What a mess! I called ZVS to check on our visas and they told me that now Regent is getting Qatar and Brazil. THIS IS NOT TRUE. I called Regent and the very nice agent checked with the Operations Department who said - NO WAY. We must get our own Brazilian Visas. They will be able to help us get Qatar visas on the ship. The Regent agent said that people from Ft Lauderdale were going to be on the phone immediately with ZVS to get the information staight.

In the meantime, everyone may want to keep checking on the status with ZVS to make sure that they are processing your Brazilian visa.

I think next time I'll try another visa agent...or maybe just do it myself!

Wow, this just keeps getting more confusing. Are you sure it's not Regent rather than ZVS that's getting it mixed up? Anyway, I was told (by Regent via B&K) that Regent IS getting the Brazilian visas for those who are on the full grand voyage beginning with segment one. If you're boarding after the first segment, then you have to get your own visa (since there's time to do that). We're boarding in Mumbai, so I've sent the forms and passports to ZVS to start with the India visa and then move on to Brazil when the 90 day limit hits on Sept. 4. But I will take your advice and track the process through ZVS.

B&K is telling me the same as Peggy. But even before they checked it out, I'd heard the rumor that RSSC was going to do a blanket visa for Brazil, but decided to keep going with the individual visa. I'm an immigration lawyer, and have found over the years that Brazil is second only to the U.S. in inflexibility when it comes to visas. I'd always opt to play it safe with them. The thing is, it's not so much entry into the country that bothers me--I suppose I could sit out the Brazil stops if I had to (though I'd be one very unhappy passenger). It's that most countries will heavily fine a carrier if it brings an unauthorized individual to the country's door. Therefore, those carriers will deny boarding in the first place.

I don't mean to scare the people who are relying on the blanket visa because they're boarding in the first segment and don't have time because of Brazil's rule that you must first use the visa within 90 days of issuance. I expect that what's happening here is that RSSC has worked out a deal for a small number. And, if it doesn't work out, they're willing to swallow the fine and whatever amount it will take to placate the passengers who are not allowed to get off in Brazil. Which is unlikely to happen--if the numbers are small, Brazil is likely willing to waive documentation requirements.

All I know is that the agent at Regent had me on hold while he checked with the Operations Department. When he came back, he said that there is no blanket visa for Brazil. We each have to have our own Brazilian visas.

ZVS called me back and said they would process the Brazil visa forms they have. They can process the Brazilian visas after Sept 8-9 and still get them back to us before we leave on Oct 6. Might be different for the folks who board in Monte Carlo.

I'm going to keep checking and definitely get our own visas.

We got a letter from Ken Watson about the Qatar visas and have received nothing about the Brazil visas, so we are going ahead with separate visas. There are several stops in Brazil not just one so I'm not going to take the chance.

We've been to Brazil twice on Regent, never a blanket visa for us.

ZVS is really quick about getting your passport with Visa back. We mailed passports to their San Francisco office and had it back within 5 days.

According to my Visa Goddess Jennifer, Regent is going to get someone from the Brazillian Embassy in Cape Town ON THE SHIP to issue those visas for the FULL DISCOVERY PASSENGERS ONLY who could not do the visa due to the time frame of embarkation.

This is not a blanket visa but a regular individual visa simply issued in Cape Town.

You must be FULL DISCOVERY guest with the situation that made it impossible to get your visa any other way.

Aha! Thanks, Ngaire. That makes perfect sense.

I just knew it was you !! WE know about visas, don't we ? Manny and I. Our last cruise was Eastward from Ft.Laud, across the Atlantic. An almost perfect island is Madeira. Don't miss it.
Bon voyage.
Neville.

More fun and games with visas

Our passports are in Houston! I just talked with ZVS in Houston and they are open and they said the Brazilian consulate opened today but are not taking applications. They are still hopeful they can get everything back to us by Sept 30.

Has anyone got their Brazil visas yet?

Hope so as we can't even board our first flight to Munich on the way to Athens without our passports. Luckily, we have a passport office here in Denver and we understand we could get a duplicate in an emergency situation! So we at least could start the trip...and hopefully our visas for India and Brazil will catch up with us!

A worry for us but not a diaster like so many people are facing in Texas and Louisiana.

Jan, our passports and Brazil visa applications are in Houston also. As far as I know they went to the Brazilian consulate early last week prior to the storm. Don't know at this point if that's a good thing or a not so good thing. We have more time than you to get them back, so at this point I'm just being patient--if we were leaving earlier like you are, I'd be worried too.

