Queue to obtain an American visa in SP exceeds 620 days – 06/14/2023 – World

The waiting time to schedule an interview for the first issue of the American tourist or business visa in São Paulo reached 624 days this Wednesday (14), according to the US Department of State. Those who need to renew the document must join a queue of 79 days.

The number for the first document represents a variation of 2.2%, upwards, in relation to what was observed at the end of May, when Brazilians in São Paulo needed to wait 610 days to issue the papers. The waiting time for renewal has remained stable — it was 80 days last month.

With a queue of almost 21 months, the capital of São Paulo appears in the 12th position of the cities with the longest waiting time in the world to schedule the interview for the first issue, according to a survey carried out by the law firm AG Immigration, specialized in migration issues. The champion in this regard is Bogotá, Colombia, where applicants have to wait 801 days.

The Mexican cities Guadalajara and Mexico City complete the top ranking with waiting times of 766 days and 749 days, respectively, for the first American tourist visa.

In Brazil, the São Paulo office currently has the longest queues. In Rio de Janeiro, those who want to obtain a visa for the first time must wait 471 days, and those who need renewal, 1 day. In Recife, it’s 468 and 14 days; in Porto Alegre, 430 and 7 days. The consulate in Brasilia has the shortest waiting time for the first issue: 303 days; for renovation, 2.

You can check waiting times for various types of visas at different US consulates in the country on the Department of State website. The tourism ones are the B1/B2.

The American consulate claims that the numbers are dynamic and that many tourists are able to advance the date of the interviews, at no additional cost, due to cancellations by other applicants and the opening of new opening hours. In addition, it is possible to request an anticipation of the interview in emergency cases, such as the death of immediate relatives and medical treatment.

Scheduling time began to increase more sharply as a direct effect of the Covid-19 pandemic, which impacted the functioning of diplomatic missions. In the period of more severe restrictions, the US stopped issuing non-emergency entry permits to foreigners.

The maximum history in São Paulo was recorded in the week from the 5th to the 9th of this month, when the waiting time reached 630 days, according to the AG Immigration survey.

As of Saturday (17), the price for issuing an American tourist visa will be readjusted in Brazil. The rate, which today is US$ 160 (R$ 799), will be US$ 185 (R$ 924), an increase of R$ 125, according to the current exchange rate.

According to the US government, the readjustment seeks to balance revenues with the costs of care, whose demand “is recovering significantly faster than previously predicted”.

Cities with the Longest Waiting Time for a US Tourist Visa*

1st Bogotá (Colombia) – 801 days
2nd Guadalajara (Mexico) – 766
3rd Mexico City (Mexico) – 749
4th Toronto (Canada) – 723
5th Ottawa (Canada) – 696
6th Halifax (Canada) – 676
6th Quebec (Canada) – 676
8th Kathmandu (Nepal) – 666
9th Nogales (Mexico) – 658
10th Ciudad Juárez (Mexico) – 641
11th Vancouver (Canada) – 625
12th São Paulo – 624
26th Rio de Janeiro – 471
28th Recife – 468
32nd Porto Alegre – 430
55th Brasilia – 303

*on June 14, 2023
Source: AG Immigration law firm