Hi George,
Glad that you find this group to be informative.
About Brazilian Residence... it is difficult to say the least. Here is some information from the Brazilian COnsulate in Houston:
http://www.brazilhouston.org/eng/index-i.htm
Eligibility:
family reunion
retirement residence transfer
work as a manager or director of a religious or social assistance
organization
personal investment in Brazil
intracompany transferee to work as manager, director, or executive
person of extraordinary ability in the sciences, technological, research, or academic fields, with a job offer at a Brazilian research, scientific, or academic organization
Terms and Conditions:
Except for circumstances involving (i) family reunion, (ii) retirement, or (iii) work as a manager or director of a religious or social assistance organization, all other submissions have to be
initiated in Brazil (authorization by Ministry of Labor is required prior to visa application).
The following are eligible to apply for a permanent visa in order to join an immediate family member (Brazilian citizen or holder of a Brazilian permanent visa):
spouse
unmarried, under 21-year old child
unmarried, under 24-year old child attending college or pursuing graduate/ post-graduate studies (eligibility depends on reciprocity of conditions ruling same circumstances in country of citizenship)
incapacitated child
unmarried, under 21-year old orphan sibling, grandchild, or great-
grandchild
unmarried, under 24-year old orphan siblings, grandchild, great-
grandchild attending college or pursuing graduate/post graduate
studies (eligibility depends on reciprocity of conditions ruling the
same circumstances in country of citizenship)
incapacitated sibling, grandchild, or great-grandchild
parents, if financial dependency is formally proved
First arrival in Brazil must take place within 90 days from the date the visa was issued.
Registration with the Federal Police in Brazil is mandatory within 30 days from first arrival in the country.
Procedures:
For applications based on family reunion, retirement, or work as a manager or director of a religious or social assistance, a two-stage procedure applies:
Submit to the Consulate letter informing the reason for moving to Brazil, together with the following documentation:
copy of passaport
two recent good quality I.D. type photographs of applicant, showing entire face (must be front view) in white background. Overall size of the picture must be at least 40 mm (1 9/6 inches) by 35 mm (1 3/8
inches)
proof of residence in the consular jurisdiction
recent non-criminal record issued by the local (i.e., applicant's place of residence) Police Department
as applicable (for family reunion):
sponsor's Brazilian I.D., CIC, voter title (for a Brazilian citizen), and formal affidavit on behalf of applicant (affidavit is to be drawn at a Cartório)
applicant's marriage certificate, birth certificate, or official court or state-issued document attesting to the different eligibility conditions identified under "Terms and Conditions" above
for either the sponsor or applicant, document attesting to a confirmed job offer in Brazil, proof of financial capability, or formal affidavit guaranteeing that applicant will be financially
supported by Brazilian resident immediate family member
as applicable (for retirement residence transfer):
birth or marriage certificate for other immediate family members moving to Brazil
certificate issued by official institution attesting to applicant's retirement
documented proof issued by pension fund provider of monthly pension income of at least US$2,000.00. In case of more than two dependents, an additional US$1,000.00 per dependent must be accounted for, from
the third dependent on.
statement issued by a financial organization certifying that pension funds can be transferred to Brazil on a monthly basis
as applicable (for work as a manager or director of a religious or social assistance organization):
appropriate documentation issued by Brazilian sponsoring organization attesting to the following: conditions ruling the provision of service; nature of activities to be pursued; party responsible for
living expenses in Brazil; guarantee of repatriation by sponsoring organization once visa expires
health insurance policy benefitting applicant with validity in Brazil assignment act properly registered with competent authorities in Brazil
sponsoring organization by-laws, board of directors appointment act, proof of registration at the "Conselho de Assistência Social", and
proof that it is in existence and active
Once informed by the Consulate that application was approved (approval procedure may take about two months), submission to the Consulate of two visa application forms per applicant, properly
filled out (front and back) and duly signed (parents must sign for those under 18 years old), together with the following documentation:
passport with a minimum validity of six months (it must also have at least one blank page available for the visa stamp)
as applicable (i.e., if applicant travelled within the last 90 days to any of the following countries: Angola, Bolivia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador,
French Guiana, Gabon, Ghana, Gambia, Republic of Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Peru, Sierra Leone, Sudan, or Venezuela), yellow fever vaccination certificate. Please note that yellow fever vaccination is
advisable if applicant's destination in Brazil includes any of the following States: Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Federal District, Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima,
and Tocantins.
as applicable, polio vaccination certificate (only for children between the ages of 3 months and 6 years)
appropriate visa and legalization payments, as applicable.