FYI, I had a delivery from Fedex that was supposed to come yesterday and never made it. The good news is that the mailman finally came today so maybe things are getting back to normal.

We mailed passports and visa forms to ZVS NYC Sept. 8 overnight USPS express.

Have confirmation ZVS received them Sept. 9. Monday ZVS emailed to state they received them Sept. 15! (Wonder where our passports were for that week)

Even though I stated we were departing US Nov. 14 for GAME prior to boarding Navigator Nov. 21 ZVS confirmation stated we were departing Nov. 21.

I emailed ZVS back trying to explain situation but from their answer it was clear they did not read or comprehend my message. But they did state we'd have passports back by Nov. 1

Sure hope we get them back sooner - we're very nervous when we don't have passports in our possession.

My advice to those joining Navigator in Cape Town, Rio or other ports get visa application in as soon as you can - keeping in mind the 90-day window between visa date and entry to Brazil.

I think US probably gives Brazilians a hard time getting visas so Brazil reciprocates.

Oh heavens, it hadn't occured to me that it might go to Houston. I'll have to call zVS in the morning and find out.

Ted, I called once before because it showed my day of departure as October 8 (the date I board) and I'd told them I need my ppt back by September 30 (I leave Oct. 6, but it will be hard to get it into my hands after the 30th). They told me they always list the cruise boarding date as departure, but they read me something that indicated that they had me down as needing it back by the 30th.

Well, rather than panic, I googled. I'm in the Washington, DC consular district (duh!), and Beth is in the Atlanta district, so our passports are not in Houston.

Jan, I hope you get yours in time. Keep us posted.

Today, I received a call from ZVS. We forgot to list our parents and their nationalities. Plus, they tried to email me and their message got deleted in my spam filter. We mailed our paperwork last Friday to ZVS in New York which then gets forwarded to the Brazilian consulate in LA. We leave Tucson on Nov. 11.

On top of all of that, I spent many hours last Thursday bending over the copier making copies of every part of our itinerary for the Brazilian visa. That's why I woke up Friday morning with a bad lower back, barely able to walk. Since then, I've visited the chiropractor, acupuncturist and massage therapist plus cancelled a weekend trip to Atlant to see my mother, on the advice of my doctor. It's all Brazil's fault. :D :D

I agree this paperwork For Brazilian Visas seems very Painful in every aspect. We are going to Canada on 10/11/2008 for a few days so we are in the process of trying to get an expedited visa service out of Miami to get our passports back to us by then.

They told us 10 to 15 days Max.

We will see.

FV

Sorry Donna! Hope you feel better soon - My biggest fear..lower back or neck problems before a trip - nothing works for me but a muscle relaxer(and I hate them) knock myself out for 2 days ...good luck!

Boy, all this makes me really glad we have a Brazilian consulate in Toronto! Although David says that when he went a few years ago to get a visa, they did everything they could to be nasty and unhelpful.

New York Consulate has a 4 day turnaround, but being from Massachuestts we cannot apply at that Consulate, Unreal!

FV

The worst part is we sail in late one afternoon and fly out the next night. Brazil has it all figured out - it's all about the money. But, it's a price I'll gladly pay to sail across the Atlantic with such a wonderful group of LCT friends.

Looking forward to greeting old friends and making new ones.

Brazil won't be on any future itinerary for me...what a nightmare :(

Before we start blaming Brazil and other countries, lets remember in most cases they are only doing to us what our government has been doing to them for years, in some cases, even before 9/11.

I don't blame Brazil. I was just trying to be funny.

We are sick to death of this visa nightmare.....we have a consulate here in Chicago, but we are forced to apply online. It took HOURS, as the site was down for over a week. We haven't even mailed them as we are on a waiting list for the $350 shots. That will happen tomarrow and then they will be expressed out. I'm glad we are looking at the Birkenhead pics.....as it is helping us justify this. I actually had to take a morning off work to do this. Not a good time.....Poor Donna, atleast I didn't throw my back out!!

Have to agree with you Cindy!

We are in the process of moving and between that and the paperwork! what a joke, and for the cost of the shots and for the visas, Carla and I could take a five day cruise from Boston to Bermuda!!!

I dont mind paying the money, but it should not be this painful..

FV

I need to do all this too but cant start until I get back from ROAR. Been through it before but they have become more complex since then. Will jump on this the minute I return.

I agree about the reciprocity, but for us it was MUCH easier and less expensive when we obtained Brazil visas before 9/11. Too bad they expired after five years.

