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Frequently Asked Questions About Visas 
- What are the working hours of the Consular Section?
Consular sections are open to the public Monday through Friday, except on Brazilian and American holidays. As the hours for each consular section vary, please check the Contact Information and Working Hours page to find out the appropriate address and working hours.
- Do I need a visa to enter the United States?
Yes. A valid visa is a requirement for all Brazilians to enter the United States, even if they are simply transiting a U.S. airport. However, if you are a Brazilian citizen but also carry a passport from a country participating in the Visa Waiver Program (dual nationals), then you may not need to have a U.S. visa if you travel using that other passport.
- Do I need a visa even if I'm only transiting the U.S? I'm only spending a couple of hours at the airport.
Yes. As of August 2, 2003, all international air passengers who travel through the United States for transit purposes require a transit visa. More...
- What is the difference between an immigrant and a non-immigrant visa?
Immigrant visas are designed for people who wish to live permanently in the United States. Generally, they are issued to family members of U.S. citizens and people of other nationalities who have already gained Legal Permanent Resident status in the U.S., as well as to employees whose U.S.-based employers sponsor their immigration applications. A non-immigrant visa, on the other hand, is designed for people whose visit to the U.S. is intended to be temporary. Temporary visits may include a wide variety of purposes (each with its own type of appropriate visa), as well as a variety of lengths of stay. The key difference between immigrant visas and non-immigrant visas is that an immigrant visa enables the visa-holder to stay in the United States permanently; a non-immigrant visa requires the applicant to leave the United States at the end of his or her authorized period of stay. The rules that apply to qualify for a non-immigrant visa are different from those that apply to immigrant visas. For more information about immigrant visas, click here.
- We are a couple who recently got married in Brazil, and one of us is an American citizen or a Legal Permanent Resident in the U.S. How can we move to the United States together?
You need to apply for an immigrant visa for the spouse who is not a U.S. citizen or Legal Permanent Resident. CR-1/IR-1s are the immigrant visas for Brazilians who have married an American citizen in Brazil, when the couple wants to live in the U.S. If the American is currently living in the U.S. he must file the petition at the local USCIS office (they must file the I-130 petition, which can be found on the USCIS website). If the American is currently living in Brazil, then he or she can file the petition here at any consulate, but it will be forwarded it to the Rio de Janeiro Consulate, where all immigrant petitions are processed for Brazil. Note: if the spouse is a Legal Permanent Resident, rather than an American citizen, then he or she must file for an F2A visa for the immigrating spouse, and can file this form only in the U.S. More information is available at this link.
- What if we are not actually married yet, but plan to move to the United States and marry soon thereafter?
In this case, the appropriate visa is a K-1 fiancé visa, which is only available if the applicant will marry an American citizen. Travelers entering the United States on a K-1 visa must marry the American citizen within 90 days of entrance to the U.S. The American citizen must file an I-129F petition at their local USCIS office in the United States. Although the K-1 is considered a non-immigrant visa due to its temporary status, it is processed as any other immigrant visas in Rio de Janeiro. For more information, please follow this link.
- Is there a visa application fee?
Yes. A nonrefundable application fee of the equivalent in reais of US$131.00, in cash, according to the exchange rate established weekly by the Embassy, is to be paid in advance at an authorized Citibank branch for each visa application. It is essential that you present your original receipt on the day of your interview. Copies (even notarized) will not be accepted.
- Do I have to pay for the visa?
Besides the application fee, no other fee is required for the Tourist Visa (B-2), but fees are applied to some visa categories based on reciprocity practices between Brazil and the United States. These visa issuance fees must be paid immediately upon the end of the visa interview at the cashier in the consular section, and may be paid in cash (dollars or reais) or by major credit card.
- If I am not a Brazilian Citizen, or if I am a Brazilian Citizen but also have citizenship in another country, do I still have to pay a visa fee?
It depends. If you plan to travel on your Brazilian passport, then the fees described in the previous question (and the link provided) apply. If you travel on a valid passport from another country, then the fees may be different. Please consult the information for your country available at this link. Please also review the information given below, though, about applicants from other countries who decide to seek U.S. visas in Brazil.
- Should I appear in person at the Consular Section?
