Leaving April 9 for South America vacation - primarily Chile and Argentina. Will be at Iguazu Falls Argentina side - staying at the Sheraton Iguazu in the park. I would like to spend a few hours visiting the Brazil side to take some morning photos. I have a confirmed reservation from Sheraton. Tried to get these questions answered directly with email to Houston and they responded was intuitive and simple instructions in English - no direct answers. We have a Galveston bay home so no problem traveling to interview.

The Biometric Data and Scan Documents page:

Photo: Seems like I need to visit a passport photo place and have then take the hard copy photo and then electronic download to SD card - then upload. Any comments - suggestions?

Signature: Cannot find any instructions on their website so I 'ass u me' I should sign my name on a piece of paper, scan and upload! Any comments?

Scanned documents: What is this? Are they asking that, for example, I take my driver's license and have notarized -- then have scanned here? I know I have to have a driver's license or some other form - a bill from a power company.

Last question -- does my confirmation from Sheraton take care of the itinerary requirement?

Thanks in advance for your sharing your knowledge.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2401363

Thanks SambaChula -- right on!

Have a good trip! When you're ready to see more of Brazil with that 10 year visa, I'd be happy to help! LOL

I had my appointment this morning with the "Consulate General of Brazil in Houston" - Visa Department. It went smoothly and I now have a regular tourist visa good for 10 years -- 10 years!! I am 73.

My appointment was at 10:40 and I arrived at 10:10. Heard my name called immediately and a lady requested my:
1. Passport
2. Visa Application Form Receipt with photo attached
3. US Postal Service money order for USD$160, and finally
4. nothing more -- she just said have a seat and she would call me in a few minutes.

At 10:40, the same lady called my name (SUGGESTION sit close to the front of the room because she is VERY soft spoken -- no loud speaker). She returned my passport and asked me to make sure my name, date of birth and passport number were correct on the visa -- which was already placed in my passport. She mentioned a couple things but I was out the door by 10:44. Extremely efficient and polite.

Now, in fairness I did attached the following items electronically to my online Visa Application Form:
1. Photograph (SUGGESTION 2"x2" so just get another set of passport photos made -- not a bad idea to ask for an additional set of 2 photos to take on the trip with you -- in case your passport is stolen/lost during your trip)
2. Signature -- when I first saw this requirement, I wondered! Just sign your normal signature on a clean piece of white paper -- not too big and upload.
3. Water Sewer bill showing my home address.
4. Delta plane itinerary (just copied one from Delta website).
5. Bank of America monthly checking statement (brought 3 months with me but, again, no questions or request to see).
6. Passport identification page.
7. Notarized copy of my Texas driver license.

I am not sure if she looked at my attachments online -- she did not ask me a single question or request any additional information at my appointment time. Careful, limited space for attachments -- don't get carried away.

Should you use an outside visa service? I did not and would not in hindsight. However, the photos and a sample of your signature must be, for example, in JPEG. The other attachments I did PDF. So if you are not savvy (and I am not), get the help of a friend or co-worker. The Visa Application Form program can be somewhat confusing -- for example, when they ask for your "First Name" they actually are asking for your first and middle names -- must match your passport. It makes sense but requires some "I wonder if they mean".

Let me know if you have any questions!

PS will be in Brazil for probably 4 hours at Iguazu Falls. Just read some feedback on TripAdvisor and the Argentina side was closed down early this month because of a puma and cub. That would be horrible -- the Brazil side was not closed. So, that goes to show you, make sure you are ready to visit both sides. That is another topic.

"10 years!! I am 73."

So....happy travels at least until 83 !
Adventure before dementia.