If you’re planning to head to Brasil and you happen to be
American (and by ‘American’, I mean one of those North American, US citizen
types), you want to make sure that all of your “T’s” are crossed and your “I’s”
are dotted as you prepare for your departure. US citizens are required to
obtain a visa prior to entering the country.
I was very particular about reading all of the fine print and created a
checklist for myself. I had heard a few
horror stories regarding the visa process, but I personally had no problems at
all in getting a visa, which was turned around in about a week.
The cost is $160 dollars, a fee that is reciprocal for the
fee that the U.S. charges Brasilian nationals for visas to visit the U.S. You
have to secure the date and time to drop off your application with the
Brasilian consulate. In order to secure
your date to drop off your application, you will need a protocol number, which
you can obtain after you fill in your visa application form online. Some
websites state that they will expedite the process for you, but eventually all
of these sites will lead you back to this one: https://scedv.serpro.gov.br/
Here you will need to fill in the application after which you
will receive your protocol number.
Checklist…..You will need the following:
·
A valid passport with an
expiration that is at least 6 months after your intended date of arrival in
Brasil.
·
One visa application per
person. You will need to bring the
receipt page with the bar code.
·
One passport size color front view
photo that has been taken within the last 6 months.
·
Proof of travel – You need a
printed copy of your itinerary which includes your full name, confirmed itinerary,
flight number/vessel name and dates of arrival and departure.
·
$160.00 USD reciprocity fee. Cash,
personal checks and credit cards are not acceptable forms of payment. All consular fees must be paid in U.S. Postal
Service money orders. The fee is paid on the day of the visa appointment.
You can go to the consulate in
person to drop off your application or you can have someone drop it off for
you. If you elect to have the
application dropped off for you, it will cost you an additional $20.00 fee.
I was able to get an appointment
within two weeks of filling out the form online. For
the Brasilian consulate in San Francisco, visa applications are accepted from
9:00am to 12:00. I was told that you cannot
choose the length of time for the validity of the visa that you are granted,
however I believe that 10 years may be the default at this time. I was granted a 10 year multi entry visa,
which is longer than the expiration of my current passport. I was told that once I obtain a new passport,
I can show the valid visa in my old passport to be allowed entry in the future.
The only issue that I encountered was my arrival in
Brasil. After an 8 hour flight from
Miami, I had gone to the washroom soon after departing the plane. I inadvertently ducked under a rope to reach
the end of the line at immigration, an action which led to a pretty
intimidating federal police interrogation and multiple threats to be
repatriated immediately back to the US.
My suggestion:
**** Do not duck under any ropes in the immigration
line and if possible use the washroom during the flight as soon as the last
seat belt call is announced prior to landing.****
Once you make it here, I’m sure you’ll find that it’s well
worth the hassle as it's really quite an incredible
place. As a child, I always thought that musicals were absurd, because it
was my belief that people would never just burst into song in real life. I’ve seen folks erupt into song in Salvador
da Bahia, and often. The occasion isn’t carnaval, but rather a Tuesday evening
on public transportation.
 |
| Pelourinho - Salvador da Bahia |
Thank you Brasil, my love – for I’m now permitted to be held
again in your embrace for 180 days per year over the next 10 years. My heart overflows with gratitude to finally
return.
 |
| Sunset at Porto da Barra - Salvador da Bahia |
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