The Federal Police are on strike aren't they? This could be a misunderstanding, or a set-up.

You post lacks relevant information. On what basis are you applying for permanencia? It's not necessary to make an application from outside Brazil if you meet the conditions required to apply from inside Brazil and the PF would not generally turn you away without good reason. There must be some issue or impediment that demands you return to the USA rather than apply here and it's not possible to comment further without more information. I might be prepared to elaborate if you are prepared to elaborate on your situation and expectations.

Edited by man of leisure - 11 August 2012 at 13:32

Regarding your reply and visto de permanancia , policy dictates that both spouses must appear at either the consulate or Policia Federal together, and unfortunately the little woman is in Orlando and I am here in Rio de Janeiro .

In Brazil both have to appear. At the consulate, the letter of invitation should be enough.It's the person asking for a perm visa on his own behalf, and not the citizen applying on his/her behalf.

The David Bowie song comes to mind again "This is not America, oh no."

Originally posted by Rod82 It´s been told in some posts when you apply for a visa at a consulate abroad it takes a few weeks to get it stamped on your passaport (and if you pay a $20 fee you don´t even need to go get it in person), while applying for it at Federal Police in Brazil would take longer than a year. I´m brazilian, but me and my girlfriend are going back to US to apply for her permanent visa, I´ll let you guys knows how it goes.