Consulate General of Brazil in New York — Local services in New York

I had a horrible and somehow humiliating experience at the brazillian consulate in NYC today. There are two security guards working at the place. The younger one insistes on direct to everyone speaking english, I asked him an information in portuguese and he replied in english, innocently I said sorry, I thought you were brazillian and he replied, yes I am but I don't like to speak portuguese. I said this is the brazilliasn consulate and portuguese should be the first language here, besides there are many brazillians who live here and don't speak english if you prefere to speak english I suggest to get a job at MacDonalds. The reaction of both guys turned out to be almost violent with them calling me a terrorist, trying their best to intimidate me. I had to alter my voice tone and make clear I was not afraid. They wanted to throw me out of the room and promising to make impossible the renewal of my passport. The younger guy called me to physically fight outside and I ignored it, however at that point I was wishing to be assaulted to file a law suit. I asked for help to the guy at window 01 who told me unfortunately they were not employees of the consulate and could do nothing. I said ok, I'm gonna call 911 but unfortunately there was no cellular signal in the room but they thought my phone was working and backed off. Still they did their best to sabotage my process with the employees behind the glass windows but fortunately they were very professionals with me. Although didn't get involved. I'm a 62 years old interior designer who has been in NYC for 26 years and have never seen such a low class environment at the brazillian consulate. I just hope to find a solution to never come back to that...

Unnecessary bureaucracy and very unsatisfying communication with the building security.

When I arrived to the consulate for my appointment, the office required additional copies of my documents/re-issue money order meaning I had no choice but to leave the office and run those errands outside. The office had held all my ID documents (passport, etc) while I was outside. When I got back, the entrance door was LOCKED. Due to my visa restrictions I cannot live in the US and walk around without my ID (passport). I tried reaching out to the security inside and they did not move a muscle, a passerby told me to walk to a different entrance, which I did only to realize there was no other entrance to the consulate. When I reached the same entrance again, the security would not acknowledge my presence. I actively tried to reach the security crew and I felt that the guard who approached me was dismissive of my essential need to retrieve my documents and IDs from the inside of the office building. Despite the fact that I was only trying to explain that I need to retrieve my documents before the consulate closes and cannot live without them, he escalated the situation by being verbally aggressive to me, a small 5'2” woman.

Because of this delay, I almost missed my designated time-slot period for my appointment and had all my original ID documents inaccessible. The consulate website do not offer options to re-schedule our appointment under "security would not let me back in" motive. None of this happened during closing times. I hope communication between consulate office and security improves, but honestly...

VISA IN TWO HOURS!!!

Brazil is the best! I went there for the first time during the 2016 Olympic visa waiver period and loved it! Great weather, awesome culture, friendly people, gorgeous women, and very safe!

As for the visa, I was always afraid to apply after hearing so many false horror stories (i.e. lost passports, cancelled trips) from friends. That said, I went to the CGBNY on Jan. 4, 2017 to apply for my VITUR since I work nearby and I don't foresee needing my passport for the rest of the month and am planning on returning to Brazil sometime this year.

I arrived just after 2:00 P.M. and the line was so long that I had to wait to clear security. I was almost certain that I'd have to come back but decided to give it the old college try.

The Brazilian consular officials diligently and quickly cleared the backlog and I soon found myself in the main waiting room, number in hand—only three people were ahead of me!

I did solicit a few questions by saying that I had already been to Brazil but all was fine once the consular officers realized that I had traveled during the 2016 Olympics. By 2:35 P.M. I was out of the consulate and on my way back to work, I had been told to come back in only an hour!

When I returned at 3:45 P.M. I didn't have to go through security again and was told the consular officials had been looking for me for some time. My visa was printed and my passport was ready to go!

Can't wait to return to Brazil! Nothing but positive and happy experiences! Thanks CGBNY! O...