It is like a scene from Terry Gilliam's movie "Brazil", the bureaucratic nightmare that describes a computer glitch which destroys a man's life. The real Brazil appears to have created a similar nightmare for U.S. residents bound for Brazil. Starting September 1, Brazil instituted a number of new protocols and requirements for US residents seeking tourist visas.

The result is that tourist visa applications are being processed so slowly
that U.S. residents headed for Brazil may find that they won't get
there. I tried getting a visa application from the Brazilian consulate in Los Angeles on September 28th. I discovered that not only is it not possible, but the reservation-only process required to get an visa processed isn't offering any reservations at all in 2009.

The only way that we were able to get a visa is to spend anywhere between $250-$300 PER visa for a "visa service" company to process the application for us. This is on top of the $150 mandated processing fee charged by the Brazilian government. Essentially, the cost of getting a visa to Brazil now approximates the cost of a flight to Brazil from the U.S. Highway robbery? Perhaps.

What is causing the slowdown? Not clear. The Brazilian consulate claims that it is due to a software glitch that has slowed up visa processing. See the LA Times recent story. Yet, other insiders say something different. In talking to some travel agents, the story that emerges is one of a country that is starting to flex its diplomatic muscle. The "law of reciprocity" is oft cited as a basis for the Brazilian policy. Whatever the motivation, there's little question that if you are a tourist headed to Brazil, you may end up being a victim of a political/computer glitch. So beware!