Brasilian Consulate
I (Felipe) went to the Brazilian consulate last week to turn in the visa applications. I arrived there a couple of minutes before 9:00, and there was already a line of more than 20 people. Given the fact that there are at most 2 consular officials at the window, along with the slow nature of Brazilian bureaucracy, I would easily be waiting in line for two hours.
Lesson #1: It pays to be Brazilian. There are two lines at the consulate, one for Brazilians and the other for non-citizens. I went to the Brazilian line, even though I was applying for visas for non-citizens, to see if they'd accept the applications. Sure enough, I was helped right away, since
I was the only Brazilian citizen in the room.
Lesson #2: Brazilian bureaucracy is a stickler for completely filling out every line on the entire form. In particular, none of us had filled out the portion about where we'd be staying in Brazil, and the lady wouldn't accept the applications without that. And I don't have the address of anywhere we're staying! I did the remember the name of the hotel we're staying at on
our way to Rio (after the Ashlocks leave-- this is Hans and Tracy Ashlock who will be traveling with us for 2 weeks), so I asked her if I could use that hotel name and city/state. She said fine (see Lesson #1, "it pays to be Brazilian"). She reprimanded the Ashlocks in absentia for not including their middle names, not filling out their length of stay, port of entry, etc. I filled them out for them, so it wasn't a problem. She did say, "I guess your friends don't like to write very much." :)
Lesson #3: It pays to be Brazilian. There is a $10 application fee if someone else turns in your visa application for you. This $10 MUST BE a US postal money order. The directions explicitly state that you cannot use cash, personal checks, or credit cards. I obviously didn't have money
orders for that fee, but the consular official accepted my cash without reprimanding me. Dana didn't even have to pay the fee, with no reason given, but I guess because she's married to a Brazilian.
So basically instead of a nightmare of waiting two hours in line, getting to the front of the line and being sent to the post office for more money orders, and coming back to wait in line again, I was in and out in less than 20 minutes!
Ok, a little more packing to do . . .
Lesson #1: It pays to be Brazilian. There are two lines at the consulate, one for Brazilians and the other for non-citizens. I went to the Brazilian line, even though I was applying for visas for non-citizens, to see if they'd accept the applications. Sure enough, I was helped right away, since
I was the only Brazilian citizen in the room.
Lesson #2: Brazilian bureaucracy is a stickler for completely filling out every line on the entire form. In particular, none of us had filled out the portion about where we'd be staying in Brazil, and the lady wouldn't accept the applications without that. And I don't have the address of anywhere we're staying! I did the remember the name of the hotel we're staying at on
our way to Rio (after the Ashlocks leave-- this is Hans and Tracy Ashlock who will be traveling with us for 2 weeks), so I asked her if I could use that hotel name and city/state. She said fine (see Lesson #1, "it pays to be Brazilian"). She reprimanded the Ashlocks in absentia for not including their middle names, not filling out their length of stay, port of entry, etc. I filled them out for them, so it wasn't a problem. She did say, "I guess your friends don't like to write very much." :)
Lesson #3: It pays to be Brazilian. There is a $10 application fee if someone else turns in your visa application for you. This $10 MUST BE a US postal money order. The directions explicitly state that you cannot use cash, personal checks, or credit cards. I obviously didn't have money
orders for that fee, but the consular official accepted my cash without reprimanding me. Dana didn't even have to pay the fee, with no reason given, but I guess because she's married to a Brazilian.
So basically instead of a nightmare of waiting two hours in line, getting to the front of the line and being sent to the post office for more money orders, and coming back to wait in line again, I was in and out in less than 20 minutes!
Ok, a little more packing to do . . .
posted by pdana | 4:49 PM
3 Comments:
Hooray for blogs! I'm excited to read of your adventures. :) Phil, good luck posting photos...it's worth the hassle!
Hmmm, maybe this international bit applies to Canada as well.
I'm with Erin--hooray! Looking forward to the Brasilian revelations.
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