Posts Tagged ‘Brazilian visa’

Brazilian Tourist Visa Requirements for Carnaval

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

It’s almost that time of year again…in February, roughly 40 days before Easter, Brazil holds a massive party: Carnaval. In this mostly Catholic country, Carnaval is one last chance to let loose before the sacrifices of Lent.

Of course, you don’t have to be Catholic to enjoy Carnaval. In Brazil’s major cities, the event is celebrated by parades, costumes, samba dancing and partying in the streets. The types of music and parades differ from city to city, and the dates of the celebration may vary by a day or so as well. For example, Rio de Janeiro’s Carnaval celebrations occur on a Monday, while Sao Paulo happen over a long weekend, from Friday to Sunday. So, make sure to do a little bit of research before you make your travel arrangements.

All US citizens traveling to Brazil must have the appropriate visa. Brazil is famous for its rather complex visa requirements, but here is what you need to get a visa to attend Carnaval as a tourist:

  • Your US passport. You need at least 6 months left before your passport expires to go to Brazil. Brazilian visas takes up two pages, so you also need at least two blank pages left in the back.
  • One Brazilian visa application
  • 2 passport-sized photos
  • A copy of your itinerary stating when you will be entering and leaving Brazil.
  • A  photocopy of your driver’s license or state-issued ID card. The copy must be clear and legible.
  • If you will be visiting friends or relatives, you also need a letter from them.

If you’ve been to any of the following countries in the past 90 days, you will also need a yellow fever vaccine: Angola, Bolivia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, French Guiana, Gabon, Ghana, Gambia, Republic of Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Peru, Sierra Leone, Sudan or Venezuela.

RushMyTravelVisa can help you research the visa requirements for your trip and can walk through the application process. We will also submit your application to the appropriate embassy or consulate, providing you with the fastest possible processing time.

Apply for your Brazilian visa today!

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Posted in Destinations | 2 Comments »

Get a Brazilian Visa to Celebrate New Year’s Eve at Copacabana

Sunday, December 20th, 2009

Everyone knows that Rio de Janeiro throws down for Carnival, but did you know that they also throw one of the top New Year’s Eve parties in the world? The city welcomes the New Year on the beach at Copacabana, and the New Year’s Eve celebrations there are truly a spectacle.

According to About.com, the party on the beach at Copacabana was originally started by devotees of Brazil’s Candomble religion, who flocked to the beach to honor Iemanja, the goddess of the sea.  What started as a small religious festival has grown into a full-fledged party, with bands, fireworks and approximately 2 million people attending.

If you go, you should definitely wear white to the party. According to Ipanema.com, white is traditional for luck. You can wear accessories in other colors, depending on what you wish for in the coming year. For example, red  is for romance , yellow is  for wealth and green is for health.  Black is unlucky, so leave that little black dress in the closet for tonight!

You should also wear comfy shoes-according to South American Experts,  “the night of entertainment ceases only as the sun begins to rise.”

If you want to spend New Year’s in Brazil, you need to get a Brazilian visa first.  Brazil has a complicated visa system.  There are many different types of visas, and the application procedure is a little bit different for each type visa.

However, if you are visiting Brazil as a tourist, here is what you need to submit your application:

  • Your US passport, which must be valid for at least the next 6 months. Brazil’s visa takes up two pages, so make sure you have two blank pages left in the back.
  • One Brazilian visa application
  • 2 passport-sized photos
  • A copy of your  itinerary stating when you will be entering and leaving Brazil.
  • A clear, legible copy of your driver’s license or state-issued ID card.
  • If you will be visiting friends or relatives, you also need a letter from them.

You’ll also need a yellow fever vaccination to get a Brazilian visa if you’ve been to any of the following countries in the past 90 days: Angola, Bolivia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, French Guiana, Gabon, Ghana, Gambia, Republic of Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Peru, Sierra Leone, Sudan or Venezuela.

RushMyTravelVisa can research the visa requirements for your trip to make sure you have the documents you need. We can also help you collect the necessary documents and fill out the application, and then forward your information to the appropriate embassy or consulate for the fastest possible processing.

Need a Brazilian visa?  Apply with us today!

