Immigration is the terror of most travelers, there are people who even stop traveling to Europe or the United States because they think they are regions with stricter immigration and are scared to death of not being able to enter the country and be deported… calm down, people!! !! Immigration is far from being all these seven-headed animals that people paint around... you JUST need to have all the documents and proofs in hand, not lie under any circumstances (even if it seems like a silly little lie) and really have the intention of tourism ( if you do not enter the country with any other visa, work, student...)
Tips for going through immigration:
Immigration inspectors are not bad characters who want to send you back to your country and ruin your vacation, they just want to confirm that your intentions are really tourism and that you have the financial conditions to support yourself for the period. who will stay in his country.
In this way, we will give you all the tips and which documents you cannot fail to take with you to pass with peace of mind through any immigration in the world.
– Basic documents requested at any immigration:
VALID PASSPORT:
You need to have a valid passport to travel to almost every country in the world, with the exception of some in South America. As a general rule, your passport needs to be valid for at least six months at the time of boarding, that is, are you traveling in January? Your passport must at least be valid until July.
Therefore, before planning a trip, always check the validity of your passport to see if everything is ok or you will need to get a new one.
The United States, for example, does not oblige the Brazilian traveler to have a passport with a longer validity period. In this case, Brazil is part of the Six-Month Club, a list created by the US government. In it, travelers holding passports from the countries listed can enter the country with a passport that is valid for less than six months, provided that the date of return to the country of origin is still within the period in which the document remains valid.
VISAS:
Pay VERY close attention if your international flight connects in a country that requires a visa, even if you are just in transit you NEED a visa to enter that country. For example, I'm going to the Caribbean islands, where a visa is not required, just a valid passport, but my flight makes a connection in Miami, in the USA, where a visa for Brazilians is required... you MUST HAVE A valid VISA to travel through the USA , even for hours, without leaving the airport, and continue your journey to the Caribbean. Otherwise, in the case of the USA, you will miss your next flights without even being entitled to a refund. In some other countries, there is a possibility that you may be stuck in a room while waiting to board your final destination.
ROUND TRIP TICKET:
This is basically the document that the immigration inspector is MOST interested in… he may not ask you any additional questions but ask how long you will stay in the country, ahhhh that he will ask.
WHENEVER you buy a ticket out of the country, buy your return ticket as well. This is the most basic and most accurate tip I can give you.
If you're going to travel by plane, know that most airlines require the return ticket at the check-in counter here in Brazil (even if it's by another company, no problem), because for them the cost of leaving a passenger traveling without a return ticket and running the risk of being barred in the country of destination is huge!!!! It is the airline that bears its costs back and it is logical that they do not want to take that risk.
However, this airline requirement has no legal support, that is, this is not the law... in theory, you are not obliged to leave Brazil with a return ticket, but the probability of being stopped or having problems at the destination immigration is huge!
– Which passengers are exempt from buying the return ticket to Brazil?
– Holders of dual citizenship – one of which must be for the country of destination
– Foreign citizens;
– Foreigners holding an extended residence visa in the country of destination.
– I'm going to Europe, traveling through different countries and I don't know when I'll be back.
It doesn't matter, it's still important that you have that return ticket in hand, even if you need to reschedule it later.
Do not forget that in Europe, you do not need a visa but your stay is a maximum of 90 days within the countries of the Scheingen Treaty and another 90 days in countries outside the Treaty. Your return ticket obviously needs to obey these limits.
– Can you reschedule?
In most tariff profiles, it is possible to reschedule the ticket back to Brazil, but remember that the ticket is only valid for 1 year, that is, after that you lose the ticket.
– How much does it cost to reschedule?
Each airline has its own price, which can even vary according to high and low season.
-Can I ask for a refund?
Depending on the tariff profile you bought the ticket for, yes, but the refund of the ticket depends on what was written in the terms and conditions of each airline. Contact the airline or agency where you purchased the ticket directly to ask questions and request a refund.
– Avoid the No Show!
