Immigrations laws aren't a joke and they apply to everybody

I think I have been given a window of opportunity, via Pairs and Moscow.  A friend of mine is getting married, in Russia.  Could I apply at the Embassy/consulate in St. Petersburg, will be there for 2 weeks, but have to get a visa in France, for Russia, plus with an EU passport, will be staying with a friend just outside Paris, would it be advisable to apply in France or Russia for my visa to Brazil.  I have a work certificate/acceptance for a company in SP. Your assistance would be grateful.

Kind regards

Melissa, you usually have to apply for the visa where you reside since the process IS NOT a quick one and usually also will involve a personal interview at the consulate St. Petersburg would definitely be out of the question.

Also there will be some documents, such as Criminial Record Check and Birth Certificate that can only be "legalized" by the Consulado-Geral do Brasil in the country which issues them.

Where are you presently, your avatar says São Paulo?

One observation that I will make to all you people that spend so much time and energy trying to find ways to beat the system (and I think that really is due to cultural and age factors in most cases) is that while you may consider Brazil a developing nation, backwards it still makes use of some pretty sophisticated technology.

While some at the Federal Police may not seem like the brightest bulbs on the Christmas tree - think about this:

If YOU can think of a scheme to try to get around some immigrations rule, don't you think that they've already been able to do so too?

Just because you may have heard that Brazil doesn't take visa overstay too seriously, that doesn't mean the sit still with their arms crossed when the subject is other kinds of immigrations violations or fraud. Also word on the grapevine is that they are also moving towards a much tougher stance on overstays too.

The United States has never really cracked down on immigration in its history, nor has it every tried to makes its immigration system work smoothly. If the United States can't do that then Brazil can't do much either. While I get kind of pissed that I can't get my immigration process worked out smoothly I know I don't have much to worry about regarding the laws on immigration as there are just too many organizations in one country with contrary regulations and operations.

Also, I know that the original post was about disregarding a tourist VISA overstay, in which I agree that no one should ever intentional overstay a tourist VISA.

And how is the rule in EUA and Canadian

Adauto wrote:

And how is the rule in EUA and Canadian

In the USA, overstaying your visa is a serious offense and if caught will result in 5-10 or potentially a lifetime ban from entering the United States. It can also result in fines as well.

Even unintentionally, it does not matter. There is no excuse - most people that have a paper visa went through a very difficult process to get it so it would be hard to believe and accept a "oops."

Canada's immigration laws are very similar to the US. And both countries share criminal/immigration data. Therefor, overstay in the US you technically overstayed in Canada because they won't be issuing you a visa either for a long time.

TigerMcTeague wrote:

The United States has never really cracked down on immigration in its history, nor has it every tried to makes its immigration system work smoothly.

I completely disagree with this statement - specifically, cracked down. CBP and USCIS can only do so much and I would like to think we do a darn good job at protecting our borders and enforcing immigration law. It made difficult on purpose to get a visa. Overstays are very common and this is precisely why most foreigners find it very difficult to get a visa.

If you are referring to healthcare for illegal immigrants or other benefits that they should not be afforded take the conversation over to the USA forum. I could rant for hours on that topic.

Matt, what about visa to study. How long it cover?

I'm going to be posting a sticky on Monday in the USA forum about student visas (F-1/2) as well as J-1 visas.

Very good advice about the immigration laws
Pls don't make mistakes by over stay

the Brazilian government don't really help they are so slow and uncooperative!! they give you 180 days and spend half of that time on holidays making it impossible to get things done!!!

Ain't that the truth!!!

Just like trying to withdraw money from your bank account back home at an ATM. If you don't bank with an international bank like HSBC or Citibank for example then you can only withdraw money with your bank card at the main branches of Banco do Brasil and it has to be at the right ATM which displays the network logos. Wouldn't you just know it, half the time that's the ATM that's out of order or their network is down! Typically Brazilian. I know that when I first arrived here I spent more time talking to B do B branch managers trying to sort things out than I did sightseeing.

Cheers,
William James Woodward, Expat-blog Experts Team

Unlike the United States, In Brazil, you are supposed to carry your identification documentation, and you are supposed to show it during bureaucratic procedures and to the cops if requested. Your driverŽs license is also linked to your identification.

ThatŽs why illegal immigrants are generally hidden somewhere in São Paulo.

Story of my LIFE!

