Tourism Visa for Brasil

[Ana and Dan 0]

So yes, I did confirm with the visa service in Houston that it's only good for 90 days. Apparently the Houston consulate is only issuing 90 day tourist visa's from now on. It seems like a racket to me, as the Houston consulate is one that allows a third party service to act in behalf of you, and they just happen to only issue 90 days visas...hmmm....good business for for the visa services for sure! Most if not all of the other consulates around the country require you to be in their jurisdiction and even then, they want you to come in person in most cases.

I'm thinking in the long run it would be cheaper to fly down to San Francisco and have them stamp it with the five year visa so I don't have to deal with this each time. Nothing's easy.

Edited September 6, 2006 by Ana and Dan

[Ban Hammer 13,276]

So yes, I did confirm with the visa service in Houston that it's only good for 90 days. Apparently the Houston consulate is only issuing 90 day tourist visa's from now on. It seems like a racket to me, as the Houston consulate is one that allows a third party service to act in behalf of you, and they just happen to only issue 90 days visas...hmmm....good business for for the visa services for sure! Most if not all of the other consulates around the country require you to be in their jurisdiction and even then, they want you to come in person in most cases.

I'm thinking in the long run it would be cheaper to fly down to San Francisco and have them stamp it with the five year visa so I don't have to deal with this each time. Nothing's easy.

weird. i got my visa from them about late feb. maybe they can make more money with the 90 day ones. the 5 year one was $110

[Ana and Dan 0]

I paid $110 for the Visa as well...and then an additional $40 for the third party visa service...I think they're intentionally stamping the third party visa's with the 90 day stamp, so they know they can count on you handing them more of your dime later on....it sounds like a scam and it wouldn't surprise me if the Houston consulate is getting some kind of kickback from the third party visa service for doing this. I'll just avoid Houston and hit up the San Francisco office in person next time I'm down that way. Anything for an extra buck or two....greedy bastards.

Edited September 6, 2006 by Ana and Dan

[Mew 0]

You guys paid $110? I thought it should $100 - Brazil charges the same fee we're charged in Brazil to get an interview. Or were the 10 bucks to have it mailed to you?

[Ban Hammer 13,276]

You guys paid $110? I thought it should $100 - Brazil charges the same fee we're charged in Brazil to get an interview. Or were the 10 bucks to have it mailed to you?

it's $110 plus you have to send them the envelope to mail it back in. express mail both directions made it about $140 total.

[bora bora 1]

Yea, I paid $110 for my last tourist visa in Miami. It must have been $100 plus the $10 fee to have them mail it.

I sure would have paid alot more than $10 in gas Orlando - Miami - Orlando.

Worked well enough for me.

I don't remember having any hassles in Miami, Florida is good for something I guess.

The consulate in NYC was easy enough too when I got my work visa

They were fast and efficient!

[Alex+R 0]

So yes, I did confirm with the visa service in Houston that it's only good for 90 days. Apparently the Houston consulate is only issuing 90 day tourist visa's from now on. It seems like a racket to me, as the Houston consulate is one that allows a third party service to act in behalf of you, and they just happen to only issue 90 days visas...hmmm....good business for for the visa services for sure! Most if not all of the other consulates around the country require you to be in their jurisdiction and even then, they want you to come in person in most cases.

I'm thinking in the long run it would be cheaper to fly down to San Francisco and have them stamp it with the five year visa so I don't have to deal with this each time. Nothing's easy.

In theory, you are not supposed to be able to use a consulate in whose jurisdiction you do not live.

I haven't heard any accounts of someone successfully using the wrong consulate.

[Ana and Dan 0]

So yes, I did confirm with the visa service in Houston that it's only good for 90 days. Apparently the Houston consulate is only issuing 90 day tourist visa's from now on. It seems like a racket to me, as the Houston consulate is one that allows a third party service to act in behalf of you, and they just happen to only issue 90 days visas...hmmm....good business for for the visa services for sure! Most if not all of the other consulates around the country require you to be in their jurisdiction and even then, they want you to come in person in most cases.

I'm thinking in the long run it would be cheaper to fly down to San Francisco and have them stamp it with the five year visa so I don't have to deal with this each time. Nothing's easy.

In theory, you are not supposed to be able to use a consulate in whose jurisdiction you do not live.

I haven't heard any accounts of someone successfully using the wrong consulate.

The Houston consulate will accept any application regardless of jurisdiction if you hire a visa service to represent you. They are the only one.

The San Francisco office is in my jurisdiction so I plan on flying down from Seattle and getting the visa in person so I dont get the wrong stamp.

[Alex+R 0]

So yes, I did confirm with the visa service in Houston that it's only good for 90 days. Apparently the Houston consulate is only issuing 90 day tourist visa's from now on. It seems like a racket to me, as the Houston consulate is one that allows a third party service to act in behalf of you, and they just happen to only issue 90 days visas...hmmm....good business for for the visa services for sure! Most if not all of the other consulates around the country require you to be in their jurisdiction and even then, they want you to come in person in most cases.

I'm thinking in the long run it would be cheaper to fly down to San Francisco and have them stamp it with the five year visa so I don't have to deal with this each time. Nothing's easy.

In theory, you are not supposed to be able to use a consulate in whose jurisdiction you do not live.

I haven't heard any accounts of someone successfully using the wrong consulate.

The Houston consulate will accept any application regardless of jurisdiction if you hire a visa service to represent you. They are the only one.

