Programming at the São Paulo consulate has reached its highest level in history; see how to try to reduce waiting times
Travelers from Brazil face increasingly long queues when it comes to making an appointment for a tourist visa (B1/B2) for the United States. Data from AG Immigration law firm reveals that, in the week of March 13-17, the time to obtain an appointment at the São Paulo consulate reached the highest level in history: 549 days, or more than 18 months. This means that the traveler will be able to undergo the consular interview – the last phase of the issuing process for those requesting the document for the first time – only in September 2024.
US visa interviews can also be held at the embassy in Brasilia (where the waiting time is 469 days/15 months) or at the consulates in Porto Alegre (271 days/9 months), Recife (400 days/13 months) and Rio de Janeiro (451 days/15 months). Consult here the updated information on the city closest to you.
Why is the waiting time so long?
While the borders of WE have been closed due to the pandemic, the visa renewal and issuance service has been stopped. Interviews resumed in November 2021, and US consular posts have since struggled to cope with the high demand.
A survey conducted by the law firm Dell’Ome Law Firm on the basis of data released by the US Department of State showed that the number of tourist visas granted to Brazilians was also a record: they were around 75,000 in January 2023. Even so, the waiting times for an interview at the embassy and consulates continue to be long.
Is it possible to shorten waiting times?
The new interview vacancies are eventually made available in the system. “There are days where 50 student visa spots are allocated, and when only 30 are booked, the remaining 20 go back into the system for the general public,” explains US Consul General in São Paulo, David Hodge.
Therefore, the advice is to schedule your interview for the earliest available date, even if it’s in a year’s time, and start monitoring the site regularly to try and land one of the new vacancies. On social networks there are reports of people who have done so and have managed to bring the date forward, avoiding having to wait more than 400 days. Those willing to travel to another state may also give preference to consulates with shorter waiting times, such as Porto Alegre.
How is the visa renewal process going?
In the early stages, the procedures for issuing and renewing a visa are the same. However, when a visa is issued, an interview is required, while when a visa is renewed, it is not. Therefore, planning for visa renewal was faster.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
