Moving To Brazil To Live With My Girlfriend

09/23/22 TecoCherry, those are the steps, but not in that order. I'll get into your numbered questions, and then we'll talk about documentation.

1 Yes. You can come for 90 days on the visa waiver program. Since you've already been here for 90 days in the past 365 days, you won't be able to extend, so have to get all your paperwork in before your 90 day visa waiver expires. Be careful not to overstay, or things will get complicated. You may get some pushback with a one-way ticket. Consider a round trip with an open return.

2 Cartório first, THEN Federal Police. I'll explain below.

3 Yes, a lot but it's manageable

4 No real trouble at the airports, no.

5 You should go to the Federal Police office responsible for the city where you plan to live, or where your girlfriend lives now, if you'll be staying there while you get your paperwork done. If she doesn't know where that is, you can find it on the PF website.

6 No problem in the airport, and while you're working on the união estável and the PF registration you and your GF should be joined at the hip, so no problem there, either.

7 You should try to get everything done in your first 90 days, because you've already used up your first 90 days. If the PF accept your application to stay before your 90 days are up, you're golden; if not then yes, you'll probably have to leave. So staying organized and efficient is crucial

8 You'll need an official Sworn Translator. Your GF should search for "Traduções Juramentadas" in her area, and they'll pop up. There are also online services, which I'll discuss later.

9 You need the criminal background check from the British authorities, it needs an apostille, and it will need a Sworn Translation. On that and any other documents, try to have duplicate originals if at all possible.

I'll send this now while I work on the documentation, so you can start digesting it. Welcome! 😃

09/23/22  Documents for Family Unification on the Basis of Stable Union

This is a two-step process in a case like yours:  first document your união estável at a cartório, a notary office in your girlfriend's hometown, then apply to the Polícia Federal (PF) for residency on the basis of the união estável.  I'm not trying to tell you what to do one way or another, but understand that this may not work if the PF decide that they don't believe your brand new união estável:  they have broad discretion.  Making sure that the two of you ALWAYS talk to the PF together, and that the Brazilian mate does most of the talking when it makes sense will help a lot.  What would really help would be being married.

Okay, with that out of the way, here's what you'll need to do:

1 União Estável -- each of you will have to provide to the cartório

• your identification documents
• CPFs -- Brazilian taxpayer ID.  If you don't have one, get one.  You can get them online -- contact the Brazilian Consulate
• your birth certificates.  Yours should have an apostille and Sworn Translation
• you'll probably have to fill out a form with all your vital statistics/identifying information
• if you've been married before, you're going to have to provide proof of your divorce or the of the death of your previous spouse.  If this is the case, we can discuss it in further questions.
• you'll need two witnesses over 18 years old, known to both of you but not relatives of either of you. They'll need to provide IDs, CPFs, and identifying info as well

The cartório may well require other documents.  Your girlfriend should go to the cartório ASAP and find out exactly what documents they'll need from you, and how long after your arrival the process can be completed.  If all your documents are in order, expect it to take two to four weeks, however, every cartório is different.

2 Authorization for Residency on the Basis of Family Unification (Reunião Familiar na base de União Estável)

Documents you'll need to present to the PF:

• Application form completed online
• 1 3x4 passport-style photo, color, white background, smooth paper, no glasses or masks
• email address
• proof of home address -- they may accept your girlfriend's, since you'll be living together
• birth certificate, with apostille and Sworn Translation.  Must show the names of both of your parents; if it doesn't you'll need an official document that does, with apostille and Sworn Translation.
• Criminal background check from country of residence/citizenship for the last five years, with apostille and Sworn Translation
• Certificate of União Estável from the cartório
• A cartório-authenticated copy of your girlfriend's Brazilian ID card
• A sworn statement from your girlfriend that she lives in Brazil
• A joint declaration from both of you that you will continue the relationship
• Proof of payment of the application fees

The Portuguese checklist, with links to the forms for the sworn statements, etc, appears here:

(https://www.gov.br/pf/pt-br/assuntos/im … o-familiar)

Keep in mind that these are the minimum requirements; the PF can request any other documents that they want, There will be a certain amount of suspicion because of the newness of the relationship, but they're reasonable people, and your girlfriend has the right to have you in the country with her.  That's why her presence is so vital:  from the PF's point of view, this process is about HER rights, not yours.

You'll have more questions.  We're here to help.  Best of luck.