All applicants who don't meet one of the waiver of interview criteria must go personally to the Embassy or Consulate where they have made their interview appointment.
- How long should I expect my appointment to take?
We make every effort to ensure that visa applicants spend as little time as possible at the Embassy or Consulate. At the same time, there are a number of steps that must be completed for every visa interview. It is very important that you arrive as close as possible to your designated appointment time, understanding that up to approximately 150 people may share the same half-hour appointment block. Scheduling appointments in this manner allows us to attend to applicants with the greatest possible degree of efficiency. Because there are so many travelers seeking visas, please be aware that you may spend several hours at the Embassy or Consulate, depending on a variety of factors. We advise that you bring along some reading material. You may also wish to bring a snack. In Brasilia, São Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro, a limited selection of food and beverages is on sale at the on-site café or food cart to which applicants have access.
- Are any provisions made at the interviews for applicants who have special needs?
We do make special accommodations for applicants who are elderly, pregnant, appearing at the Embassy or Consulate with very young children (under 2 years old), injured, and who have special physical needs. These applicants are prioritized ahead of other applicants so that they will spend less time at the Embassy or Consulate.
- What about applicants who do not speak Portuguese, or are unable to speak?
Applicants who speak Portuguese or English will have no difficulty during their interviews. Applicants who speak Spanish may also be able to conduct their interview in Spanish, depending on the staffing at each consulate and because of the close similarity between Portuguese and Spanish. However, applicants who do not speak any of these languages are strongly advised to bring an interpreter with them. Likewise, applicants who are unable to speak are strongly advised to bring an interpreter, for example, a sign-language interpreter. Interpreters need not be formally licensed, and can be family members or co-workers. The primary qualification is that the applicant be comfortable that the interpreter can accurately translate the interviewer’s questions and the applicant’s answers. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that this qualification be met.
- How do I apply for a visa?
Except as noted above, all those interested in applying for a visa must schedule a personal interview through the Visa Information Service. Visa interviews are scheduled from Monday through Friday on normal working days. The public may contact the Visa Information Service through the website http://www.visa-usa.com.br/ or by calling 0(xx)21-4004-4950 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Through this service, applicants will be instructed on how to make the R$38 payment, which includes ten minutes of phone time valid for one or more phone calls, and allows the scheduling of an appointment for the visa interview for up to five family members. The fee includes access to visa information both on the web and through the operators at the Visa Information Service call center, but not the courier expenses for returning passports with approved visas.
Through this website, you can access visa information and schedule a visa appointment. Please note that in order to get information and schedule an appointment online, you are required to choose an online payment option. Those options include all major credit cards, debit cards or the bank deposit (boleto) option. Applicants using the bank deposit (boleto) option, however, can only access the necessary information to apply for a visa and schedule their own interview starting the day after the bank deposit (boleto) is paid.
Applications sent through the mail will not be accepted.
- I am having difficulties with the Visa Information Service. Whom should I contact?
The service provides a special services line which applicants may use to resolve technical difficulties. Please call (21) 2108-9199 (55-21-2108-9199 if calling from outside Brazil).
- What documentation is required for a visa application?
- A Passport valid for travel to the United States with a validity date at least six months beyond the applicant's intended period of stay in the United States. Old passports (whether or not they include U.S. visas, but especially if they include still-valid U.S. visas) should also be presented.
- The confirmation page of completed online visa application form DS-160. Only the confirmation page will be accepted. Please, remember to fill out the form DS-160 at least 72 hours prior to your interview.
- The original receipt from Citibank for payment of the application fee. Copies (even notarized) will not be accepted.
- A recent color photo taken within the past six months, 5x5cm (or 5x7cm), showing full face, against light background.
- Documents that give supporting evidence of your ability to pay for the trip and your strong links to Brazil (eg.: labor card, personal and business income tax returns, pay slips, marriage and birth certificates, corporate documents, bank statements, school statements, documentation of properties you own such as cars or real estate, other evidence of financial resources such as rental properties or savings accounts, etc.). For more detailed information about required and additional documents, please follow this link.
- Do I need to bring my family members’ passports to the interview, even if they are not planning to travel?
