My friend is studying in Brazil for a semester. He got a student visa (on his U.S. passport) to study there, but it expires shortly. The visa to study in Brazil cannot be extended and he doesn’t have the funds to return to the U.S. to get a new visa on the U.S. passport. He has another passport and he is trying to send it to the U.S. and get a visa on it for the date the other visa (on U.S. passport) expires (so he doesn’t have to leave the country). He can have the visa made in his behalf, but would he be able to leave Brazil with no issues?
I'm not familiar with Brazilian regulations, but in general I'd say this is not allowed, probably not even possible.
In your scenario your friend would face two problems: he'd have a visa but no exit stamp in his US passport, and he would leave Brazil showing a visa but no entry stamp (using his other passport). Immigration officials aren't stupid, so chances are he would be found out and fined as a visa offender. Possibly even for immigration fraud, I don't know how strict Brazilian legislation is. Theoretically, I can see the same problem arise when he re-enters the US, since he would miss an exit stamp.
But my guess is that he won't even be issued the second visa. Brazilian authorities keep records of the visa they issue, and every application is likely to be checked not just on passport number, but also on name and date of birth. So, his name would probably show up as being in Brazil already. Besides, I doubt that he can even get a visa in his second passport by simply mailing it to the competent representation of Brazil: typically, you'd have to appear in person.
[ 21-Jul-2010, at 04:49 by bentivogli ]
The friend is already in Brazil (he entered with his U.S. passport with a student visa), so he has an entry stamp for Brazil. He will enter the U.S. with his U.S. passport as well (because he has to). This means the entry and exit stamp would be on the same passport. The problem is his visa (in his U.S. passport) expires in a couple of months. His solution is to put a second visa (that is valid for the duration of the remaining time he will be in Brazil) on his other passport (so that he is covered by a visa the whole time he is in Brazil). He is not trying to pull a fast one, he is planning to show the second visa (on other passport) to prove he was in the country legally, then try to leave with the U.S. passport. Basically, he will have one visa in his U.S. passport that has expired, but another visa on his other passport to continue.
"I doubt that he can even get a visa in his second passport by simply mailing it to the competent representation of Brazil: typically, you'd have to appear in person."[/quote]
To address this statement, the website for the visa application says:
ATTENTION: COSTS CHANGE AS OF JUNE 4TH, 2010.
COSTS:
Applications submitted by mail: US$ 160.00 per application (US$ 140.00 processing fee + US$ 20.00 handling fee). Notice: The US$ 20.00 handling fee does NOT pay for the return of your passport. You still have to provide us with a self-addressed, stamped, pre-paid envelope. Please read the "PICK UP AND TURN AROUND TIME" section below for more information.
Applications brought in by a third party: US$ 160.00 per application (US$ 140.00 processing fee + US$ 20.00 handling fee).
Applying in person for yourself: US$ 140.00
source:http://consulatebrazil.org/studentvisa.htm
If he exits Brazil using his US passport with the then-expired visa in it, he will be considered a visa offender for sure. In the mean time, he would hold a valid visa in a passport he never used to enter the country; this is bound to get him in trouble, should the authorities ever require a valid title of stay.
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