@TecoCherry ,

abthree has you on the right track. As said you will need your girlfriend with you when visiting the PF and cartorio. Stable Unions are accepted but are looked at closely.

One idea is to have a CPF, try to get s cell phone plan, and use her address once in Brasil. It may help show your intention to live in Brazil. PF offices and Consulates do have "checklists" for you to follow.

abthree will help with documents. Try to do as much as you can in the UK.

Good luck.

As usual, the first two are correct. Might I add, you can get your CPF now, and I would do that. Also, I doubt you will be able to open a "joint" bank account until you have legal status in Brazil, they are very sticky about that.

Welcome Teco!

I see that our foremost Gurus have offered you their usual sage advice. These guys know their stuff.

One thing I might add. I'm not prying into your personal life but...I trust you have your financial situation in order. The reason I mention this, is we get a lot of people on this forum asking about how to find a job in Brazil. The short answer is that it's just about impossible for a Gringo to get any sort of employment. So just be aware that life there can be very difficult for someone who doesn't understand how things are done.

With all this being said, good luck and I hope things work out for you.

I like Brazilian girls too. I like them so much I married one 14 years ago.

can a "sworn translation" be done in Brazil on my apostiled birth certificate? the translation in the US is a lot more expensive and I rather have them translate what they nee din Brazil directly?

09/28/22 can a "sworn translation" be done in Brazil on my apostiled birth certificate? the translation in the US is a lot more expensive and I rather have them translate what they nee din Brazil directly?
-@jabbaworks

Welcome, jabbaworks.  Not only can it be, it should be. "Sworn Translation" has a very specific meaning in Brazil. It's a translation performed and certified by a Sworn Translator who has passed a competitive examination in the language and been appointed to the post by the Junta Comercial of the the state in which s/he works. Since 1916, public authorities like the Polícia Federal have been under instruction to receive translations for every document in a foreign language, except passports, presented to them for official action, and to only accept translations from duly appointed Sworn Translators. If a foreign translator can't provide proof of that appointment, the translation and the underlying document will be rejected.

Hello,

I appreciate your team efforts to answer this person's inquiry, and so expertly. I have a very similar or even same question, but.... I know you all put so much work into these responses, but I hope and pray that you'll understand people are different and function differently. I understand many things, but sometimes the stresses I have, the lack of sleep and oxygen, mood, etc. can impact me in a moment of trying to absorb or decipher something. Although I'm very good at this normally, and very savvy, etc. Things are just different for me now. So, with that said, I am hoping and praying that you wouldn't mind answer my version of this question for me in a simple 123... basic style. When it has come to figuring out the steps to all of this, it's been very confusing, even for my fiance. That's correct, I have a fiance there, and we are sick of being apart while awaiting this I-129f process which hasn't even made progress since Aug 22'. Not to mention, they got sick of me asking questions when I finally figured out how to get them on the phone, which took months of research.

So, we're in the stages of this I-129F process. I am now willing to move there temporarily while she may be getting a new and better job, so that she can work there for 6mos to a year. Then, we go back to orig plans of coming here to U.S.

side question>>>2 scenarios here, If I go and we marry there, or if I go and we continue original plans and marry here upon return. Does one complicate or lengthen the time frame for our process. Marrying would eliminate the I-129F application and we'd have to file the other one for an actual (married) spouse or something right?

Coming from the U.S.

took 6 trips in the last year there none longer than 9 days.

Kept all documentation or emails of the travels for proof.

Original plan was to wait this out and she would come here.

New plan is that I MAY go there to stay for 1-2yrs, and then we come here, married or marrying upon arrival.

Please let me know in order and which country to do what and what is the time frame I'm looking at? I'm still searching that answer again, for the 100th time. I also heard that as of Oct the U.S. will be required to have a visa to visit anyways. Since we never removed this provision for brazilians.

Please help me, for me to understand in a way that is best for me currently...Been through a lot, I really appreciate it if you experts don't mind. Thank you.

***fyi, when I was calling about the I-129F process, I tried 2x to get it expedited for humanitarian reasons, which they denied without even asking additional questions or proof. They they threatened that if I asked about any questions again, they would ignore them.... wow. Didn't know that was an option for "customer service". So wrong.

06/05/23 @justinluvwmylady.  Good evening.  I can't counsel you on the K-1 visa process for the United States; maybe some others here can.  As for getting married in Brazil and living here while you're waiting, we may be able to help.

