Straight Facts on U.S. Visas in Brazil
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U.S. VISAS U.S. Department of State • Bureau of Consular Affairs THE STRAIGHT FACTS ON U.S. VISAS IN BRAZIL Myth: The U.S. embassy and U.S. embassies and consulates have U.S. embassy and consulates in Brazil consulates in Brazil refuse the established procedures to expedite are meeting the increasing demand majority of visa applications interview appointments for business for visa services. submitted by Brazilians. travelers. U.S. officials work closely with business groups in more than Myth: An applicant needs to Fact: Our consular sections in 100 countries, including Brazil, know someone in the embassy or Brazil issue visas to the majority of to streamline the visa process for consulate to get a visa. applicants, including those applying business travelers. The Department’s for tourism and business visas. Business Visa Center can explain Fact: An applicant’s qualifications – Brazil-wide, our three consulates visa application procedures to U.S. as presented in the visa application (Rio de Janeiro, Recife, and Sao companies and organizations, and and at the visa interview – and U.S. Paulo) and the U.S. embassy in convention and sporting event law are the only bases on which Brasilia issued more than one million organizers who invite employees, we make visa decisions. U.S. law nonimmigrant visas in FY 2014. The current and prospective business prohibits embassy and consulate vast majority of nonimmigrant visa clients, partners, or athletic teams to officials from providing unofficial applications were approved. the United States. U.S. businesses assistance to visa applicants. and organizations may contact Knowing someone in the embassy or Myth: The U.S. government does [email protected], or call 202- consulates will not help you get not care about business travelers 485-7675 for more information. a visa. and does not understand how important these travelers are to Myth: The U.S. visa process Myth: Understanding the visa the U.S. economy. discourages Brazilians from application process is extremely visiting the United States. difficult. Fact: The U.S. government welcomes Brazilian business travelers and Fact: The number of visa applicants Fact: We strive to clearly explain continues to improve the process in Brazil has nearly doubled since the visa application process for visa of applying for a visa. We endeavor 2010, and the Department of State applicants in Brazil. We created a to protect the U.S. border while has invested heavily in new buildings Portuguese website to better share facilitating the travel of legitimate and staff to reduce the wait time for information (http://portuguese. visitors, especially from major sources an interview. In 2014, our embassy brazil.usembassy.gov/pt/visas.html). of visitors such as Brazil. Increased and consulates in Brazil issued more Applicants can also call (02) 976- travel strengthens our people-to- than one million nonimmigrant 8500 to 02 if they cannot find the people ties and enhances both visas and over 2.2 million Brazilians information they need on our web our economies. traveled to the United States. The sites. The U.S. government works WEB: travel.state.gov FACEBOOK: facebook.com/travelgov TWITTER: @travelgov to ensure that the visa process is as open and transparent as possible. Some who claim to be “visa facilitators” profit by making the process appear more complicated than it really is. Myth: The U.S. embassy will only give visas to rich people. Fact: Consular officers are trained to look at all of the facts presented during a visa interview, not just an individual’s financial status, when determining eligibility. During a visa interview, consular officers look at each application individually and consider the applicant’s circumstances, travel plans, financial resources, and ties outside of the United States that will ensure the applicant’s departure after a temporary visit. WEB: travel.state.gov FACEBOOK: facebook.com/travelgov TWITTER: @travelgov.