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Posted in Country-Specific Visas | No Comments »

To Enjoy Brazil’s Famous Beaches, You Will Need a Brazilian Visa

Saturday, November 28th, 2009

When you think of Brazil, what comes to mind? For most people, the answer is exciting festivals like Carnivale, lush tropical rainforests, and of course, the world-famous beaches. Probably the most famous of these is Copacabana, immortalized in the Grammy-winning hit song by Barry Manilow.  Despite the predictable crowds of locals and tourists, Copacabana’s gorgeous white sands are still well worth a visit. Copacabana also has many activities available, day and night, including futevolei, also known as foot volleyball.

For a quieter experience and some spectacular swimming, check out Ipanema, another gorgeous white sand beach near Rio de Janeiro.  Moving away from Rio de Janeiro and towards Sao Paulo, the sand is tinted a beautiful shade of gold on the beaches of Costa Verde. Even better, the rainforest runs right up to the sand in some places.

Before you can bask in the sun in Brazil, however, you do need a Brazilian visa. You’ll need to apply in advance, as Brazil does not issue visas on arrival. Their visa system can be somewhat difficult to navigate, and you should definitely verify the requirements for your trip in advance.

To get a Brazilian tourist visa, here is what is generally required :

  • Your US passport. You must have at least 6 months to go before your passport expires, and at least 2 blank pages  in the back for the visa.
  • A Brazilian visa application
  • 2 passport photos
  • A copy of your  itinerary. The itinerary must indicate when you will be  entering and exiting Brazil
  • A copy of your driver’s license or ID. The copy must be clear and legible.
  • If you will be visiting friends or relatives in Brazil, they also need to provide a letter.

Brazil also requires a yellow fever vaccination if you have been to a country where yellow fever is present in the past 90 days. You need an international certificate of yellow fever vaccination if you have been to any of the following countries within the 90 day time frame:  Angola, Bolivia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, French Guiana, Gabon, Ghana, Gambia, Republic of Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Peru, Sierra Leone, Sudan or Venezuela.

RushMyTravelVisa.com can help you research your trip and apply for all the necessary visas. Brazil’s visa system is somewhat complicated, and the professional help you’ll receive from our team of visa specialists can make applying for your Brazilian visa much easier.

Need a Brazilian visa? Apply today!

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Getting a Brazilian Travel Visa To See Iguazu Falls

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

Do you think Niagara Falls is spectacular? Deep in the heart of South America, there is a waterfall that makes the mighty Niagara look like a mere trickle of water in comparison.

Iguazu Fals is located on the border between Brazil and Argentina. According to Wikipedia, an ancient native legend says that the falls were formed by a jealous god who wanted to marry a human woman.  The problem? She was already in love, so she and her lover fled down the river in a canoe. To cut off the pair’s escape, the god sliced the river into pieces, creating the waterfalls.

How much bigger is Iguazu Falls than Niagara Falls? Here are some statistics:

The peak surface area of the water flowing over  Iguazu Falls is 1.3 million square feet. The peak surface area of the water flowing over Niagara is 600,000 square feet.  At peak flow, water gushes over Niagara Falls at a rate of 2,800 cubic feet per second. However, when Iguazu Falls is at peak flow, water roars over the falls at a rate of 6,500 cubic feet per second.

When you compare the two, it is not hard to understand why Eleanor Roosevelt supposedly greeted the sight of Iguazu Falls by exclaiming “Poor Niagara!”

To get to the Argentinian side of the falls, all you need is your passport. However, if you want to see the Brazilian side, as well, you’ll need to get a Brazilian tourist visa.  Brazil’s visa system can be complicated and tough to navigate, even tourists. To get you started, here’s a list of what you’ll need: (more…)

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Posted in Visa Processing | No Comments »

How To Get a Brazilian Visa In LA

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

Right now, getting a Brazilian visa in LA is not an easy task.  Wait times have gone through the roof (at least 10 working days) as the consulate switches over to a new online application system.

With a backlog of applications to process, the Consulate is currently only allowing visa expediting services to submit one application per day. Even visa agencies are having difficulty getting Brazilian visa applications processed in a timely manner!

Even if you don’t live anywhere near LA, you could be affected. The Brazilian visa system is what’s called a jurisdictional system. That means that you can’t simply apply for a Brazilian visa at any Brazilian consulate.  You have to apply at the Brazilian consulate that services people in your area. The LA Consulate serves people who live in the following states:

  • California
  • Arizona
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Nevada
  • Utah
  • Wyoming

So, if you live in one of those states, how do you go about getting a visa? Well, basically you have two options: apply yourself, or go through a visa agency like RushMyTravelVisa.com.