You can come here to get married.  Once you're married, you can apply to the Federal Police for residency, and it should be granted.  Until then, though, you'll be here on a tourist visa, and your time will be limited; you'll need to celebrate the marriage and get your residency application in to the Federal Police before your visa expires.  So you and your fiancée will want to have as much as possible planned and scheduled in advance, and you should arrive here with all of the documents you'll need.

I read the US Embassy website on visas the same way you do, that if you get married here while your I-129F is still pending, you will have to re-submit everything based on your wife's new status.  But as you say, you'll be married and together.

Some questions to help me give you better advice:

• around when would you plan to return to Brazil to get married?
• within the 12 months prior to your planned return, what were the dates and duration of your trips to Brazil?
• will your US passport be valid for at least a year after your hoped-for wedding date?
• will you, your fiancée, and your fiancée's family want a religious wedding, or a civil wedding?
• does your fiancée have a valid tourist visa for the United States?

Don't worry:  with patience and some work on your part, this is all quite doable.

If we choose not to marry there...what about the other plan? For me to stay there for 1-2yrs and then return here with her and marry here if the I-129F process went smoothly.

What are my, our steps then? For me to get over there, become a temporary resident for 1-2yrs? In lamens terms of steps 1, 2, 3, etc.?

@abthree

sorry, replied above to your reply, but forgot to include you.

  around when would you plan to return to Brazil to get married?

I'd like to get the ball rolling now, and hopefully be wrapped up in the 2mos tops if possible. It's already been a while. In 1mo would be even better (if I am even ready that soon, but to have that availability would be great as an option).

The original plan was to marry here in U.S., not sure if this plan changes as I plan to go there for 1-2yrs.

  within the 12 months prior to your planned return, what were the dates and duration of your trips to Brazil?

Each of my 6 trips were since 6 of last year, 5-9 days at most per trip. Lat trip was in April 23'

  will your US passport be valid for at least a year after your hoped-for wedding date?

Yes, I've got about 8-9yrs left on it I believe

  will you, your fiancée, and your fiancée's family want a religious wedding, or a civil wedding?

Not sure, but we are religious. I'm not sure what the difference will be, great question. I don't know if there is a custom to each that is "special".

  does your fiancée have a valid tourist visa for the United States?

No, once approve for I-129F she will apply for all of these things. Money is very limited there for her doing all things by herself. So we can't spend without knowing things for certain, or great odds.

Thank you.

06/05/23 If we choose not to marry there...what about the other plan? For me to stay there for 1-2yrs and then return here with her and marry here if the I-129F process went smoothly.
What are my, our steps then? For me to get over there, become a temporary resident for 1-2yrs? In lamens terms of steps 1, 2, 3, etc.?
-@Justinluvwmylady

You can't stay in Brazil for more than six months a year without being married to a Brazilian, unless you qualify for some other immigrant visa. Waiting in Brazil for the I-129F process to go through and then doing everything in the US stops being a realistic option unless both the I-129F process and the visa process are completed before your tourist visa expires.

I just read your answers.  They're helpful,  thanks.  I'll write again in the morning.

06/06/23 @justinluvwmylady.  Here are the documents you'll need to get married.  References are to sites in Portuguese:  you can read them through Google Translate, and should definitely share them with your fiancée.  I have further detail that not many other people may be interested in, but I've written up and can share by direct message if you like:

DOCUMENTS FOR MARRIAGE (Ref. https://www.casamentocivil.com.br/)

Foreign partner:

•    Passport and valid visa showing entry stamp for current arrival in Brazil.

•    Original birth certificate, apostilled and translated.  Must show names of parents.

•    Declaration of Marital Status if never married.  This can be done at the Cartório

•    Previously married people must provide original Marriage Certificates and original Divorce Decrees or Death Certificates, apostilled and translated, to prove the termination(s) of previous marriage(s)

Brazilian partner:

•    Identity card – RG

•    Original Birth Certificate

•    Previously married people must provide original Marriage Certificates and original Divorce Decrees or Death Certificates, apostilled and translated, to prove the termination(s) of previous marriage(s)

You will also need to select a “Regime de Bens”, a distribution of assets, when you apply for the Marriage License.  The most common is “Comunhão Parcial de Bens”, under which each partner maintains ownership of their pre-marriage assets, and all assets acquired after the marriage are owned jointly.  Other options are available.

