KateinBA,
Getting a Brazilian visa here in BA can be a hassle. If you go to the Brazilian consulate in BA, be sure to have
everything they ask for;
- Passport
- 1 Passport size photo
- Round-trip ticket to Brazil (or Puerto Iguazu)
- A printout of your hotel reservation (whether you are staying on the Argentina or Brazil side you'll need the hotel address and phone).
- Last two bank statements of your checking or savings account showing a balance (online printouts should be ok)
- A credit/debit card to show them (as proof you have means to pay with plastic during your trip)
When you get there (go in the morning), you will have to fill out the application on the computer terminals they have. Be sure to fill out everything. You will need the place you will stay in Brazil (or the hotel in Puerto Iguazu), their street address, and their phone number. Any blanks in the application might give them reason to send you back to get the missing information.
At their discretion (ie., if that lady at the window is having a bad day) they may ask you to present a proof of employment in the form of a letter from your employer, and perhaps even a paystub. If you have this for your first visit bring it, if not, don't worry. They may not ask for it at all.
Once they accept your application, they will give you a payment stub which you have to go pay at Itau bank a few blocks away on Santa Fe. It's about USD $150 per visa). Then you will have to go back, in say 2 days, to pick up your visa and passport.
If you are lucky; they will simply look at your documentation and take in your application without issue. They may not take the paperwork at all, although in the past they used to. Be sure your paperwork is all photocopies in case they take it as you will likely not get it back.
If you're not lucky (ie, the lady at the window is having a bad day), they may give you a hard time about absolutely anything they feel like. For example; missing info in your application, or they want to see employment proof, or whatever. They will not take your app and send you out to get whatever it is will please them. This is common, so it is essential you have all the paperwork ready to avoid this. I've met people there in the line who had to go back multiple times before they accepted their application.
A couple of weeks ago we went and got our visas here in BA. We did fine and she took our application and didn't even bother looking at our docs. We had our visas issued two days later. In a previous occasion they gave us a hard time and we had to go back 3 times.
Again, getting the visa here in BA can be problematic. BUT.... Here's a tip; There is also a Brazilian consulate at Puerto Iguazu (Argentine side of the falls). They have same-day visa service for those visiting the falls. Back in December 2007 I went there with my parents for three days. The first day we dropped off our application at the consulate and then spent the day at the
Argentine side of the falls. That afternoon, we went back and picked up our visas. The next day we went to the Brazilian side. Their visa service was prompt and without hassle. They did not require any docs, although that may have changed now.
We are now going to Iguazu in 2 days, with a brother and sister in law as well who don't have visas. We are going to try this same-day service again at Puerto Iguazu. If anything has changed, I will report back here.
If you have time, I would recommend you try getting the visas here in BA. You might get the visas in 2 days without any problems. But if they give you a hard time, know that you have an alternative by going to Iguazu and trying the consulate there which should be easier.
On the issue of crossing the Brazilian border without a visa; I would not recommend this. We were told (and I've seen this the times I've been there) that 99% of the time there are no agents at the border crossing on the way in or the way out. So basically you are spending US$ 150 for each visa, and it's likely no one will ever check it. BUT, that 1% the agents are there checking for visas can bring you a lot of trouble. In 2007, our driver told us they were fining US$ 1000 to any tourists caught crossing without a visa. I haven't been back since then so I don't know if they are still operating the same way. I will have a better idea before the end of this week.
Whatever you do; Good luck!
The view of the falls from the Brazilian side is
spectacular and I wouldn't miss it.
