Visa nightmare - please help!
Replies: 29 - Last Post: Mar 1, 2013 9:42 AM Last Post By: DeeplyDippy
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15
On another thread about an inablity of the Brazilian Consulates in the U.S. to issue visas because of lack of supplies, I believe the OP mentioned that his airline stated it would refund the fare if he could not obtain a visa. Worth checking with your airline. At least you might not be out that money.16
That would be nice, amobr82, but Brazil requires a visa for citizens of the US to the order of 100+ usd before they board the airplane. A retaliation for the US requiring visas for Brazilians at the same price.17
So you think it would not be applicable because this OP can travel to Mexico, albeit as a tourist?OK, did not really think about that when posting. Sorry.
18
No apologizes necessary. Brazil is one of very few countries requiring a visa for US citizens. Part of the ritual at immigration for US citizens is getting fingerprinted. One airline pilot refused this and spend the night in a Brazilian jail.19
It is not exactly retaliation. It is called a reciprocity policy. Brazil applies the same policies to U.S. citizens that the U.S. does to its citizens.20
I have traveled extensively in Mexico. All you need is your passport to get into Mexico. You could work on the Visa once you are there. When you initially enter don't tell officials you are going to be working simply state "Tourist" and follow up later on for Visa. Work and Business Visas take weeks or more to obtain. I have helped co-workers get them in the past. Things move slowly in Mexico. Good Luck22
I can't speak to the visa issue (what a nightmare, you have my sympathy OP!) but with regards to changing the date on the airline ticket-what airline are you flying? In my experience, if you call up the airline and tell them you need to change your flight but don't know the new date of your flight, they will just cancel the ticket and issue you a credit, (minus a ticket change penalty, and adjusted for the cost of the new ticket). I have done this before. So in theory, you should be able to just inform the airline that you need to cancel that flight and they will issue you a reference number for the credit. The credit is usually good for 1 year. So when you finally get the visa sorted out, you can call them back and re-book the ticket. Again, you will be charged a ticket change fee, and if the new ticket is more expensive than the old ticket you will have to pay the difference. But you shouldn't have to give the airline a new date immediately in order to cancel the old ticket.
I have done this with British Airways and Aeromexico and it always worked fine. Not sure what airline you're flying, but it's worth a try. Good luck!
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" Part of the ritual at immigration for US citizens is getting fingerprinted. One airline pilot refused this and spend the night in a Brazilian jail."#19-- That incident happened years ago and the fingerprinting and photo policy was in force for only a couple of months. It has not been required for years.The press in the U.S. made it into a much bigger deal than even the staff at passport control in Brazil.
And what do you think would happen if you gave the finger to a U.S. border official (as the pilot did to the Brazilian one)?
And not to hijack the thread entirely, good luck to the OP in resolving the situation
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If you really have to change your flights and it's going to cost the proverbial arm and leg to change the outbound flight, have a look at Flythomascook's flights through Travel Supermarket - I'm due to take up a one way to Cancun on the 11th - the price made up my mind r.e. Mexico City or Cancun - £216 including all taxes and I could get a direct flight out of Manchester. Hopefully you wouldn't have to go down this route, but it might be an option for someone else....27
Hi all. Thanks for all your advice.I'm pretty sure this is not a scam but a legit university. No money has changed hands at all.
Just checking - when you ask if my employer has sponsored me, do you mean have they applied to immigration for me etc? If so, the answer is yes.
I called INM with the help of a friend who's fluent in Spanish - they just kept repeating that I'll get a number in 15-20 days and could not to confirm whether there will be a delay over Christmas (which i am sure there will)
I called the Mexican consulate in London (which deals with visas) and was told it is only closed for a few days over Christmas and New Year, so I think the plan now is to change my flight to the end of January and hope for the best...
Once again, thanks for your help.
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Hi Deceptacon,I noticed this message you put up on the forum. I am also considering applying for a job at this university. Would you recommend it in terms of the job itself, as well as life in the town? I can't find that much information on the town itself.....obviously it's very small but is it still a reasonably sociable place to live?
Thanks!
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