Hello. I was wondering if it's possible to get a working visa to enter Brazil(I'm currently living in America) if I worked as an English teacher. I do not have a college degree, if it helps. Thanks for all and any replies.

Thank you. What exactly is a school sponsor?

i have my degree and experience teaching english back home and still ive found it to be nearly impossible. schools will either hire you as an illegal or they need you to have the visa already, which is stupid because you need them to help sponsor the visa... ive heard that they dont sponsor a lot of teachers because the government doesnt accept teaching english as a job that cant be done just as well by a brazilian, but i dont know... if you want to stay, id think about a student visa or wife!

Originally posted by danimal Don't worry about a work visa and don't even worry about over staying your tourist visa.  The only "English" school that requires that you have a proper visa that I have ever come across is Cultura Inglesa.

That totally depends on the area you are in.  In Recreio/Barra da Tijuca in Rio de Janeiro I have never seen a school that doesn't ask for a visa.  Many of the (Fisk, CNA, CCAA all have that as one of the first boxes on the form produced by the chain).

Originally posted by danimal Also, many schools are hesitant to hire fresh gringos because they know you're not sticking around for long.

And a lot of times you don't have the experience, education, etc.
Just because you were born in the US, doesn't mean you can handle a classroom of 20 puky 12 year olds and successfully teach them English grammar.

Being "illegal" and teaching private lessons are pretty much the OP's only realistic options in most areas.

The work visa is difficult to get and is costly for the company, plus it takes some time for you to get (from what I've been told).

Like the U.S., the school has to show immigration that you are a better candidate than someone in that country (in this case, better than a Brazilian).

I was recently hired by an American school and at the job fair many of the schools from Brazil would not hire (or even interview) Americans who do not have at least two years of K-12 teaching experience and/or an MA. The Association who sponsored the fair will not even accept you as a candidate if you do not have at least a BA and are certified to teach K-12 because they know you'll have no chance of being hired without those credentials.

The school that hired me decided it quicker and cheaper for me to get the permanent visa (spousal visa) instead of the work visa.