Vancouver Consulate Visa Processing Time > 1 month

Calgary, Canada
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Vancouver Consulate Visa Processing Time > 1 month
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Has anyone got a visa through the Brazilian consulate in Vancouver recently? (This is the office for all of Western Canada.) We have been waiting for more than a month now for our Visa and they haven't even started processing it yet, according to the online site. I see one of the agencies is saying that the processing time is now a minimum of 20 business days, but I'm wondering how much more? I think I may start cancelling some of my reservations.

Edited: 10 years ago
Salvador, BA
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1. Re: Vancouver Consulate Visa Processing Time > 1 month
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Are you applying on your own or through an agency?

For those applying on their own, here are a few of the Q&As from the site of the Brazilian Consulate in Vancouver that might be helpful.

Q:I want to know the status of my application.

A:Due to the high volume of applications received everyday, we are unable to check applications status. Please go to the same page where you applied and verify there by clicking on "check visa".

Q:I've checked my application online but nothing comes up. It shows "no application pending". What does this mean?

A: It means your application has been finalized. If you have provided a return envelope, you shall be receiving the passport shortly. If you choose to pick it up, you can come to the Consulate between 10am and 1pm, Monday to Friday.

Q:I've checked the status and it hasn't changed. I've sent my application a while ago and I'm afraid I won't get my visa on time.

A:This is the most recent status. Normally it won't change until a day or two before our current processing time.

Vancouver Island...
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2. Re: Vancouver Consulate Visa Processing Time > 1 month
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Yeah, I'm having the same problem. I am still waiting on my visa. Today marks the 21st business day. It's still on received status. The only thing I worry about now is that it gets rejected and I have no time to re-apply before carnival starts. Pretty slow at the Vancouver Brazilian Consulate. Definitely need to prepare your application months in advance.

Calgary, Canada
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tcantarelli , I applied myself. I wasn't even aware that a person could use an agency until just recently. Perhaps an agency would have gotten faster results. I've read everything on the web site, and I think everything in my application was OK, but the web site only says they can no longer process the applications in 15 days. The worst part is that they have my passport, a month is a long time to be without your passport.

Salvador, BA
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4. Re: Vancouver Consulate Visa Processing Time > 1 month
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@m8ck--

Have you checked the website for the status of your application (as mentioned above)? One small piece of advice is to get used to things working on "Brazilian time", as all Br. bureaucracy does, and not stress because things aren't working on the US/CA/EU time you are accustomed to. I doubt an agency could make things at the consulate move any faster. (I am able to talk because my consulate processes in 2 days. :-)

@scorpeus401--

Until recently (and maybe still?) there was a requirement to use a new visa within 90 days to enter Brazil, so applying "months in advance" was not viable.

Calgary, Canada
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5. Re: Vancouver Consulate Visa Processing Time > 1 month
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I've been checking the site several times a day as I am getting anxious about this now! My status has not changed at all, it is still not being processed. Even if they start processing it today, it sounds like it takes 3 days to process and then it has to be mailed to me as I do not live in Vancouver, so if nothing changes with the status by Friday then things start to look pretty grave.

I don't know if this is a Brazilian time thing or a Vancouver time thing... apparently the Toronto consulate is currently processing requests in only 8 days.

Salvador, BA
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6. Re: Vancouver Consulate Visa Processing Time > 1 month
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Have you emailed them? (None of them seem to answer their phones.)

General: info@consbrasvancouver.org

Visas: visas@consbrasvancouver.org

When you sent your application, did you comply with this request for info informing them of your travel dates (in addition to on the application) so that maybe they could expedite things?

"We ask, however, to send us a letter detailing the planned trip and dates of travel."

Vancouver Island...
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7. Re: Vancouver Consulate Visa Processing Time > 1 month
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On the consulate webpage it says the following:

Due to the high number of applications received, the Consulate-General does not confirm the receipt of documents neither checks the status of any process over the phone or email.

I'm pretty sure they will not reply even if you do send the e-mail. At the moment I can only sit tight. Today is the 22nd business day.

I was under the impression that tourists visas lasted up to 6 months. But I can't seem to find that information. If it is only 3 months then applying months in advance is not a viable option. But waiting over a month and a half without your visa is pretty terrible.

Salvador, BA
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8. Re: Vancouver Consulate Visa Processing Time > 1 month
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They should be issuing 10 year multi-entry visas these days

Do not confuse this with the entry (prazo) of 90 days that you will get when you arrive at passport control. (This can be extended at the PF for another 90, total 180. Then you must stay out of the country for 6 months.)

There had been a requirement to use (by entering Brazil) a newly issued visa within 90 days of issue. (Do not confuse this with either visa or entry.)

Calgary, Canada
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33 posts
9. Re: Vancouver Consulate Visa Processing Time > 1 month
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On another web site, someone is claiming that the processing time in Vancouver is 35 business days, which would be close to two calendar months! Surely, it must be 35 *calendar* days!?

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=27837494

(Specifically, this post here: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showpost.php?p=27864569&postcount=12)

If they didn't already have my passport, I'd be looking into flying to Buenos Aires to get my visa, but, alas, that is not even an option!

Worst mistake of my life!

Edited: 10 years ago
Vancouver Island...
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10. Re: Vancouver Consulate Visa Processing Time > 1 month
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Well right now I am at 33 calendar days and my application has not moved from received. Keeping in mind I brought the application myself to the consulate and dropped it off. I did not mail, and when it is complete I will have to pick it up. They even changed their office hours from 10:00am - 1pm to now 9:30 - 11:30 am. When i did go into the consulate to drop off my visa there were long lines, I had to wait 2 1/2 hours just to hand in my application. Now I am a little worried, 35 business days takes me close to when I leave for Brazil. I was really expecting it to be done sometime this week.

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