Securing a stable union visa in the COVID age.

21POSTS

5 years ago

I am an American citizen and have been living in Rio since November when I went to visit my girlfriend and made a spontaneous decision to circumvent the impending NY winter and slowly move all my belongings to Brazil. I finally finished downsizing and all my things are in my apartment back in Rio so I鈥檇 like to think the hard part is over (haha). I鈥檓 currently back in NY (for the 6th time since December, real fun during the pandemic) trying to procure all the documents I鈥檓 going to need to present to the PF when that day comes. I鈥檝e gotten certified copies of my birth certificate which I will be sending off to be apostiled tomorrow and I was originally planning on going to have my fingerprints taken at USPS for the required background check but the closest location offering the fingerprinting service is in Jersey, which I would like to avoid if at all possible. I鈥檝e read conflicting information which I鈥檓 assuming is due to the change in law to streamline the process of applying for the stable union and similar visas about whether or not it鈥檚 acceptable to use an FBI approved channeler or this needs to be done directly with the fbi? Most of the information regarding channelers predates 2018 and several consulate sites state it鈥檚 not acceptable to use a channeler but I鈥檓 unsure if this is the same when applying for a stable union visa within Brasil and not a family reunification visa in the applicants country of origin? Secondly, when we were finally tying up everything and securing our new apartment, I wasn鈥檛 really thinking about the fact that my name didn鈥檛 appear on the lease. My signature is there as a witness but it鈥檚 only my girlfriends name that appears on the lease. I鈥檓 assuming this is going to present a problem and I won鈥檛 be able to use it to substantiate our claim of civil union?

I will be returning to Brasil tomorrow and have one more flight back here next month to collect the apostiled documents. There are currently 67 days remaining of my 180 day tourist limit so I just want to make sure I鈥檓 prepared and have everything in order to hopefully avoid flying back to the US again for the foreseeable future.

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abthree Brazil Expert

6427POSTS

5 years ago

Bpm917
04/26/21
Hi,

I can't understand how it could not be acceptable to use an Approved Channeler, because they give you exactly the same document that the FBI does,聽 on FBI letterhead.聽聽Can you point me at a consulate site that says that this is unacceptable?聽聽It's hard to imagine how they would even know.

Texanbrazil ViP

2744POSTS

5 years ago

Many use channelers and we recommend them to many. Once presented to PF or Consulate, how are they going to know?

abthree Brazil Expert

6427POSTS

5 years ago

One thought.聽聽Channelers offer the choice of receiving a hard copy, a digital copy,聽 or both; naturally, the "both" option costs more.聽 Nevertheless, that's the option you want, because the Brazilian authorities will require the hard copy.聽 If you get it apostilled using a service, the service can work with the digital copy, and will return a second hard copy to you, with apostille.

Bpm917 Member

21POSTS

5 years ago

Oddly enough, I decided to just bite the bullet and go with fingerprinting at USPS and after submitting the application it showed three locations in NYC which when searching the list of locations prior to applying didn't appear as offering the service.

Of course now I'm having difficulties finding the consulate site that says they do not accept channelers. I will go through my history and try to find you a link tonight. Thanks for the help, I'm rushing to finish all of this today!

Texanbrazil ViP

2744POSTS

5 years ago

Still do not understand:
From BR Consulate in NYC
C. FBI Background Check issued within the last 3 months (request may be submitted to an FBI-approved channeler);

abthree Brazil Expert

6427POSTS

5 years ago

Bpm917
04/28/21
Good news!聽 I hope it goes well for you.

On your other question, the Federal Police may accept an affidavit from your partner affirming your relationship;聽 that's at their option.聽 They'll definitely accept a utility bill in your name.聽 If you have a CPF (a Brazilian taxpayer ID, which you can get easily and quickly at the Receita Federal, and should get ASAP, if you don't have one), you can just change the electric bill over to your name from your partner's, or even open an account for broadband in your name at that address.

WRT to the consulates and FBI Approved Channelers, by all means, wait until you have your documents together to research聽 it.聽聽

聽 If true, it would be an important change that we'd want to inform people about here.聽 But several consulates have refused to accept visa applications from agents during the pandemic, and it's possible that you just misread that announcement.