I give some blame to Brazil a bit, doesnt have to be this hard, and you can travel all over Asia and the Visa process is Painless.

FV

Cindy,

Your comment caught my eye as we are scheduled to get our shots next week and then I was going to take our applications and apply in person at the Brazilian Consulate in Washington, DC. I re-checked their website and it provides instructions to apply in person. How did you find out that you could not apply in person at the Chicago Consulate? I've tried to call the one located in Washington to confimr the details and that proved not too user friendly so I'm relying on the info on their website.

Thank you for your input.

Sandee

I'm completely shocked!!!!! We just received our passports with the Brazil and India visas from ZVS. I was thinking it would be weeks before we got them since after we sent them in (mid August) the consultate changed their form (added a box for a cell phone number) and we basically had to start all over for the Brazil visa a couple weeks ago. We didn't ask for Express service since we still had time, but miracle of miracles we already have them back. Ike must have blown in something good in the Houston Brazil consulate. Anyway, guys there's hope -- the visas will arrive :) . Editing to add, we're lucky here in Fort Worth, the health department administers the yellow fever vaccine for $65.

Sandee,
Oh, I think i was just reading the stuff on the Regent paperwork! I had to apply online, and then send it out to ZVS. I really didn't go to alot of trouble to confirm, but maybe I will! Like everyone else, we hate to have that passport flying through the mail!!

Sandee, I "think" the online application only applies to the Chicago Brazilian Consulate. According to my directions from Regent plus Brown and Keene, the others must be mailed.

The status check on the ZVS website shows that my passport was sent out to me via FedEx today, so I should have it in my hands by Monday, per the FedEx tracking site. A little sigh of relief. It will be a big sigh when I have it in my hands and can see for myself that the visas are there and accurate.

Peggy - $65 is a steal! The best we could find for YF was through our county health department for $127 (each!). They are throwing in tetanus for free which we were planning to get anyway.

Cindy - Thanks for the response. I compared the consulate website's for Washington, DC and Chicago and they are very similar and both indicate you can apply in person. I was just concerned that you might be privy to info not posted on their website.

Donna - It was our impression that the B&K information was if you were using ZVS in which case you would need to mail. Since we are just outside of Washington, DC and in close proximity to a Brazilian Consulate we're opting to apply in person. Not sure how it's going to work out. We get our YF shots on Thursday and I'm planning on applying in person the following Monday. I'm hoping it will go smoothly.

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to respond to my question/concern. I'll let you know how it turns out for us.

Sandee

Hi Sandee, I spoke with someone about the visa. They are now saying applying in person, you will wait 4 weeks for your visa. Now I know that zvs will take that long too, and costs more, we are thinking we will just go with zvs. Taking 4 hours to go to the consulate would be great for the lesser fee, but since we don't get it right away, I'm just going to throw the passport in the mail.......achhh. Like Frank said, this is really unbelievable....and it is...We went to Turkey close to 911, and got our visa at the airport for $25.00......10 minutes.

Cindy, we got our Brazil visa back in less than two weeks from ZVS (after redoing the paperwork that is) so maybe it will be quicker. Be sure to send your passports Fed Ex so you can trace them and feel more comfortable about sending them.

One of the reasons several of us waited so long for Brazil visas is that you have to enter Brazil within 90 days of the visa's issue date or it expires, so ZVS waited until Sept 4 or 5 to apply. Our passports were sent back to us on Sept 19.
Jim

Thanks Peggy,
It will be out of here fed x tomarrow! Maybe since we have a consolate here, we will get ours back in two weeks as well. I spent hours today making 4 copies of everything, so hopefully they will not pick on me.

We will not be able to send ours out until Oct 20th, due to us going to Canada in a couple of weeks and do not want to chance not getting it back in time, We are doing the express service which is supposed to be 15 days or less. Was going to go for a Multiple entry thats good for 5 years in case we want to return in the future and not have to go through this again, but I do not think I want to complicate the situation.

FV

Hi Sandee, sorry if I gave you poor information. I assumed you were looking at B&K info. Good luck with your application.

Cindy, making all of those copies did my back in. Hope you wake up walking fine tomorrow :D . I managed 15 minutes at a slow walk on the treadmill today which is a great improvement over last weekend.

Oh, Frank, sorry you have to wait to the last minute but I'm sure it will all work out. Alan is in Glacier National Park on a photo workshop. I keep reminding him that he can't go to Canada because he doesn't have a passport.

When we're all having fun on SAMBA, the visa issue will be a distant memory!