Since I have received such helpful information from these forums, I thought I would let people know that if you are going to get your visa from the Los Angeles Consulate, they are changing many of their requirements.

Starting Sept 1st, the Visa "absent fee" will change from $10 to $20. And you have to fill out the application form and submit it online. Also they now require a 2x3 photo--which will be news to the places that take passport photos!! I already have a 2x2 which I will only be able to use if I get my application in before Aug 24. After Aug 24 visa appointments must be requested by email only. You must bring the email reply with you to your appointment. I was told by one of the visa services, that the turn around time at the consulate will now be 20-25 days instead of 10!! So if anyone reading this was waiting to the last minute to get their visa, you'd better hurry.

I live in San Diego and may end up using a visa service and paying their fees instead of having my 82 year old aunt who lives in Los Angeles go in person to the consulate.

This info is on the LA consulate site, however they are closed today so that everyone can learn about this new system. I think they are trying to discourage Americans from going to Brazil! We can't go to a consulate in another city, like San Francisco, because we are out of their jurisdiction.

Hope this helps someone out there.

thanks for posting

Thanks for the information. We also noted change in visa requirements. Can we no longer apply by mail?? Noticed the price went up on everything. Really adds to our short stay in Rio. We might consider using a service as well.

We are going to send our stuff with my aunt after all. She will take it in person before the Sept 1 deadline.

Eileentr: At the Los Angeles Consulate you cannot mail your application materials in nor will they mail them back (which the San Francisco Consulate will do). You must bring them in and pick them up during certain hours as specified on their website. As of Sept 1--you have to fill out the forms online and email them to the consulate. Then you need to email and request an appointment. They will email you back with an appointment time for you to come in. I don't know if they give you any choices, but from the way they seem to do business, I doubt it. That's why we're trying to get all our stuff in by Aug 24. Our trip to Brazil isn't until the end of October.

They did relent on the photo size--2x2 is OK. And I heard that the extended turn around time may be only for the visa service companies.

Thanks for the info, Isok. But if they don't allow mail-ins what do you do if there is no consulate in your area? We are in Tucson, covered by the LA consulate. We were hoping our son could apply for us in San Franciso, but that seems out as well. That leaves us only the option of service companies, I guess Glad to hear that 2x2 photos are ok. We will be there Dec. 1st so we want to take care of it in Sept. Good luck on your application!

I called SF and asked if our daughter, who lives there and is in need of a visa also, could be our representative and I was nearly hung up on with a curt NO! you must us Los Angeles!

There is a visa service listed on the LA consulate site which cost less than others--I think it was something like 123 Brazil visa. They are located very close to the consulate and charge $59 pp for 2 people, if I remember correctly. Of course you would have to pay the postage there and back to you in addition to their fee.

good luck!

You are right...no other option but mail and processing service. That's what we will do. Thanks for the info and enjoy your trip!