Even if you do not use and lose this airline ticket, it is always important to notify the airline of your no-show, as some charge a no-show fee, that is, if you simply decide that you are not going to use the ticket back to the Brazil, and not notify the airline, they may charge you a “fine” for not showing up.
FINANCIAL PROOF:
It may happen that the immigration inspector asks for your financial evidence to prove that you are really able to support yourself in that country for the period you intend to stay.
No need to take everything in cash!!!! He can even ask to see or count your notes yes (it even happened to me, at immigration in London), but you can have a small amount in cash and the rest on credit cards, bank balance or travel card. For this, always carry your updated bank statements.
Each country has a rule for the minimum amount required, but in Europe, for example, in general, the average is 65 euros per day of travel and per person.
Don't forget to unblock your international credit card before the trip, which is super easy, it can usually be done online and at some banks at an ATM.
ACCOMMODATION PROOF
Just like the air ticket, proof of accommodation is another SUPER common item to be asked for at immigration in any country, after all, they want to make sure that you are really entering the country for tourism and not as a possible illegal immigrant.
For this reason, book your accommodation in advance through Booking or another hotel reservation site… never arrive at immigration without a place to stay, much less lie saying that you will be staying in a place that has no reservation, it is common for officials to check this information .
If you are going to the home of friends or family, ask for a letter of invitation, which is a document saying that the host will receive you at their home. Each country has a rule regarding the letter of invitation, but in general, it is a simple, informal document that can only be made by residents of a certain country. This means that either the person is native to the place or he lives there, even if temporarily, maybe for studies or work but he needs to be legal in the country, there's no point in asking for an invitation letter from someone who has a tourist visa or someone who doesn't have all legalized housing documents yet.
INVITATION LETTER TEMPLATE:
Date and place
(full name of person who will receive you)
(full address of who will receive you)
(contact phone numbers of those who will receive you)
To the Immigration Officer/Consular Officer
Dear Mr. (The)
I, (name of person who will receive you), (marital status), (occupation), bearer of passport XXXXX, residing in (full address) and telephone (the number that is easiest to contact, in case the official needs it), declare for due and legal purposes I invite (your full name), (nationality), (profession), bearer of XXXX passport and resident at (full address) to visit me from XXX to XXX.
I am (friend, father, uncle…) of (your name) and I clarify that during the entire period of his/her stay in (city and country) I will receive him/her at my residence. (Your name) travels as a tourist and will finance his/her own trip.
Attached, I send my documents that prove my (nationality) or (my regular situation with immigration).
I am available for any clarifications that may be necessary.
Yours sincerely,
______________________________
Signature of who will receive you
Read also: Traveling abroad without English, is it possible?!!
VACCINES
Whenever traveling to international destinations, I suggest going to the Anvisa website to confirm if there is any vaccine requirement for the country you are going to. The site is constantly updated and so it is easier to get information correctly.
The Yellow Fever vaccine is one of the most demanded, mainly in countries in Africa, Asia and South America and for that you need to have the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (CIVP) that is provided by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária). Anvisa).
If you have not yet taken the yellow fever vaccine and are going to travel to a country that requires the certificate, remember to do so at least ten days before the trip, which is the maximum time allowed. This vaccine is free at any health post. Don't forget to take your national vaccination card or pick up a new one at the post. The stamp and signature of the health agent indicating the vaccine on your card is one of the documents required to obtain the CIVP. On the Anvisa website, you can also search if there is a registered health center in your city that already issues the CIVP right there to optimize your time. I did it here in Rio de Janeiro and if I'm not mistaken, the CIVP came out on the same day or the day after I took the vaccine.
– What if I can’t get the vaccine?
The Yellow Fever vaccine is contraindicated in case of pregnancy, people with diseases that cause changes in the immune system or who are allergic to chicken eggs. The vaccine is also not recommended for children younger than 6 months.
If you cannot get the Yellow Fever vaccine for some reason, you can ask your doctor to issue you a Vaccination Exemption Certificate. The document can also be issued at Anvisa posts, as long as you bring the medical certificate.