06/06/23  @justinluvwmylady.  Here are the documents that you'll need to apply for residency in Brazil after you're married:

DOCUMENTS FOR RESIDENCY (Ref. https://www.gov.br/mj/pt-br/assuntos/se … residencia)

•    Passport

•    Two photos 3x4 cm

•    Original Birth certificate, with apostille and Sworn Translation

•    Proof of payment of required fees for application process and issue of CRNM

•    Completion of online application

•    FBI Criminal Background Check, with apostille and Sworn Translation

•    Sworn statement of no criminal record in other countries during past five years (may not be required)

•    Original Marriage Certificate

•    Identity Card – RG, of Brazilian on whose behalf residency will be granted.

•    Declaration, under penalty of law, that the Brazilian partner resides in Brazil

06/06/23 @justinluvwmylady.  If you prepare really well in the US, have ALL your documents complete and correct, and there are no complications on your fiancée's end, I estimate that you can arrive on August 1, be married by September 23, have your application for residency in by October 20, and have your CRNM by around November 20.  The timeline, which could be shorter if things go well, would look like this:

TIMELINE

August 1 – Arrive

August 2 – Begin Sworn Translations; while this is going on, check church availability if a religious wedding is planned

August 16 – Sworn Translations completed

August 17 – Request Marriage License at Cartório

September 18 – Marriage License issued by Cartório.  Some Cartórios may be willing to shorten the waiting period to as few as 15 days, but many will insist on the full thirty. A wedding at the Cartório can be scheduled at this time, and the Marriage Certificate will be provided after the ceremony.  For a religious wedding, the Cartório will issue a Marriage License document which the couple will deliver to the clergy at the religious institution.  The wedding will take place as scheduled with the religious institution, the clergy will complete the information on the License, and the couple will return the completed document to the Cartório.  The Cartório will issue the Marriage Certificate within 16 days.

October 9 (assuming a September 23 religious wedding and receipt of the Marriage Certificate) Start Federal Police Residency Process online.

October 20 (approx.) Interview at Federal Police, final presentation of documents, and acceptance of application.  At this point, days stop being counted against your tourist visa, and you can no longer be charged with overstaying. 

November 20 (approx.) You’ll return to the Federal Police to pick up your CRNM.

@abthree

Wow....I've only briefly looked at the replies, because I'm not on break yet from work...I never have much time:(, always squeezing. But man...your replies are great, helpful, awesome, and I can tell will really help. You know your stuff. I appreciate of of those 3 replies which I got to read sum to half/most of each for now.

My goal, with or without the marriage, right now is to let go there to live with her for the next 1-2yrs. That is what I'm trying to accomplish in the next month or so. Is that realistic as a time frame or no, and is there difficulty with that? What type of visa is that considered exactly? A 1-2yr stay only, then returning to u.s., u mentioned if I was looking to have the i-129f and visa done while there isn't as realistic I think??? Based on a tourist visa however... but I'd need a visa that allows me the 1-2yr stay.

My goal, with or without the marriage, right now is to let go there to live with her for the next 1-2yrs. That is what I'm trying to accomplish in the next month or so. Is that realistic as a time frame or no, and is there difficulty with that? What type of visa is that considered exactly? A 1-2yr stay only, then returning to u.s., u mentioned if I was looking to have the i-129f and visa done while there isn't as realistic I think??? Based on a tourist visa however... but I'd need a visa that allows me the 1-2yr stay.
-@Justinluvwmylady

"A 1-2yr stay" in Brazil on a tourist visa is not permitted, and trying it will cause you problems that will get worse the longer you stay.  If you qualify for a Digital Nomad visa, you can do that and work (as long as all your income comes from abroad) and live legally.  Otherwise, based on the information in your posts, your options seem to be to come here, get married, become a legal resident (which will let you work and earn money in Brazil) and re-apply for a Spousal Visa rather than a Fiancée Visa to the US, or to continue waiting there for the Fiancée Visa to come through. 

