lacontessa

Hubbie and I just returned from a 2 week trip to Bolivia and Brazil and were distressed to find out that our Brazil visa is only good for 90 days--not the 5 years that everyone talks about. When my husband dropped off the visa applications in Washington DC he asked for the 5 year visa but was told it was only good for 90 days and indeed that is what is typed in. We compared our visas with those of two teachers from California--and THEIRS says 5 years! Why didn't we get the 5 year visa? Can we do anything about this now? $100 each for 5 years makes a whole lot more sense than for only 90 days.

mot

Most likely this is because reciprocity. USA is creating a lot of barriers to offer visas in Brazil.

gomexico

The above poster is correct in referencing Brazil's tourist visa policy as being similar or the same as what Brazilians in the USA are subjected to. However, Brazil has become idiotic, IMO, in its uneven and prejudical application of its policy as applied to people from the USA. Unless the regulations ahve recently changed, the visa is supposed to be for a 5 year period, and the cost is $100. I believe that's what the USA charges Brazilians. Maybe I'm mistaken. Telephone and/or visit the consulate where you obtained the Brazilian visa and ask for an explanation and maybe a refund (or extension of time on your visa). My visa is for 5-years, but it's a year old already and not recently obtained.

miguelgcuadra

One thing is the visa and a different one is the time that you are allowed to stay in the country when you enter.
The Brazilian visa MUST be used within 90 days from the date you it was issued, so look at it closely.
Visa is good for 5 yrs, you must enter the first time within the first 90 days after visa is issued and then once you enter, officers decide how many days you are allowed to stay, usually it is 90 days.

lacontessa

Sorry miguelgcuadra--our visas quite clearly state in the validity section that they are for only 90 days. THE SAME SECTION for the visas from the two California teachers stated 5 years.

miguelgcuadra

Do you travel with an american passaport? contact the consulate right away and file a claim...brazilians could be really tricky....

beachwahoo

Don't feel bad about only getting a 90 day visa. I got my visa from Miami and despite saying that I intended to return since my initial trip was only for a week, I was only given a 30 day visa. Two months later when my traveling companions returned to see the falls, I didn't go because I didn't have a valid visa and wasn't about to pay another $110. Calls to the consulate got a rude reply and instructions to e-mail them. I did several times and received no reply. Everyone else that I spoke to had received a 5 year visa, even those whose passports were expiring this year. I thought it was just the Miami office that was doing this, but obviously not. Every Brazilian that I met had received at least a 5 year visa to the US. Obviously, Brazil doesn't want my tourist money.

miguelgcuadra

Would not be surprised that soon we find out that consulates employees were stealing $$$$ by issuing short term visas instead of the 5 yrs visa. Brazil issued visas like that (short term) to other nationalities, at a much lower cost.
If I were you, I would go to the consulate and ask to talk to a Senior delegate, cause the regular employees have such an attitude problem. Brazilians are not like that in Brazil, but those working at the consulates, are the worst.

EmptyNest

I travel to Brazil for business frequently. In the past couple of years, it has been very difficult to get anything other than a 90 day visa.

Don't take it personally. They are not happy with US visa restrictions so they make it very difficult to Americans.

The price for a 90 day is the same as a 5 year - no one is getting ripped off.

I've been extremely frustrated with the process as they take my passport for 3 weeks and it creates a scheduling nightmare for me. So, for my last trip, I drove 3 hours to LA and begged for the five year. My begging (and the 4 Brazil Visas in my passport) must have generated some sympathy because I got my 5 year visa.

geebee

My husband and I applied for our Visas at the same time in DC. When we went back to the consulate to pick them up we discovered that his visa was valid for 5 years and mine was valid only for 90 days. When I asked the clerk about it she said I'd have to call the consulate and talk to somebody else. I phoned, left a message and nobody has returned my call. My husband says forget about it because we don't expect to return after our initial visit next week. Still, it annoys me because the Visas are so expensive.

thespis

I know pretty well the Brazilian immigration laws. There are 8 kinds of visas, and each one guarantees a different time range in Brazil. If you tell me what kind of visa is yours, I will be able to say exactly for how long it is valid.
If your visa is the one for tourists, it is valid for 5 years - but you can stay in Brazil only for 90 days each time, and maximum 180 days a year. Some people just leave the country to Paraguai for one day after the 90 days, stamp the passport and come back for more 90 days.
If the people from the Consulate made something wrong or illegal, you can make a complaint and have the right visa WHEN YOU ARE HERE. Please don´t try to make any complaints to the consulates or border authorities. Wait until you´re here. Go to the POLICIA FEDERAL, at Praça Mauá, in Rio. Call me, maybe I can help +5521 9828 6364 Flavio

miguelgcuadra

But the US visa restrictions has always existed....only Argentinians and Paraguayans had been allowed to travel to the USA without a visa, not longer the case. It is a rip off from the Brazilian consulates, with their nasty employees.

therealrio

This is in response to what THESPI wrote:
"If your visa is the one for tourists, it is valid for 5 years - but you can stay in Brazil only for 90 days each time, and maximum 180 days a year. Some people just leave the country to Paraguai for one day after the 90 days, stamp the passport and come back for more 90 days."

IT IS NOT NECESSARY TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY TO GET AN EXTRA 90 DAYS!! TO GET THE EXTRA DAYS YOU FILL OUT THE FORMS AT A FEDERAL POLICE STATION, PAY THE FEE (APPROX. R$25) AT A BANK. JUST REMEMBER, DO NOT WEAR SHORTS OR SANDALS TO THE STATION, AS THEY WILL NOT LET YOU IN.