Bringing your spouse’s passport (and those of other family members) can be very helpful in establishing your ties to Brazil. Although you are not required to bring the passports of family members who are not applying for a visa at the same time as you, presenting their passports to the Consular Officer can sometimes help establish your own ties.
- If I am issued a visa, how will I get my passport and visa back?
Passports with issued visas are usually either returned in one to three business days following the interview, in the afternoon for pick up in person, or through a courier service, with some posts relying on the courier service more than others. As the hours and return practices for each post vary, please check the Contact Information and Working Hours page to find out the appropriate information.
In São Paulo, in order to increase processing efficiency, visa applicants will not be able to pick up their visas and will be required to use a courier service. All passports with visas are returned by courier service except in emergency situations requiring imminent travel. Generally, passports will arrive within five (5) to seven (7) working days after your interview, unless the applicant was informed that additional processing will be necessary. Passports will be returned address of the applicant’s choosing, which he or she will provide to the courier service at the time payment is made to the courier service. If the traveling party includes people who live at more than one address (e.g., grandparents traveling with their children and grandchildren), please inform the Consular Officer at the time of the interview so that he or she can mark the protocols accordingly, to ensure proper delivery of the passports. Emergency situations requiring imminent travel generally do not include situations that could have been avoided with advanced planning.
- I want to book my travel as far in advance as possible. How long will it take to get my visa back?
The amount of time required to issue visas and return passports to applicants was addressed in the previous question. However, applicants are strongly advised not to book their travel until after they receive their passport and new visa. There is no way for us to guarantee or for you to be certain in advance that you will be issued a visa. In addition, applicants sometimes arrive for the interview lacking an essential document, or with an injury that prevents us from being able to collect acceptable finger prints, or some similar issue. In these cases, while the visa may still eventually be issued, there will be delays beyond the normal processing time. The best way to avoid the unpleasant circumstance of having bought an airplane ticket only to find out that the visa was refused, or that you will need to go through the costly process of changing your tickets to another travel date, is to wait until after your visa arrives at home. If you have an unforeseen emergency circumstance, you may request expedited scheduling of your interview, but there is still no guarantee that the visa can be issued in time for your optimal travel date.
- I have an allergy on my fingers. Will there be a problem with taking my finger prints?
All applicants from 14 to 79 years old are required to be finger-printed as part of the visa application process. If you have an allergy on your fingers, capturing your finger prints could be difficult. If your fingers are permanently affected by an allergy or other condition, then you should bring a letter from a registered physician to your interview indicating that this condition is permanent.
- What shall I do if my passport expires but my visa is still valid?
Make sure that the visa was not damaged and always travel with both the expired passport with a valid visa and the new passport.
- I plan to get a new passport soon, but I hear that the Brazilian Federal Police will keep my old passport. What should I do?
We strongly advise that before you renew your passport, you make a complete copy of every page of your old passport, including the front pages with your passport number and personal information. Although not required, this information can be very helpful when you apply for your next visa.
- I have a visa but it has my maiden name. Now I'm married, and my name has changed. Do I need a new visa?
You don't need a new visa. You can travel with your new passport with your married name, and your old passport and visa, with your maiden name. A copy of your marriage certificate will assist in clarifying any questions. Make sure that the visa was not damaged.
- I have a visa that was issued many years ago with no expiration date. Is it still valid for travel?
No. As of 1995, all such visas were limited by law to a maximum of 10 years’ validity. At this point, all previously issued visas without expiration dates have expired. If you try to travel with this visa, you may very well be turned around at the port of entry and sent home. You will need to apply for a new visa.
- My passport with a valid U.S. visa has been stolen/lost. What should I do? How can I cancel the U.S. visa?
If your passport with a valid United States visa has been stolen or lost, first of all you need to go to a local police station – as soon as you discover this problem and as close as possible to the place where your passport was lost or stolen – and report your document(s) lost or stolen. If available, you will need to provide copies of the original documents. You will be issued a police report detailing the incident. Don’t forget to make an extra copy of the report for your own records. You do not need to worry about what language the report is written in, as long as it is generated by local police in any country where you may be traveling when the incident occurs.