If don’t live in or near LA, an expediting company is without a doubt your best choice. You see, the Brazilian consulate doesn’t take visa applications by mail. So, unless you use an expediter, either you or your family must travel to LA in person to submit the application.

Even if you live in LA, you’ll still find it difficult to get a Brazilian visa on your own. Visa applications are processed by appointment only, and they only set up appointments between 9am and 12pm.

Here’s yet another reason to go with a visa expediting company: the Brazilian application process is not at all straightforward, and if you make a mistake, you have to resubmit your paperwork all over again.  Expediting companies like RushMyTravelVisa  can review your application to catch mistakes before they hold up your visa.The current backlog means that the waiting period is long enough without having to go through it twice!

Since visa services are only able to process one visa per day, some companies have simply stopped offering Brazilian visas to people who live in the LA consulate’s jurisdiction.  Not RushMyTravelVisa.com!

We are still here to help travelers who need Brazilian visas in this jurisdiction. We’ll research your situation, help you with the application materials, and make sure that every “i” is dotted and every “t” is crossed before we take it to the consulate. Then, we’ll get your visa on its way to you as soon as we have it.

Trust us to make the visa application process as easy and fast as possible…apply for your Brazilian visa today!

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Getting a Brazilian Visa For a Business Trip

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009

Brazil has the largest economy in Latin America, and the tenth largest in the world, according to Wikipedia. As the Brazilian economy has boomed in recent years, business travel to Brazil has risen, too. In fact, according to the ICCA, the city of Sao Paulo is the 12th most popular city in the world for international business meetings.

To attend a business meeting or conference in Brazil, you need to get a Brazilian visa.  Brazil has very specific requirements for business applicants. Here’s a checklist of what you will need:

  • Your US passport, which must be valid for at least 6 months after the day you plan to arrive in Brazil.
  • One passport-style photo.
  • A completed Brazilian visa application form.
  • A photocopy of your driver’s license.
  • A copy of your travel itinerary.
  • A business letter from your employer. The letter must state how long you have  worked at the company, how long you are staying in Brazil, and the purpose of the meeting or conference.
  • A business letter from the Brazilian company you are meeting with, describing what you will be doing in Brazil and how long you are expected to be there.
  • If attending a conference, an invitation and/or proof of registration.
  • You will also need a yellow fever vaccine certificate if you’ve been to any country where the disease is endemic in the past 90 days.
  • Payment of the appropriate visa fees.

To make applying for a Brazilian visa easier, use a private visa expediting company like RushMyTravelVisa.com. We’ll research your specific situation and find out exactly what you need to get your visa. Then, we’ll give you detailed, easy-to-follow instructions and a handy checklist to use as you complete the paperwork. Finally, we’ll make sure everything is in order before we send your paperwork to the appropriate Brazilian consulate, providing you faster service by reducing the odds of your visa being delayed.

Apply for your Brazilian visa today!

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Posted in Visa Processing | No Comments »

Lack of a Brazilian Visa Keeps TechCrunch Writer Away From Brazil

Friday, September 4th, 2009

Getting a travel visa can be complicated.  So complicated, in fact, that it’s tempting to put off until the last minute. However, as TechCrunch writer Sarah Lacy found out when she applied for a Brazilian visa, putting it off until the last minute can cause big problems.

That’s because processing times can change in the blink of an eye, without any notice.  This can cause problems whether you use an expediting company to submit your visa application or apply on your own. In Sarah Lacy’s case, the Brazilian government switched computer systems right after she submitted her application. There were problems associated with the switch that kept the consulates from processing Brazilian visa applications, so her visa wasn’t there when it was supposed to be.

Now, Lacy still doesn’t have her Brazilian visa and she’s out money for the trip. That’s why it’s a good idea to apply for your visa as far in advance as possible.  RushMyTravelVisa cuts through the confusion and simplifies the visa application process by providing clear, helpful instructions, personal assistance from a visa specialist and an easy-to-follow checklist.

With RushMyTravelVisa.com, the visa application process is so simple that there’s no excuse to put it off! Our process also helps you avoid mistakes that could cause your visa to be delayed.

Don’t wait until the last minute- apply for your travel visa today!

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