Brazil is the same. If you don't plan on living in Brazil, then you will lose your permanencia.

In my case, I will apply for Permanencia around mid June or July and recieve my protocol which will give me the ability to live here and work here. Then I have to wait for the PF to do a home visit (which can take months to happen, 6-8 months usually it seems), then wait more time, then finally I'll get my permanencia (roughly 18 months after I apply). While I am waiting on my permanencia I am allowed to leave the country but the PF suggested to me that I don't leave for more than 3 months at a time and that I let them know what I'm doing before hand so that I don't run into any problems when I try to enter the country again. So you see, basically I have to live here for AT LEAST 18 months just to get my permanencia. (although as I stated above, Del and I plan on leaving Brazil before that, so in reality I will never get the permanencia...but don't tell the PF! )

THEN, once I get the permanencia, the situation is the same as it is for the LPR in the US. I can leave, but I still have to be a PERMANENT resident of Brazil.

I'm not sure about your particular situation and how long you'd want to stay in each place, ect....but you are welcome to post it and we can try to help.

Hope this helps!

Edited May 29, 2009 by Marina-Del