The San Francisco office is in my jurisdiction so I plan on flying down from Seattle and getting the visa in person so I dont get the wrong stamp.

Aaaahhhhh... well, good luck to you! I hope this all ends in a 5-year visa!

[Carol&Marc 0]

The Houston consulate will accept any application regardless of jurisdiction if you hire a visa service to represent you. They are the only one.

The San Francisco office is in my jurisdiction so I plan on flying down from Seattle and getting the visa in person so I dont get the wrong stamp.

Hey Dan!!!

We live in Wenatchee, WA (3 hours east from Seattle... ops, of course its not west. LOL!) and my husband got the visa to Brasil with the visa service in SF. He got 5 years visa.

If you need I can ask Marc which service he used and maybe you wont need to go down there just for the visa.

Let me know...

Carol

[Ana and Dan 0]

The Houston consulate will accept any application regardless of jurisdiction if you hire a visa service to represent you. They are the only one.

The San Francisco office is in my jurisdiction so I plan on flying down from Seattle and getting the visa in person so I dont get the wrong stamp.

Hey Dan!!!

We live in Wenatchee, WA (3 hours east from Seattle... ops, of course its not west. LOL!) and my husband got the visa to Brasil with the visa service in SF. He got 5 years visa.

If you need I can ask Marc which service he used and maybe you wont need to go down there just for the visa.

Let me know...

Carol

Yes Carol, I'd appreciate that very much if you would. I didnt think that the SF consulate would allow a visa service to act on you behalf in the SF office, but if that's not the case please let me know who he went through...love to avoid a trip to SF if I can...anything to avoid dealing with the Houston office from now on. They claim they will only give out 90 day visa to americans, but I suspect that's because I used a visa service down there....no more of that. Thanks in advance!

[Carol&Marc 0]

From the Brasil consulate's website in SF:

"The Consular Service will process visa applications for tourist and business visas submitted by individuals who are not residents within its consular jurisdiction only if applicant comes in person to the Consulate General."

"The Consulate accepts only visa submissions brought in by the applicant in person or by a family member/third party properly identified and authorized by a document signed by the applicant(s). (...)

Applicants who cannot comply with those procedures may use the services of a visa service/visa agency (please look for their addresses on the yellow pages)."

(http://www.brazilsf.org/visa_tourist_eng.htm)

So, by this statement I understand that you CAN apply by mail or visa services.

Here it goes the info:

http://www.passportvisaexpress.com/?web_vi...,country.Brazil

http://www.passportsplus.com/visa_brazil_tour.html

Unfortunately, Marc couldn't remember which website he used, but I found these 2 good deals...

Just go for it and you will be fine... He got the passport back in 1 week with a multiple entry 5 years visa.

Good luck,

Carol

[Alex+R 0]

The Houston consulate will accept any application regardless of jurisdiction if you hire a visa service to represent you. They are the only one.

The San Francisco office is in my jurisdiction so I plan on flying down from Seattle and getting the visa in person so I dont get the wrong stamp.

Yes Carol, I'd appreciate that very much if you would. I didnt think that the SF consulate would allow a visa service to act on you behalf in the SF office, but if that's not the case please let me know who he went through...love to avoid a trip to SF if I can...anything to avoid dealing with the Houston office from now on. They claim they will only give out 90 day visa to americans, but I suspect that's because I used a visa service down there....no more of that. Thanks in advance!

Dan, don't they mail visas from SF? You don't need a visa service to do anything for you, because it's so easy to get the visa. Chicago mailed me mine... just wondering.

[Carol&Marc 0]

Dan, don't they mail visas from SF? You don't need a visa service to do anything for you, because it's so easy to get the visa. Chicago mailed me mine... just wondering.

http://www.brazilsf.org/visa_eng1.htm

"Please note that this Consulate General does NOT accept applications for visas submitted by mail. The Consulate accepts only visa submissions brought in by the applicant in person or by a family member/third party properly identified and authorized by a document signed by the applicant(s). The same rule applies for picking up the passport. As an alternative, the passport may be returned by mail if the applicant leaves a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope from the US Postal Service (Express Mail only) at the moment of the submission. THIS CONSULATE WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR PASSPORTS LOST IN THE MAIL. Applicants who cannot comply with those procedures may use the services of a visa agency/visa service."

Seems not... Unfortunately...

Carol

[Ana and Dan 0]

Dan, don't they mail visas from SF? You don't need a visa service to do anything for you, because it's so easy to get the visa. Chicago mailed me mine... just wondering.

http://www.brazilsf.org/visa_eng1.htm

"Please note that this Consulate General does NOT accept applications for visas submitted by mail. The Consulate accepts only visa submissions brought in by the applicant in person or by a family member/third party properly identified and authorized by a document signed by the applicant(s). The same rule applies for picking up the passport. As an alternative, the passport may be returned by mail if the applicant leaves a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope from the US Postal Service (Express Mail only) at the moment of the submission. THIS CONSULATE WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR PASSPORTS LOST IN THE MAIL. Applicants who cannot comply with those procedures may use the services of a visa agency/visa service."

Seems not... Unfortunately...

Carol

Wow, how in the hell did I miss that?!? Thanks for pointing that out. Now it's just a matter of finding that visa service. There are tons of them out there, but most (i think even the visa service links you sent) want to go through the Houston consulate. I'll search around and try to find one that is based in SF. Thanks again!

Edited September 8, 2006 by Ana and Dan