Visa Guide: How to move from Brazil to the U.S.

K-1 Fiancé Visa

General Process

Looking to apply for a K-1 fiancé visa from Brazil? The general K-1 visa process looks the same for Brazilian citizens as it does for applicants from other countries. More information on K-1 wait times, costs, and requirements can be found in Boundless’ K-1 guide. Here’s a more detailed breakdown of K-1 costs and processing times:

---

Timeline for brazilian applicants

---

Cost for brazilian applicants

---

Marriage-Based Green Cards

General Process

If you and your partner are already married, or considering marriage soon, you may be thinking about applying for a marriage-based green card. Similar to the K-1 visa, the marriage-based green card process is standard for Brazilian citizens. Wait times, costs, and requirements differ depending on where the Brazilian spouse lives and whether the sponsoring spouse is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. More information can be found in Boundless’ marriage-based green card guide. Here’s a more detailed breakdown of the costs and processing times for your specific situation:

---

Timeline for brazilian applicants

---

Cost for brazilian applicants

---

Which Visa is Right for Me?

---

Immigrating with Children

K-2 VISAS

Looking to immigrate from Brazil with your children? If you’re going the K-1 visa route, the K-2 visa may be a good option for your family. The K-2 visa can be used by the children of a K-1 fiancé visa holder to enter the United States and immigrate with their parent at the same time.

Boundless can help you include any unmarried children under the age of 21 on your K-1 fiancé visa application for no extra charge. Learn more about what we do to help.

IR-2 CHILD VISAS

If you’re a U.S. citizen and your child is living in Brazil, it may be possible to sponsor them for a green card through the IR-2 child visa process. More information on the process and requirements can be found in Boundless’ IR-2 guide.

Boundless can help you include your children on your green card application for just $450 per child. Check your family’s eligibility here.

U.S. Embassy Information

All immigrant visa applications in Brazil are processed at the U.S. Consulate in Rio de Janeiro:

U.S. Consulate Rio de Janeiro

Av. Presidente Wilson, 147 – Castelo

20030-020 – Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Phone: (55-21) 3823-2000

For questions regarding immigrant visas, applicants in Brazil can contact the U.S. Consulate in Rio de Janeiro directly via email at immigrationrio@state.gov. All emails are responded to within 3 business days.

Special Considerations

J-1/J-2 Visa Holders

If a Brazilian immigrant visa applicant has previously been a student in the U.S. under a J-1 visa or a dependent under a J-2 visa, they may be subject to a two-year residency requirement. A two-year residency requirement means that the applicant must first return for a two-year period to Brazil before reentering the U.S.. If an applicant wishes to return to the U.S. sooner than that on a K-1 visa or marriage green card, they first have to request an authorization from the Brazilian government and then they may request a waiver from the U.S. government. These authorizations need to be granted prior to receiving an immigrant visa. More information on the visa waiver can be found here.

ASC Biometrics

All Brazilian immigrant visa applicants are required to schedule a visit to an Applicant Service Center (ASC) to collect Biometrics (photo and fingerprints) prior to their visa interview at the U.S. Consulate General in Rio de Janeiro. The Biometrics photo at the ASC is independent from the photo required for the application process; applicants should still be sure to bring a separate passport photo to their visa interview. More information on the ASC locations can be found here.