My goal, with or without the marriage, right now is to let go there to live with her for the next 1-2yrs. That is what I'm trying to accomplish in the next month or so. Is that realistic as a time frame or no, and is there difficulty with that? What type of visa is that considered exactly? A 1-2yr stay only, then returning to u.s., u mentioned if I was looking to have the i-129f and visa done while there isn't as realistic I think??? Based on a tourist visa however... but I'd need a visa that allows me the 1-2yr stay.
-@Justinluvwmylady

"A 1-2yr stay" in Brazil on a tourist visa is not permitted, and trying it will cause you problems that will get worse the longer you stay. If you qualify for a Digital Nomad visa, you can do that and work (as long as all your income comes from abroad) and live legally. Otherwise, based on the information in your posts, your options seem to be to come here, get married, become a legal resident (which will let you work and earn money in Brazil) and re-apply for a Spousal Visa rather than a Fiancée Visa to the US, or to continue waiting there for the Fiancée Visa to come through.
-@abthree

Those are the only 2 visa options for me, for this time frame??

And what I come, and won't be working at the moment, here or there?

Because I've read here that it's almost impossible for an American to find work there?

Still, any advice for remote work inside brazil  for Americans?

06/05/23 If we choose not to marry there...what about the other plan? For me to stay there for 1-2yrs and then return here with her and marry here if the I-129F process went smoothly.
What are my, our steps then? For me to get over there, become a temporary resident for 1-2yrs? In lamens terms of steps 1, 2, 3, etc.?
-@Justinluvwmylady
You can't stay in Brazil for more than six months a year without being married to a Brazilian, unless you qualify for some other immigrant visa. Waiting in Brazil for the I-129F process to go through and then doing everything in the US stops being a realistic option unless both the I-129F process and the visa process are completed before your tourist visa expires.

I just read your answers. They're helpful, thanks. I'll write again in the morning.
-@abthree

So if I come and marry there on a 90 day visa, will be able to do the other steps to stay in time if moving through steps as best we can before it expires? If it were expiring, I could ask to extend it another 90days correct? Does my other 6 trips count against the 6mos already?

06/06/23 -@abthree
So if I come and marry there on a 90 day visa, will be able to do the other steps to stay in time if moving through steps as best we can before it expires? If it were expiring, I could ask to extend it another 90days correct? Does my other 6 trips count against the 6mos already?
-@Justinluvwmylady

Yes, if you arrive totally prepared and get busy immediately, you should have enough time to get married and get your residency application accepted during your 90 days plus extension.  Remember, once your application is accepted, the clock on your tourist visa stops.  Any delays at the Federal Police don't count against you.

Whether your previous trips count against the 180 days that you're allowed depends on how long ago they took place prior to your next arrival.  If, for example, you arrive in Brazil on August 1, 2023, any days you used during the preceding 365 days will be deducted from the 180.  So in this scenario, any days you used prior to August 1, 2022 won't count against you, any days you used from that date forward will.  The way it usually goes is that you'll get 90 days when you arrive, and then when you go to extend, those days will be deducted from your second 90 days. 

06/06/23  And what I come, and won't be working at the moment, here or there?
Because I've read here that it's almost impossible for an American to find work there?
Still, any advice for remote work inside brazil for Americans?
-@Justinluvwmylady

If you're not working, you won't be violating the labor laws, which is a good thing.

The job market in Brazil is lousy for just about anyone right now.  If you're legal and can't find anything else, you can probably at least find students who want to learn English from a native speaker.  It doesn't usually pay much, but it's something and schools that won't hire illegals might be willing to hire you.

I have no idea about remote work opportunities, or how they fit with your particular skill set.  If you're in IT, pulse your contacts in the industry:  there may be contract work that you can pick up and do just about anywhere.

06/06/23 And what I come, and won't be working at the moment, here or there?
Because I've read here that it's almost impossible for an American to find work there?
Still, any advice for remote work inside brazil for Americans?
-@Justinluvwmylady

If you're not working, you won't be violating the labor laws, which is a good thing.

The job market in Brazil is lousy for just about anyone right now. If you're legal and can't find anything else, you can probably at least find students who want to learn English from a native speaker. It doesn't usually pay much, but it's something and schools that won't hire illegals might be willing to hire you.

I have no idea about remote work opportunities, or how they fit with your particular skill set. If you're in IT, pulse your contacts in the industry: there may be contract work that you can pick up and do just about anywhere.
-@abthree

If I was working (where? here or there) how would I be violating the labor laws, as you mentioned??

And come tax season, would I need to do anything different? If I loved in brazil, only worked here previous to moving to brazil, and then tax season rolled around for 2023 year.

@abthree

Yes please message me the further details.

