A common question for people who need to obtain or renew their visa during the pandemic. Visas have been a very complex issue, even for embassies and consulates. There are some exceptions regarding the suspension of this entry, which may include exceptions for legal permanent residents and many others.

Since the WHO (World Health Organization) declared a pandemic, the agencies have been faced with some issues that were new to all governments around the world, and the issue of international students is still being evaluated. Several countries are sending out different communications every day.

A visa is a conditional authorization granted by a foreign country that allows a person to enter, leave or remain within that country. The most common visas include time limits for foreigners to enter, the territory within a country they can enter and their dates.

Other forms of visas are for a number of visits that are permitted in a particular country or for the right for a person to study and work. Visas are linked to a person's permission to enter a country and in some countries, there are permissions that are quite different for a foreigner. In each case, a visa is subject to a permission and can be revoked at any time.

Information from the Brazilian embassy in the USA
The U.S. Embassy in Brazil has canceled routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa interviews. This cancellation applies to consulates in Brazil. There is no set date for the U.S. Embassy to resume all services, but the expectation is that all services will resume as soon as possible.

The fee paid to apply for a visa is valid for one year from the date of payment. Therefore, a new appointment can be scheduled within this time frame. If the traveler has an urgent matter in the US and needs to go there immediately, the recommendation is to contact the embassy.

All of these measures were taken because of the Coronavirus pandemic and there are already more than 9 million cases worldwide, with the number of people infected with this disease still growing in some countries, with people only being able to go out to buy medicine and food, go to a hospital or for other emergencies that may occur at the time of the proliferation of this virus.

US embassies and consulates remain open to serve US citizens abroad. The country recommends that those in the country do not travel abroad. The US has already adopted a series of restrictions for foreigners, banning flights from Europe and, together with the US government, closing the border with Canada.

Issuing visas during the pandemic in other countries
The Irish Immigration Service has temporarily suspended applications for new visas. Only cases deemed urgent will be assessed, such as visas for healthcare professionals, health researchers, professionals providing care for the elderly and immediate family members of Irish citizens.

In New Zealand, the government has closed the border to almost all travelers, reinforcing travel restrictions. On the official website, there is a statement that says the following: people who have work, student or visitor visas expiring between 02/04/2020 and 09/07/2020 will have their authorization automatically extended until 25/09/2020.

For the United States, this visa issuance is closed in Brazil and all
Interviews that have already been scheduled at the Consulates in Brasília, Porto Alegre, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo have been cancelled, with no date set for when they will be rescheduled. If the fee has already been paid, it will remain valid for up to 1 year from the date of payment, and can be rescheduled free of charge.

The Canadian consulate in Brazil will remain closed until April 13. The agency has already issued a statement informing that it will not be accepting new visa applications during this period. The decree was approved at the time to protect public health during the pandemic and to comply with local law. Its operation is subject to authorization from regulatory entities.

Countries that are part of the European Union will block the entry of travelers who live in places where the pandemic is not under control, such as Brazil, for example. Their borders are expected to reopen only from July 1st. In practice, this means that Brazilians are prevented from entering the European continent until our country has controlled the disease.

Embassies and consulates abroad
The places that are there to assist Brazilians abroad are called consulates and embassies. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, but in compliance with all the determinations of local authorities, many consular offices in Brazil have had to change their routines that were intended to serve the public.

The most recommended way to obtain information to obtain your visa is to consult the list of Brazilian consular offices abroad, so that you can check the opening hours for your external audience, as well as check the telephone numbers that are on duty at your unit, which is the closest to you, if you intend to obtain your visa during the pandemic.

This pandemic has led several countries to close and open their borders due to a new outbreak of this disease, leading these countries to adopt measures to prevent its spread. Therefore, always stay informed about all these news, to obtain your visa, at a time when everything can change from one moment to the next and following the occurrence of this virus.