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 The United States is making the life of Brazilians willing to travel to that country a little easier. The US Embassy in Brazil announced that starting April 2 Brazilians who wish to renew a visa will not need to go through an interview with a consular official anymore.
Applicants who need to renew a valid visa or one that hasn't expired for more than a year will still have to schedule an appointment to deliver passport, and other needed forms and documents as well as to get fingerprinted by the American authorities.
According to American embassy sources in Brazil, the new procedure is designed to reduce the waiting time for Brazilians who need to renew their visas to the USA.
The new measure should make the process of renewal a little friendlier and increase the visa processing capacity in all four US consulates in Brazil: Brasília, Recife, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
From now on, visa applicants won't be limited to apply only in the consulate with jurisdiction over the city they live in. They will be free to make an appointment in any one of the four American consular sections in Brazil.
Last year, the American Embassy in Brazil had a 40% increase in the number of visa applications in comparison to 2005. While the number of visas granted to the whole world increased in average 8%, in Brazil this number grew 55%. 12% more business and tourism visas were issued as well as 14% more visas for students and exchange participants.
The US embassy informed that the processing time after the interview was from one to five days in 97% of the requests. In cases in which there was need of complementary documentation, the average time was two additional weeks. According to the American authorities, the number of visas issued in Brazil in the last two years doubled.
In the São Paulo consulate, typical wait time for a nonimmigrant Visa interview appointment is 79 days, at the moment. For student/exchange visitors visas the wait is 7 Days. In Rio, the wait is 44 days (students, 2). In Recife, applicants have to wait 83 days, but students get their visa on the same day they apply. Brasília has a 23-day waiting period, with students getting the interview in 8 days.
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