I'm preparing to obtain a divorce cert, marriage cert (I'll need to have those translated in brazil right??) I will apply for a CPF now as well, and read through your replies some more to see what I need to collect now before I make an attempt to go.

06/06/23 -@abthree
So if I come and marry there on a 90 day visa, will be able to do the other steps to stay in time if moving through steps as best we can before it expires? If it were expiring, I could ask to extend it another 90days correct? Does my other 6 trips count against the 6mos already?
-@Justinluvwmylady

Yes, if you arrive totally prepared and get busy immediately, you should have enough time to get married and get your residency application accepted during your 90 days plus extension. Remember, once your application is accepted, the clock on your tourist visa stops. Any delays at the Federal Police don't count against you.

Whether your previous trips count against the 180 days that you're allowed depends on how long ago they took place prior to your next arrival. If, for example, you arrive in Brazil on August 1, 2023, any days you used during the preceding 365 days will be deducted from the 180. So in this scenario, any days you used prior to August 1, 2022 won't count against you, any days you used from that date forward will. The way it usually goes is that you'll get 90 days when you arrive, and then when you go to extend, those days will be deducted from your second 90 days.
-@abthree

My 6 trips have been since June of last year until April thus far, averaging (miraculously and I don't even know how I've done it...it's love) about every 2mos I presume. I was going in July, but...if I will end up there for good, I can postpone a little, but it'd be nice to be there by then. Cutting it close huh? I know. I still have to give up the apartment, car etc. Which, by-the-way...if I wanted to bring my vehicle, how would I do so, Cargo ship? Is it really costly, or worth it? Would I have a hard time getting a car worked on, or would it be hard to trust just anyone with working on the car? It's a regular ole' car. I'm going to put the squeeze on my job to let me work remotely, but if they don't...I'm looking elsewhere for remote, so that I can help living expenses while there, especially if the u.s. dollar is still planning to fall to the chinese yen.

06/06/23 @justinluvwmylady.  You really don't even want to try to bring a car to Brazil.  See this thread:

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=672766

06/06/23 @justinluvwmylady. You really don't even want to try to bring a car to Brazil. See this thread:https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=672766-@abthreeThanks, once again really helpful. I read all but maybe the last 5 replies. Not even thinking of it now. lol. I've scribbled down painfully the steps of before to do list and after arrival to do list. Definitely will have to rewrite it. Where can I legitimately apply for CPF? I need to do this before I go right? I don't think your steps really spoke of CPF....?

06/06/23 @justinluvwmylady. Here are the documents you'll need to get married. References are to sites in Portuguese: you can read them through Google Translate, and should definitely share them with your fiancée. I have further detail that not many other people may be interested in, but I've written up and can share by direct message if you like:
DOCUMENTS FOR MARRIAGE (Ref. https://www.casamentocivil.com.br/)

Foreign partner:
•  Passport and valid visa showing entry stamp for current arrival in Brazil.
•  Original birth certificate, apostilled and translated. Must show names of parents.
•  Declaration of Marital Status if never married. This can be done at the Cartório
•  Previously married people must provide original Marriage Certificates and original Divorce Decrees or Death Certificates, apostilled and translated, to prove the termination(s) of previous marriage(s)

Brazilian partner:
•  Identity card – RG
•  Original Birth Certificate
•  Previously married people must provide original Marriage Certificates and original Divorce Decrees or Death Certificates, apostilled and translated, to prove the termination(s) of previous marriage(s)

You will also need to select a “Regime de Bens”, a distribution of assets, when you apply for the Marriage License. The most common is “Comunhão Parcial de Bens”, under which each partner maintains ownership of their pre-marriage assets, and all assets acquired after the marriage are owned jointly. Other options are available.
-@abthree

So, before I order these certs, I want to make sure. I should be ordering it now, here in u.s., then I will be taking it somewhere (here or in brazil, and to what kind of place or person do I seek out) to have it apostilled and translated? Will anyone along the way try to keep my originals that have been apostilled and translated, before I have a chance to provide it to others in the process after? Leaving me to need to obtain these again? You know how sometimes agencies try to keep the originals, well, kind of. They will just make copies of this, correct?

I want to thank you for giving me a lot of hope. I've got lots to do in terms of actually doing the work, figuring out job move/status, selling off my things if possible, letting go of apartment when certain I can go, other arrangements... But having answers and direction is critical, so thank you.

06/07/23  @justinluvwmylady.  Your idea of making up checklists is a very good one.  Do them on a computer so that you can add to them as you think of things. 

