Originally posted by sven Even though the extraordinário requires only the atestado de antecidentes criminais and atestado do cartorio de distribuição, they have to be from all comarcas where you lived, meaning I'd have to go to São Paulo, Espirito Santos and Manaus to get those

Ahhh, and we all know just how much you LOVE Manaus! 

Parabens Sven!

Also, the translator told my wife R$ 40 for the translation of the FBI doc, and then I get an email this morning saying it's going to cost R$ 90. Grrr..

Since it's done by character here, someone with a long rap sheet would mostly pay a lot of money for a translation.

I'm posting a reply asked by a forum member in another thread, here, since this thread would be more on the topic.

Originally posted by spongebob Originally posted by Gringo.Floripa And yes Bob, I did pass the PO test, but with some help from the PF officer.  He started out as a real filho da puta, but in the end, was total gente boa!  @Gringo.floripa - Please DO tell. How was it??? What did they ask about?? I don't know how your Portuguese is, but I'm assuming it's pretty good since you have been here for a little longer than I have, and you have employees that you have to talk to. Is it like having a conversation with them?

Bob, I believe the language proficiency test is one of those "your mileage may vary" experiences.  I'm not aware that there is a standard test.  No doubt, you have to be able to communicate by speaking portuguese when you go apply.  I'm far from proficient, but do fine with simple past, present, and future.  I hated grammar even learning my native tongue, so I must admit I'm rather lazy with a second language.  Nonetheless, I'm certainly capable enough.

Anyway, when it came time for the "test", the PF guy copied from his computer two paragraphs of some rule or regulation, and printed it.  The first paragraph was read aloud, and my task was to write down what was being said.  I did well, but there were a couple of muti-syllable words which were some sort of legalese, which I'd never heard before.  I'm sure someone like Sven wouldn't even blink, but I had to have the words sounded out for me, syllable by syllable.  This didn't seem to be a problem for them.  When it came time for the second paragraph, the PF guy just handed me the piece paper with the text on it, and told me to copy it verbatim. 

On the application there is a space to indicate whether the person can read and write in portuguese.  Yet whenever they get around to scheduling your home visit, then this interview is obviously pure conversation.  There is also a field on the interview form to confirm the applicant speaks portuguese.  I was somewhat nervous for the interview, but they couldn't have been more pleasant, and made an obvious effort to make me feel at ease.  But again, YMMV....

That does sound like record time to me too! In the city of Sao Paulo, I got a call that they had tried to visit me 6 months after my permanent residence application but did not find anyone. I had filed a form with the PF that my wife and I would be out of the country for two weeks (which is when they visited) so there obviously is a disconnect within the PF.

They seem to have returned some time over the next ten months, because my permanent residence was granted. I imagine they asked the neighbors and they said that we both lived there, because we never saw the PF.

If you and your spouse both study and/or work, it seems impossible that they will ever find you at home during business hours during the workweek!

Originally posted by CaribJewel @Gringo.Floripa. The numbers to reach them are the same that are given on the "protocolo" Did u receive a protocolo on the day of filing?

Yes, I received a protocolo, in fact, I have two.  One for my naturalization request, and the other for the renewal of my resident visa.  Neither has phone numbers listed on them.  The only point of contact I have is the general web site: www.mj.gov.br/estrangeiros.  Perhaps receiving a phone number to call is yet another aspect of "YMMV"....

I emailed the MJ about some questions I had regarding my resident visa renewal, and they responded with three phone numbers for me to try.  Two of them were no longer in service, and the third continually busy, regardless of the time of day. 




Edited by Gringo.Floripa - 01 February 2012 at 14:40