Getting a U.S. Visa in Brazil 2025

Rio was a great spot for a renewal. This was my 5th E3 visa (4th renewal). I booked about 2 weeks in advance and picked mostly on quick appointment availability. I originally booked my ASC biometrics for a Thurs and my Visa interview on Fri (system won't let you book the same day), but got a notification a few days after booking that the embassy changed my interview to Monday - not sure why, I wasn't told. I ended up rescheduling ASC for Wed and Embassy for Thurs. ASC took 15mins total in-and-out, there was a very short line, remember to bring your DS-160 confirmation page as that's all they cared about, and they make you turn your phone off before walking in. Took me longer to find the ASC store front in the Bossa Nova Mall than to get the biometrics taken - it's down the escalators that are next to a coffee shop you can find on Google Maps as "The Coffee" and it's location is accurate. Embassy interview was no dramas the next day and took about 45mins total, plenty of people in vests out the front that will hold your phone and smart watch for 10 reals per item. Embassy told me you'll have your visa "within a week". I got the email on midday Monday (2 business days later) saying I could schedule an appointment to pick it up. I booked one for the next morning (Tues) and picked up no issues. 3 business days from embassy interview (Thurs) to visa pickup (Tues). I stayed in Flamengo for the first couple of days which was great because it's walkable to the beach, bars/restaurants and the ASC and Embassy. Little less touristy there too. I went to Ipanema and Leblon for a few days each afterwards and they were also fantastic, and a bit more catered to tourists. So much to do in Rio too while you wait: beaches, Sugarloaf, Christ the Redeemer, city tours, soccer match (incredible!), favela tour, hiking. Overall, absolutely recommend this trip for anyone considering it.
- Dan (about 10 months ago)

Rio is a great place to get your E3 visa if you have a week and are looking for somewhere on NYC time that’s affordable with great weather year-round and great food. Highly recommend staying in Ipanema. Here’s how my experience of an E3 renewal with my husband on an E3D renewal: Booked appointments - July 20 ASC Biometrics appt - July 24 (allow 1 hour) Consulate appt - July 25 (visa approved at appt; allow 2 hours) Visa marked as issued - July 26 Visa & Passport delivered to ASC - July 27 Visa available for pick up - July 28 PM (allow 20 mins) We didn’t schedule an appointment to pick up our passports and instead showed up after 3PM, where we were let in past security to plead our case to the staff at the center. They were so excited they could help us because I passports had been processed within the hour prior. A little stressful but it worked out. No phones or smart watches at the consulate appointment but the ASC allows them so long as they are switched off.
- Emily (about 2 years ago)

New E-3 appointment was booked one week beforehand for July 5. As you read from other reviews here I had to book fingerprints and the actual interview. Once I arrived at the US consulate I was put to the front of an outside queue because I was applying for an E3. Once inside I went through security and was asked to then wait. Inside they seemed confused where to send me for my interview but eventually they figured out where to place me. The interview was 5 minutes and I was asked a few questions about what I have a degree in, what is my profession and where I will be working. They didn't check any paperwork other than my DS-160 and passport. During the interview my E-3 was approved and was told it could take 10-14 days to be ready for pick up. I asked about an earlier pick up since I may have a flight. I asked about this at an admin desk and they gave me an email address to ask. After I left and emailed them I got a reply within a few hours saying the process couldn't be sped up and would need to wait for an email explaining the next steps. 3 business days (5 days total) later I got an email saying my visa had arrived at the pick up spot and I would need to BOOK again! The next availability was for 3 days time to schedule a pick up time. July 5-Interview, July 10 email saying passports ready, July 13 passport collected. Tips-Uber is cheap and reliable there, Rarely does anyone speak english, Ipanema the place to stay which is nicer and a bit more expensive, booking to pick up passports was a pain especially since I had to book a few days later but like others you might be able to risk going in earlier before your booked pick up slot.
- Jono (about 2 years ago)

The consulate in Rio requires 2 appointments: one for biometrics (fingerprints and photograph), one for the interview itself. I had biometrics scheduled for 7.15am and the Consular interview at 10am on the same day, 13th April, 2023. Reached the biometrics venue(ASC Centre) around 6.50am and stood in a line after 18-20 people, That biometrics center was efficient and we were out b 7.22am. Went back to hotel and reached the consulate at around 9.35 for the visa interview. Once we stood in the line to enter the consulate, a lady came in to check us in. Here one thing to remember is they won't let you take in mobile phone, smart watch inside the consulate. So while you are waiting in the line to enter the consulate look for few guys wearing blue and orange vests written "GUARDA VOLUMES". For a small fee(10 Brazilian Reals per item) they keep all your belongings. Ladies were not allowed to take their bags as well. Once they call your name, you get inside the consulate where an initial screening will be done. They will ask for your LCA(Form ETA-9035 & 9035E) and passport. We waited for 20 mins before we were asked to stand in a small line to be called by the Visa Officer. He asked few basic questions and told our visas were approved. Then I asked the officer if he can hand back our passports with the stamped visa by the next Monday because we will be leaving that night. He gave us a small yellow colored passport collection receipt and told to come to the Consulate next day at 2.30pm. We had our passports with the E-3 visa by 2.45pm the next day.
- Suman (about 2 years ago)