Next, you need to complete a Lost and Stolen Passport form, available from the Consulate of your jurisdiction. Once you have all of these documents assembled, please fax them to the U.S. Consular Section or Consulate in Brazil that issued your visa. Please, include your full name, date of birth, place of birth, your contact information (together with your e-mail address, if possible), stolen/lost passport number and the visa type. If you have copies of your visa and/or stolen/lost passport, fax them to the U.S. Embassy’s or Consulate’s Consular Section as well.
- My passport with a valid U.S. visa has been stolen/damaged/lost. Can I get a copy of the visa in my new passport?
Unfortunately, lost, stolen or damaged United States visas cannot be replaced. You will need to apply for a new visa at the U.S. Consulate of your choice. Please follow the instructions on how to apply for a visa. Along with the other required documentation, bring a copy of the police report and the Lost and Stolen Passports form available from the Consulate of your jurisdiction to your interview.
- When I received my visa, I discovered that it had an error. What should I do?
We make every effort to ensure that visas include the applicant’s full name, date of birth, nationality, gender, visa type and class, passport number, and expiration date, all accurately printed on the visa. Fortunately, errors are extremely rare. However, should you discover an error, then it is very important for you to bring your visa to the post where it was issued. The procedure for correcting visa errors varies among the posts; please verify details with the post where your visa was issued (please check working hours).
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I’ve heard the Non-immigrant visas issued before 09/11 have been canceled. Is it true?
No. All the Non-immigrant Visas issued by the American Embassies or Consulates are still valid until their expiration date.
- Must I show my airline ticket when applying for a visa?
In most cases, that is not necessary. However, you may have to show your reservations when in transit in the United States.
- If my application for visa is denied, how long should I wait to reapply for a visa?
You may reapply for a visa any time by scheduling a new interview. You will have to submit new visa application forms, and pay a new visa application fee. You may wish to wait to reapply until your circumstances have changed since a new interview will once again consist of an evaluation of your social, professional, economic, and financial ties to Brazil.
For more information concerning visa denials, please click here.
- Can a U.S. Citizen sponsor my application for a visitor's visa?
No, U.S. Citizens may not sponsor a visitor's application - a visitor must qualify individually for a U.S. visa, regardless of a concerned U.S. citizen's interest in the case.
- Doesn’t it help my application if a U.S. Citizen is sponsoring my travel?
Not necessarily. In general, there is no provision of law which requires a sponsoring U.S. citizen to actually pay your costs of travel or to ensure that you leave the United States at the end of your authorized stay. Because of this, the fact that a U.S. citizen is willing to pay for your travel does not necessarily help your application. You must still demonstrate, on your own, sufficient ties outside of the United States to convince the Consular Officer that you will leave voluntarily at the end of your authorized stay.
- I am not a Brazilian Citizen. Can I apply for a visa in Brazil?
The Consular Sections for the U.S. Mission in Brazil will accept applications from all persons ordinarily resident in Brazil (Brazilians and foreign citizens). If you are not a Brazilian citizen and your habitual residence is in Brazil, just schedule an appointment through the regular process.
If you are a foreign citizen who doesn't ordinarily reside in Brazil and you are planning to apply for a visa during your visit to Brazil, we strongly recommended you apply for a visa in your country of citizenship or habitual residence. If you decide to apply in Brazil, please note that there is no guarantee that your visa will be approved as the Consular Officers may not be in a position to properly evaluate your application. You should also schedule the appointment through the regular process.
- Does my Brazilian passport have to be valid for six months beyond my date of departure from the United States?
No. If your passport is not valid for at least six months beyond your date of departure from the United States, it will not affect your eligibility to travel. The United States has an agreement with Brazil automatically extending the validity of a passport for six months past the passport's expiration date.
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Can I travel to the U.S. to attend a conference (academic or professional) with a tourist visa (B-2)? No. If your purpose of visit is to attend a conference, congress, fair or any other type of business in the U.S., or any activity related to your work in Brazil, you must apply for a business visa (B-1). The B-2 visa is valid only for tourism purposes.
- I carry a European Union passport. Do I need a visa?
