Plans Commence

The job search has been uneventful and barren. I go at it everyday, checking all websites for any indication of something local. I cannot bare to drive to Atlanta, and let's face it, my car won't make it. I do not have the money right now to afford expensive car repairs. So after much deliberation, I have decided to go spend a couple months in Brazil, getting to know Jundiaí and nearby São Paulo.
First things first, I need to obtain a passport and a visa.
After much research, the best website I can recommend on what is available would be the Brazilian Consulate of San Francisco. There are many Consulates around the country and you must apply in the jurisdiction that you live. Here is my local Consulate:   

                                                                        

Atlanta 

3500 Lenox Road, suite 800

Atlanta, GA 30326 

Phone: 404-949-2400 

Fax: 404-949-2402

Embassypages.com has lists of Embassies and Consulates for every country around the world. If you cannot find something close to you here, then I would suggest you Google Brazil Consulate and your state. This is the most detailed list of Brazilian Consulates in the US and around the world that I have located.

First, you need a Passport with at least 6 months available on it. If your passport is set to expire within six months, of the travel dates you request on your visa, your visa will be denied. To apply for a passport, I will need the passport application along with 2 approved photos, my birth certificate (primary proof of citizenship), and my license (primary indentification). You will need photocopies of these documents. For specifications on what is needed, please check the State Department's Travel site. This website has information on Passports, Visas, and International Travel. If you need any vaccinations or if there are any travel warnings - this is the page to check.

So my plan this week - get my drivers license updated with the correct address. Also, I have to go take Passport photos for my application. I am going to go to Walgreens, as they are very specific on what your photos must look like.

Then I will make my application for my Passport this week. As soon as I get my Passport, I can apply for my visa. Yay!

The process is complicated and I will explain what I will need and the process I take for applying for my Tourist Visa. Just be prepared to make a trip to the Consulate of your jurisdiction. They do not do visa applications by mail. Also, I have apply for the visa within 90 days before I take my trip. It does not take this long, but I need to give the Consulate plenty of time to issue my visa after my appointment.

I can only say right now, without doubt, I am so nervous.