The turnaround time in Rio remains quick as of March 2023. I did my appointment on a Tuesday morning and received my passport back on Thursday afternoon. I spent 5 nights in Rio in total (arrived 2 days before my appointment because there have been so many issues with flights lately), and the entire trip (including flights, accom and food) cost about $2500 USD. Allow at least 1.5 hours between your ASC appointment (photo and fingerprints) and consulate appointment as the locations are about 30 mins apart. You cannot bring your phone into the consulate. There are people outside who will hold your phone for you for 10 Reals ($2 USD). They are wearing high vis vests + army bags. I did get my phone back. Hardly anyone I encountered spoke English. It helps to use google translate on your phone and show things to people. Use short simple phrases so that the translation is clear. You will receive an email inviting you to pick up your passport when it is ready. You could get the email at any hour of the day. I got mine at 3pm and the ASC closes at 345pm so I jumped straight in an uber. You can only pick up your passport between the hours of 3 and 345, and you are meant to book an appointment (which might not be possible for a few days), although if you are nice to the people there, they will probably let you proceed to pick up your passport as long as you can show them the email. If you don't have the email yet and want to try pick up your passport, you can politely make an attempt to have them to check for you and finish the process on the spot. Rio does not feel particularly safe, especially if you are a woman travelling on your own. I am Asian, and I was frequently followed and harassed, with many of the comments relating to race. Having said that, if you are careful and stay somewhere safe, you will be ok. I stayed in Ipanema along the water, and so there were always a lot of people around and safe main roads to walk on. There are a lot of scams. If you take uber, make sure the driver ends the trip when you get out. If you pay cash, count your change. Do your research!
- T.S. (about 2 years ago)

Simple process, fast turn around. Two appointments are needed (fingerprinting and then the visa interview). Both can be done in the same day if speed is a priority. Asked for an expedited pick up on the visa and they had it ready next day.
- Andrew (about 3 years ago)

Went in for our biometrics on Wednesday, went to consulate on Thursday and Monday 9am got an email to say our passports were ready for pickup.
- Marina (Saker) (about 3 years ago)

Stay in Ipanema
- (about 3 years ago)

The consulate in Rio requires three appointments: one for biometrics (fingerprints and photograph), one for the interview itself, and one for passport collection. The consulate interview must be at least one day after biometrics collection. After the interview, I was notified 2-3 business days that I could book the passport collection appointment, and was able to collect my passport the next day. Biometrics and passport collection takes place in a separate ASC location (near Ipanema) from the consulate. Your can take your phone into the ASC location, but not into the consulate. The consulate does not have lockers for your phone, but there are people outside who will look after your phone for 10 reals - they are trustworthy and returned my phone immediately.
- Alex (about 3 years ago)

A good spot to renew if you're remote working or looking for tropical weather and caipirinhas. You'll need some time on your hands compared to other spots. Rio requires three appointments start to finish: 1. biometrics 2. consular interview (both 1 and 2 scheduled when you submit your DS160) and 3. passport collection (you can't schedule this until they've finished processing). The process is all relatively predictable but for the third appointment for pick up. Depending on your luck the next appointment might be the following day, or another 5 days out, just for them to hand your passport back. This might be overcome by using their express delivery option. My renewal processing took 7 days, but from the first biometrics appointment to actual passport pick up, it was close to two weeks.
- Scott (about 4 years ago)

Super smooth process. Finger printed on Wednesday after I landed. Interviewed on Thursday and got email Friday saying I could pick up on Monday. São Paulo is a great city and super affordable.
- Nick (about 2 months ago)

I went to Sao Paulo as Rio de Janeiro (where I attended for an E3R in October 2022) was unavailable. Rio was a wait of about a week or more but SP was just a day. Unfortunately I was on a standby international buddy ticket and I kept getting bumped off the flight so my problem was not the US Consulate or ASC, it was getting there on Delta. Anyway, I had to reschedule the appointment. It was originally ASC 20 June, US Consulate 21 June. I changed that to a day later for each. The ASC staff were very helpful. From memory their hours are about 0800 to 1700 M - F and also the only ASC centre in Brazil open on a Sunday (1200 - 1600). They take the photo there and the Consulate does the fingerprints. The Consular Officer was really only interested in the signed LCA and my appointment confirmation. I had all my supporting documents with me though and I advised both it was urgent and I had only delayed my booking by a day due to the fact of my delayed air travel. I explained myself well so be prepared to give a good, succinct account of what you need and why. Then I engaged in friendly chit-chat while she worked on my application. While the Consulate was unable to bring me in a day earlier both ASC and the Consulate expedited me in every way they could and like Rio de Janeiro was last year they were super helpful and friendly. My US Consulate appointment was on Thursday 22 June. The passport was ready overnight for collection Friday 23 June (which I didn't expect as the Consular Officer said it would most likely be ready Monday). I then travelled to Rio de Janiero to catch up with a friend and I could not get back in time to collect it on the Friday afternoon when I got the email saying it was ready about 0930 that morning, so I actually picked it up at the ASC Centre on the Sunday (open hours 1200 - 1600) since the ASC facility was closed on Saturday. Again the staff were super helpful. If you can afford the airfares right now (circa $3,500) Brazil is a great option. Taking TCN (Third Country Nationals) and only a short wait despite the numbers of Brazilians getting B1/B2 etc. on any given day. They like Aussies and we seem to get preferential treatment with our visa because it's a bit unusual. This is my 6th E3 I think now, and I am switching to a EB-2 NIW application for the Greencard. Good luck to all
- Adam (about 2 years ago)

Be aware that the U.S. Consulate in Sao Paulo requires the biometrics to be done at a different location prior to the visa interview.
- Marco (about 3 years ago)