For applications based on (i) personal investment in Brazil, (ii) intracompany transferee to work as a manager, director, or executive, or (iii) person of extraordinary ability in the sciences,
technological, research, or academic fields, with a job offer at a Brazilian research, scientific, or academic organization, once approval of work authorization by Ministry of Labor is issued, visa
application can be initiated by submitting to the Consulate two visa application forms per applicant, properly filled out (first and second pages) and duly signed (parents must sign for those under 18
years old), together with the following documentation:
passport with a minimum validity of six months (it must also have at least a couple of blank pages available)two recent good quality I.D. type photographs of applicant, showing entire face (must be front view) in white background. Overall size of
the picture must be at least 40 mm (1 9/6 inches) by 35 mm (1 3/8 inches)
letter from the employer or sponsoring organization, on their letterhead stationery and signed by a senior manager, briefly introducing the applicant and clearly stating the precise nature of the business to be conducted in Brazil proof of residence in the consular jurisdiction as applicable (i.e., if applying for extended stay visa to immediate
family members), copy of marriage certificate, birth certificate, or other official dependency document
recent non-criminal record issued by the local (i.e., applicant's place of residence) Police Department (if applicant is of criminally liable age)
as applicable (i.e., if applicant travelled within the last 90 days to any of the following countries: Angola, Bolivia, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador,
French Guiana, Gabon, Ghana, Gambia, Republic of Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Peru, Sierra Leone, Sudan, or Venezuela), yellow fever vaccination certificate. Please note that yellow fever vaccination is
advisable if applicant's destination in Brazil includes any of the following States: Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Federal District, Goiás, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima,
and Tocantins.
as applicable, polio vaccination certificate (only for children between the ages of 3 months and 6 years)
appropriate visa and legalization payments, as applicable.
The requirements listed are not all-inclusive. When processing a visa submission, the Consulate may request additional information/ documentation.
All supporting documentation that is not originated in Brazil must be authenticated by the Consulate. Copy of Brazilian supporting documents must be notarized by a Cartório in Brazil. Original
Brazilian documents do not require notarization.
The Consulate will accept visa submissions by the applicant in person or by a third party, acting on his/her behalf: e.g. an individual, an office of the applicant's company in Houston, or a travel/services firm in Houston. Important: The Consulate cannot and
will not recommend any such firm and makes it clear that all those listed on this homepage receive same identical treatment by the Visa Section of this Consulate: It is wise therefore to shop around and
compare costs in case you use a travel/services firm.
VISA APPLICATION BY MAIL:
The Consulate also accepts visa submissions by regular mail (U.S.
Post Office) according to conditions listed below. Please note that
the Consulate will not be held responsible for lost or delayed
mail. Overall average time (mail, processing, consultation, return
mail) has been around four weeks. Submission by mail does not mean
priority processing. Attention:
be sure the documentation is complete and in good order - incomplete
documentation will be put on hold and eventually returned; the
Consulate does not provide or accept telephone inquiry on the status
of a visa submitted by mail. If any problem is detected in your visa
application, you will be contacted by the Consulate not by phone but
only through fax or e-mail.
therefore all visa applications submitted directly by mail must
indicate a fax number or e-mail address for contact in case
additional information is necessary.
buy a postal money order issued by U.S. Post Office, for payment of
visa fees, and mail it to the Consulate together with the visa
submission. Postal money order must be made out to Consulate General
of Brazil in Houston. Personal check, company check, certified
check, or cash are not accepted
include self-addressed, properly stamped envelope (certified mail
only) for return of passport. Return by express delivery services,
such as FEDEX, DHL, AIRBORNE, UPS, or other courier services is not
acceptable
applicant must reside and have mail posted in the area under legal
responsibility of the Consulate General of Brazil in Houston: states
of Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and
Texas.