I picked up my visa at the Brazilian consulate in San Francisco today and I'm off to Brazil again for 24 days next Thursday. I'm so excited to be heading back down there. Hopefully I can do better this time keeping the website up to date. I'll definitely keep a better handle on my camera so at least I'll have some pictures.
So the Brazilian consulate will not send your passport back to you in the mail. For whatever reason, they make you appear in person to pick it up between 2 and 3pm. Seems strange because the place is so inefficient and cramedt, you think they'd want to find a way to keep people from having to come there, but, alas, it's Brazil.
I wanted to get to the consulate which is in downtown SF as late as possible so that I wouldn't have to wait in the line. I've already wasted too much of my life sitting in their waiting room. When I arrived at 2:50, the place was empty. It was eerie. No travelers or Brazilians sitting impatiently for their number to be called. Even the windows were all shuttered. I had to yell "Ola" to get someone's attention, but I was in and out of there in less than 5 minutes. It was a beautifu thing.
The visa cost 130 dollars, but is multiple entry and good for 5 years, which is pretty awesome. It's much better than the last Brazil visa I bought in Puerto Igauzu, Argentina which cost 150 bucks and was only good for 30 days. 5 dollars a day. Since I only actually was in Brazil for 5 days, it was more like 30 dollars a day. Really, totally insane. This new visa runs about 9 cents a day (if you count 5 years-1460 days- plus one day for leap year). If you only count the days I will use it, 24, it still only costs 5 dollars a day, which is 6 times cheaper than my last visa and will be even more so if I am able to return later this year or anytime in the next 5 years.
So while I'd rather not to have to pay for a visa, or any reciprocity fees, at all, at least I finally got a decent deal.
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