Most of the documents you should order ASAP.  Your FBI Criminal Background Check, however, you should get about a month before you travel.  the Federal Police want them to be no more than 90 days old.  They will accept them a little older, but you don't want it to be TOO old.  Check turnaround times with both the FBI itself and with Authorized Chanelers.  All the information is on the FBI website.

06/07/23@Justinluvwmylady  This is important information.  You should read it several times.

The Marriage Process at the Notary Office, the Cartório, and the Authorization for Residency Process at the Federal Police are separate processes.  You can do a lot of the prep work in tandem, but the Marriage Process provides a necessary input for your Authorization for Residency from the Federal Police, so it must be completed first.   You should definitely share this information, and all I've posted in the past few days, with your fiancée.  Your fiancée, who will then be your wife, should go with you to your meetings with the Federal Police.

PREPARATION

The better you prepare before you go to Brazil, the fewer problems you’ll have there.  You’re going to need to gather documents for both the Cartório and the Federal Police, and will need originals for both and apostilles on all of them.  I always recommend obtaining at least three duplicate originals if possible, one for the Cartório, one for the Federal Police, and one for your own records.

An apostille is a verification from a governmental authority that a document is genuine.  Apostilles for state documents usually come from the Secretary of State’s Office of the relevant state, apostilles for federal documents – including your FBI Background Check come from the Authentication Office of the US Department of State in Washington, DC.  I recommend getting the apostilles from your state of residence yourself; there are companies that will get you the federal apostille and apostilles from other states for a fee. 

Never separate a document and its apostille once the apostille is attached:  doing so will invalidate both.  Make any copies or scans of a document BEFORE it receives its apostille.  Apostilles are attached to the front of the document, so you normally can copy or scan the apostille without damaging it.

Passports do not normally require apostilles or Sworn Translations.  Sworn Translations are prepared in Brazil, so do not need apostilles.

I suggest a simple eight-folder system to keep your documents organized.  They would be,

Four Cartório Folders – Originals and Apostilles for presentation; Duplicate Originals; Copies and Scans; Miscellaneous

Four Federal Police Folders -- Originals and Apostilles for presentation; Duplicate Originals; Copies and Scans; Miscellaneous

Don’t throw anything out until you have your Resident Identity Card, your CRNM.  Put any documents that the Cartório or the PF give you in the “Miscellaneous” folder.  Keep your Sworn Translations with the Apostilled Documents.

You will need to make some initial submissions in Brazil electronically, so you should have an Internet-capable laptop with you, and scans of all your documents on the hard drive.  If you don’t and will be using your fiancée’s computer, it would be good practice to have scans of all your documents with you on a jump drive.

06/07/23@Justinluvwmylady This is important information. You should read it several times.
The Marriage Process at the Notary Office, the Cartório, and the Authorization for Residency Process at the Federal Police are separate processes. You can do a lot of the prep work in tandem, but the Marriage Process provides a necessary input for your Authorization for Residency from the Federal Police, so it must be completed first.  You should definitely share this information, and all I've posted in the past few days, with your fiancée. Your fiancée, who will then be your wife, should go with you to your meetings with the Federal Police.

PREPARATION

The better you prepare before you go to Brazil, the fewer problems you’ll have there. You’re going to need to gather documents for both the Cartório and the Federal Police, and will need originals for both and apostilles on all of them. I always recommend obtaining at least three duplicate originals if possible, one for the Cartório, one for the Federal Police, and one for your own records.

An apostille is a verification from a governmental authority that a document is genuine. Apostilles for state documents usually come from the Secretary of State’s Office of the relevant state, apostilles for federal documents – including your FBI Background Check come from the Authentication Office of the US Department of State in Washington, DC. I recommend getting the apostilles from your state of residence yourself; there are companies that will get you the federal apostille and apostilles from other states for a fee.

Never separate a document and its apostille once the apostille is attached: doing so will invalidate both. Make any copies or scans of a document BEFORE it receives its apostille. Apostilles are attached to the front of the document, so you normally can copy or scan the apostille without damaging it.

Passports do not normally require apostilles or Sworn Translations. Sworn Translations are prepared in Brazil, so do not need apostilles.