It depends on the reason for travel, the date when the passport was issued or renewed, and the nationality of your passport. Passport holders from countries that participate in the Visa Waiver Program typically do not need a visa for business or leisure travel to the United States of less than 90 days duration, if their passport is machine-readable and meets certain other requirements.
Citizens from the countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program whose passports are not machine-readable can only enter the U.S. with a visa (which is machine-readable). Please follow the link provided to check the requirements applicable to your passport, and contact your country’s Embassy or Consulate with questions about whether your passport meets those requirements.
- What do I have to do to apply for a temporary visa for my domestic employee/babysitter to accompany me to the U.S.?
Under certain circumstances, domestic employees/babysitters may be issued B-1 (business) visas to accompany their employer on a trip to the U.S. for a limited period of time.
It is advisable that employers accompany their domestic employee(s) to the visa interview and be ready to explain the circumstances of their employment. Visas can be issued if the domestic employee and employer demonstrate a need for the domestic employee's services during the trip.
The domestic employee must also qualify for a visa in all other respects, i.e. have worked as a domestic employee for at least one year and overcome the presumption of being an intending immigrant. Only persons resident in Brazil going for a limited time to the U.S. may bring a domestic employee. U.S. citizens and/or Legal Permanent Residents ('green card' holders) residing in the U.S. cannot bring a domestic employee to the U.S. on a B-1 visa.
Domestic employees or other attendants who intend to accompany their employers to the U.S. must schedule an appointment and come in person for the interview.
Besides the regular documents (visa application forms, photograph and visa application fee), they must present, in triplicate, a typewritten employment contract, dated and signed by the employer and the employee. As a basic minimum the contract must include the following specific items:
- A description of the duties to be performed by the applicant; A statement from the employer agreeing to pay the minimum wage or prevailing wage, whichever is higher. The federal minimum wage can be found at http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/minimumwage.htm. Prevailing wages are maintained by the U.S. Department of Labor and are broken down by occupation and metropolitan area. You can find prevailing wages at http://www.flcdatacenter.com.
- The employer’s agreement to provide free room and board to the employee;
- The employer’s agreement to provide free medical insurance for the employee;
- The employer’s agreement to provide free transportation to and from the United States;
- A statement as to the length of the contract and the conditions for terminating the contract. For example: “This contract will be valid from February 1, 1992, until February 1, 1994; it may be terminated by either party to the contract giving one month’s advance notice.”
- The employee's statement that he/she will not accept any other employment while working for the employer;
- The employer's statement that he/she will not withhold the passport of the employee;
- The statement indicating that both parties understand that the employee cannot be required to remain on the premises after working hours without compensation.
Any other items mentioned in the contract are a private matter between the contracting parties as long as they do not conflict in any way with the required terms of the contract indicated above.
If the visa is approved, the applicant will be asked to pay a reciprocity fee of US$60, for the “B-1”, business visa. This fee will be paid directly at the Consulate, in dollars or reais (cash) or by credit card.
Click here for the required documents
Click here for a template of the work agreement
- I have had trouble at the port of entry, but I believe it was due to some error. Is there any way I can address this situation?
The Department of Homeland Security recently launched a new public web site, designed as one-stop shop for people with general questions about travel as well as those who believe they have experienced screening, boarding or port-of-entry problems in error. Please visit this link.
- Forgot to turn in your Departure Record Form I-94 / I-94W?
If you left the US on a commercial airline or sea carrier (cruise ship) then there is nothing to worry about because your departure was documented through the commercial organization. Keep the form in your passport, however, because it might help expedite your entry into the US if you choose to visit again.
If you departed the US on a private plane or sea carrier your departure will likely not be documented. If this is the case, you need to mail your I-94 or I-94W form to:
DHS- CBP SBU
1084 South Laurel Road
London, KY 40744
You will also need to provide evidence to validate your departure. Bank, work, and school records showing your presence in another country are some of the ways you can do this. The formentioned address is not able to respond to any questions you might have concerning your length of stay in the US. If you have any questions regarding this, please write to:
US Customs and Border Protection
1300 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Attn: Mint Annex Building FOIA division
Washington DC, 20229
For other questions regarding the I-94, please visit the US Customs and Boarder Protection site.
Have a Question? Check the Ask The Consul
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