Visa to Brazil

Definitely call the consulate/embassy, as their website may not have the correct or complete information. When I applied for my German visa, the San Francisco consulate's website stated that applications had to be made in person barring "extremely rare instances". However, when I called them, they asked my nationality, and informed me that since I'm Russian, I can indeed apply by mail. The whole application process from mail-out to receipt of visa took one week.

However, I would not be surprised if you did have to show up in person even though other Brazilian consulates accept applications by mail. There is rarely a uniform process when it comes to immigration-related bureaucracy. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do about it.

Having bumped against this for other countries (Miami's my place for Brazil and they took mail applications), I think you're up against a international jurisidictional beaucracy (whatever that is). There's no way I've found to break the code.

I think you're going to have to drive down to Houston one morning or use an agency. :)

Have you tried calling the embassy to find out if there are alternatives?

We're going to Brazil in December. The Miami-based travel agent said you get the visa by mail. Miami Brazilian consulate-yes. But not the one in San Francisco which we have to use. They accept personal delivered applications or from a visa agency. Sounds like the Houston consulate is operating like SF, not Miami.
Good luck.

Why do some countries make it so difficult to get a simple tourist visa? You would think they would make it easy, to encourage tourism.

Tyler, many countries make people jump through hoops to get a simple tourist visa, and the U.S. is no exception. I ended up changing my plans and not going to the UK this year, because the visa process requirements were ridiculous (fingerprints, British friend's bank records & passport copy, etc.) and expensive. Just be glad that you're American and get to go to many, many countries without a tourist visa, as some of us are not so lucky.

A lot of it undoubtedly has to do with politics, Anna. Like, I was shocked to learn from a friend that, for Americans visiting Argentina, you don't need a visa, but you have to pay over $100 when you land at the Buenos Aires airport. The reason for this "tourist fee" seems to be that Argentina is retaliating because the US makes it difficult, and expensive, for their citizens to get a US tourist visa.

You are right that US visa bureaucracy is the worst! I think it's overkill.

I suppose I should thank Medvedev for being chummy with Angela Merkel then, because the Germans didn't give me any trouble at all and even sent me some of my money back along with the visa ;)