On Tuesday (20th), the Committee on the Constitution and Justice and Citizenship (CCJ) approved an agreement between Brazil and USA that increases the visa expiry date from 5 to 10 years for citizens that travel to other country for tourism or business purposes (PDC 1658/09).

The consensus between both countries was achieved by means of diplomatic notes between the Celso Amorim, Brazilian minister of Foreign Relations, who proposed it, and the United States Ambassador in Brazil, Clifford Sobel, who accepted the proposal.

By the agreement, natives from both countries are exempt from paying other taxes for the visa issuance, except for the visa application, called “MRV” by USA. The exemption is also valid for student and exchange visa.

During the stay in North-American territory, Brazilian people will not be able to work, study or accomplish missionary actions. The same constraint will be applied to the North-American people in national territory.

However, the reciprocity principle was not considered in one of the terms of the agreement: Brazil will not require that North-American citizens hold the 10 year Visa within 90 days from its issuance, but the same benefit is not provided for Brazilian citizens.

“The agreement indicates a relevant simplification in the trip procedure for both countries citizens, consisting on one more approach in the history of the good diplomatic relation between Brazil and USA,” stated the Deputy Eliseu Padilha (PMDB-RS), Rapporteur on the matter in CCJ.

In process
The bill, that is pending under emergency regime, will be analyzed by the Committee on Finances and Taxation.

Reporting - Edvaldo Fernandes
Edition - Patricia Roedel
Translation - Grupo Solucion-SP Language/Maria Carolina Ogata