And to that note I caution anyone who may bank with a foreign bank about the trials and tribulations of trying to take money out in BAHIA.  I have not once had any issues with withdrawing money all over the country (Ceara, Rio Grande do Sul, Rio, Sao Paulo, etc) but BAHIA?  I have been a penniless pauper there before living off the good graces of my friends and future family.   Please set a serious plan B up if you are going to Bahia.  I literally mean the entire state too because I could not take money out in Salvador, Ilheus, Itacare, Porto Seguro.  Not anywhere.  But the second I got to Sao Paulo, naturally there was nothing wrong with my bank card or anything.

Ok, end rant.  But yea, it's not fun.

This topic kind of digressed a little.

So, what is the forum topic on punishment for a VISA overstay.
I need to get all my ducks in a row, or at least those turtles on the R$2.

Hi Tiger,

For a VITUR Tourist Visa overstay, the fine is somewhere around R$8,25 per day, capped at a 100 day maximum fine. The consequences other than the fine are virtually non-existent in Brazil. The overstay is however recorded in one's passport with an overstay/fine stamp that might cause problems for anyone applying for visas for or VWP entries to other nations that take these things much more seriously.

Cheers,
William James Woodward, EB Experts Team

wjwoodward wrote:

Hi Tiger,

For a VITUR Tourist Visa overstay, the fine is somewhere around R$8,25 per day, capped at a 100 day maximum fine. The consequences other than the fine are virtually non-existent in Brazil. The overstay is however recorded in one's passport with an overstay/fine stamp that might cause problems for anyone applying for visas for or VWP entries to other nations that take these things much more seriously.

Cheers,
William James Woodward, EB Experts Team

Thanks. Is there a post with more specifics on dealing with this. I need to refresh my information on this as I will be leaving the country at the end of June.

Hi Tiger,

Actually there is not one specific topic thread dealing just with the VITUR overstay, there have however been literally hundreds of questions about it posted to various threads.

Here in Brazil the overstay on a TOURIST VISA is really no big deal at all. It is nothing more than an administrative infraction subject to the fine I mentioned and nothing else. You aren't even prevented from returning to Brazil in the future. What happens is when you do return you are escorted to the airport's Banco do Brasil branch by an agent of the Federal Police where you pay the fine, then go back to the immigrations line where you get your passport stamped and you're on your way to wherever you want to go in Brazil, that easy!!!

The only possible consequences of the overstay stamp that gets put in your passport AREN'T in Brazil. They might come into play if you request a visa from another country, or if you try to enter a country under the Visa Waiver Program that you're able to enter just with your valid passport. Some nations might use your Brazilian VITUR overstay as a reason to deny you a visa or bar you from entry under the Visa Waiver Program. So, if you're not planning to travel to other countries during the useful life of your current passport there is no problem whatsoever. If you do have plans, they could run into a snag. That is not to say that they definitely will run into a snag, just that they COULD.

Cool stuff.

Quick follow up here.

Better to pay before I leave or when I come back to Brazil?

Actually I don't know if you can pay it before you leave. I've only ever heard of people who said they paid it when they came back to Brazil. You'll need to check with the Feds on that one. I'd suggest you leave yourself a little extra time before your flight to get through the bureacratic BS, but it isn't much. I'd say an extra 30 min. on top of what you'd normally leave for an international flight anyway.

I would pay when I leave but I think it's the same cost no matter.

Being deported from any country other than a select few are reported to INTERPOL. Good luck,

I read your comment just now,,, but I want to ask if extension is possible after that 190days,,

No, 180 days is the maximum stay per year. Beyond that one would be in an irregular migratory situation which in Brazil generates a small fine, is considered an administrative infraction only, but if you're caught in an overstay situation (chances are high) you are told by the Federal Police to leave Brazil within 8 days. If you do not leave then they start deportation proceedings.

Thanks sir, i really appreciate your response,,,,,, but is it possible for someone who is presently in Brazil with tourist visa to apply for working permit visa or student visa there?

Yes you can, but by law you have to go back to your home country to collect the visa at the Consulate in person it is not delivered to you here in Brazil, you must pick it up in person.

Ok thanks a lot sir,,, more wisdom and knowledge sir,,,, apart from applying for student or working permit visa, my primary intention was to come to Brazil with a tourist visa and within my 180days I'll seek for an admission in any of the public university or try to get a job there in brazil so through this the school or the company that admitted / employ me can issue me a student visa/ work permit within that period of 180days,,, sir how possible is that?  any advise?

It's not the company or school that issues the visa, it's the government of Brazil through the Consulado-Geral do Brasil in your home country. The company can only confirm that they're offering you a contract which would qualify you for a visa. A school confirms that you're enrolled in a course. Then you apply for the visa through the Consulate.