Traveling to Brazil from the US

This page is for immigrants in the United States planning a trip to Brazil — whether for a home-country visit, family event, business travel, or relocation. We summarize the current US State Department travel advisory, US embassy location in Brazil, and key bilateral context that affects re-entry to the US.

US Embassy + diplomatic relations

Re-entry to the US after visiting Brazil

US permanent residents (green-card holders):

  • Trips under 6 months: normal re-entry process at port of entry
  • Trips 6 months to 1 year: may face questioning about abandonment of LPR status
  • Trips over 1 year: green card considered abandoned — apply for SB-1 returning resident visa at US embassy in Brazil BEFORE returning
  • Apply for Re-entry Permit (Form I-131) BEFORE departing if trip will be 1-2 years
  • A criminal record now raises reentry risk: after Blanche v. Lau (Supreme Court, June 2026), a border officer needs only a “reason to believe” you committed a crime involving moral turpitude — not clear and convincing proof — to treat you as seeking admission. With any conviction, pending charge, or arrest, consult an immigration attorney before you travel.

TPS holders, asylum applicants, DACA recipients:

  • MUST apply for Advance Parole (Form I-131) BEFORE leaving the US
  • Returning without Advance Parole may abandon your application/status
  • Some TPS holders may not be eligible for Advance Parole — consult attorney

US citizens:

  • US passport required (valid 6+ months past entry date in most countries)
  • Brazil visa: check with Brazil’s embassy in the US — many countries waive visa for US citizens or issue visa on arrival

Last verified: 2026-09-01. General procedural information — not legal or travel advice. Travel advisories change frequently; verify at travel.state.gov before planning. Brazil entry requirements change too; verify with Brazil’s embassy or consulate before traveling.

Re-entry deadlines, fees, and contacts (2025-2026)

USCIS Form I-131 (Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records) is used for a TPS Travel Authorization Document for TPS beneficiaries and for Advance Parole Documents in eligible categories, including certain asylum applicants and DACA recipients. Filing fee: $630 on paper, or $580 online where the category allows it (USCIS Form G-1055, edition 05/29/26); biometrics are included in the filing fee (USCIS removed the separate biometric services fee in 2024). Separately, the same fee schedule warns that with an approved Advance Parole Document, “each time you seek parole at a port of entry (POE), U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) will require you to pay an additional fee at the POE, unless they determine that you qualify for an exception” (the Pub. L. 119-21 Immigration Parole Fee). Processing time: USCIS publishes the time in which 80% of cases adjudicated in the past six months were completed, by category and office (live table below); emergency expedite available via USCIS Contact Center 1-800-375-5283 with documentation of urgent humanitarian need.

USCIS processing times — I-131

The time in which 80% of cases adjudicated in the past six months were completed, by category and office. Data from the official USCIS system (2026-08-06) · verify live

CategoryOffice80% complete within
Re-entry permit or refugee travel documentService Center Operations (SCOPS)16 Months
Advance paroleService Center Operations (SCOPS)23 Months

Re-entry Permit (Form I-131): approximately $630 for LPRs planning trips of 1-2 years (biometrics included in the filing fee). SB-1 Returning Resident Visa: approximately $180 application fee at US embassy abroad, required if LPR absent more than 1 year without I-131 Re-entry Permit. The 3-year and 10-year unlawful-presence bars under INA 212(a)(9)(B) apply to individuals who accrued 180+ days or 1+ year of unlawful presence before departing — consult an AILA-member immigration attorney BEFORE traveling if you have any prior unlawful presence.

The State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at step.state.gov is free; US citizens and LPRs can enroll for the country they’re visiting to receive emergency alerts and assist embassy contact if needed. US Embassy emergency line for US citizens abroad: 1-888-407-4747 (from US/Canada) or +1-202-501-4444 (from overseas, 24/7).

For passport services: routine US passport processing takes 4-6 weeks and expedited service 2-3 weeks (a $60 expedite fee on top of the application fee). Fees depend on the form: a first-time adult passport book on Form DS-11 is $165 ($130 application fee plus a $35 execution fee paid to the acceptance facility), while an adult renewal by mail or online on Form DS-82 is $130 with no execution fee. Two faster options exist and they are not the same thing. A life-or-death emergency appointment is for travel abroad in the next 14 days because an immediate family member outside the United States “has died, is dying or in hospice care, or has a life-threatening illness or injury”. Urgent travel service is an appointment at a passport agency or center when you are within 14 calendar days of your international travel date, or 28 days if you also need a foreign visa. Mailing adds up to 2 weeks each way on top of the processing time. Children under 16 require both-parent consent (Form DS-3053 if one parent absent). The DS-160 (nonimmigrant visa) and DS-260 (immigrant visa) are separate State Department systems — not used for US passports.

For port-of-entry processes (wait times, I-94 retrieval), use bwt.cbp.gov or CBP’s CBP Link app — the former CBP One app was discontinued in January 2025. Global Entry interview by appointment ($120 since October 2024, 5-year membership). Verify all current fees at travel.state.gov before paying.