I suggest a simple eight-folder system to keep your documents organized. They would be,

Four Cartório Folders – Originals and Apostilles for presentation; Duplicate Originals; Copies and Scans; Miscellaneous

Four Federal Police Folders -- Originals and Apostilles for presentation; Duplicate Originals; Copies and Scans; Miscellaneous

Don’t throw anything out until you have your Resident Identity Card, your CRNM. Put any documents that the Cartório or the PF give you in the “Miscellaneous” folder. Keep your Sworn Translations with the Apostilled Documents.

You will need to make some initial submissions in Brazil electronically, so you should have an Internet-capable laptop with you, and scans of all your documents on the hard drive. If you don’t and will be using your fiancée’s computer, it would be good practice to have scans of all your documents with you on a jump drive.
-@abthree

My gosh...you are on point, I tell ya. Thank you. I've actually been trying to convince her to read and or join the forum. Telling how how wonderful it has already been, seriously....I can't stop boasting about it. It's basically going from not reaching anyone to ask anything, have a million questions, getting told to not ask again when you do reach someone and being restricted on what to ask, and researching yourself in circles...to finally feeling some hope, like there's someone on the other end, like you can receive much needed advice, and patiently, kindly, and so expertly. Blessings to you, thank you. I'll pick up some Folders, retype the chicken scratch, re-read and try to decipher some more of this for my brain to wrap around it. Sometimes I wonder if it because it's a foreign process that my my brain just says, nope, impossible! Can't understand it, dont ask,  Lol.

on a more personal subject, brazil is its own country and different from what you are used to. You are coming as a tourist, and it is very important that you transition from being a tourist to a local. Resist the temptation to think “oh, in my country, we do things differently, and better“. Be open to how things are in brazil, become a local.

work on learning your Portuguese, particularly conversational Portuguese. They do not speak English here and hand signs will only take you so far.

My two cents…

on a more personal subject, brazil is its own country and different from what you are used to. You are coming as a tourist, and it is very important that you transition from being a tourist to a local. Resist the temptation to think “oh, in my country, we do things differently, and better“. Be open to how things are in brazil, become a local.
work on learning your Portuguese, particularly conversational Portuguese. They do not speak English here and hand signs will only take you so far.

My two cents…
-@alevinthal

You are absolutely right. It's funny because my fiance has been saying the same things. She'd your post if she were in the forum. It is very difficult indeed, especially when it comes to traffic/traveling/roads and speeds (no lines where I've been). I have now gotten 3 speeding tickets because I was going the same speed as others, yet somehow I'm the one who did something wrong...? That part is frustrating, and the lack of lines for mre organized traffic. Motorcylist are crazy, lol, like NY and Boston pedestrians and bicyclist. I didn't understand the pedestrian situation there and kept yielding to them almost getting into rear-ended accidents, and getting beeped at. They don't have some sort of right of way there, and understand that. Now I do but feel bad for the elders, the parents with kids the females, trying to cross the street with no one to consider them getting across more safely. But, then again, they're the pedestrians, it's their jobs primarily to not put themselves into dangerous traffic and just be patient I guess. So, in that way it makes sense, but takes getting used to. I'll never get used to the crazy drivers and motorcyclist though, it's overwhelmingly chaotic. The red light situation is also confusing, some you can go through some you can't it's been a crap shoot. I've gotten a ticket for that too.

I haven't seen the best areas yet though, I've only seen pics online and know that there's more and better. The places I checked out online look beautiful, and a Dr. I sat next to on a plan e told me about his beautiful city as well. I keep trying to convince my finance to see more of her own country, and more beautiful parts, with me, a first time for both of us. I do want to do better, for her though, so I will be doing a better job of all of this to make her happy and me less stressed. Because, it has been quite stressful on some trips. Losing luggage is.......the worst. Thank you for the advice, certainly planning to following it, happy wife happy life right?

Oh, as far as learning the language, I honestly don't have confidence that I can. Of course I want to, but it's a more personal thing, it's been rough for me, mind had been though a lot, still quite sharp in the areas that matter and the ones that make me unique, but....I feel my time for something like that has kind of passed. For me, I need to find something....something that connects it all together, makes sense to me why this is that, when this is that, and how this becomes that. I haven't found that, not with spanish either, so....I don't feel I can learn a new language, especially nowadays where my focus is in so many other places, without being able to decipher and piece together how the language works.

I can apply for CPF now correct?

Never mind, I think this answers that I basically cannot:

" - Deliver it in a Brazilian diplomatic representation within 15 days, along with the documents listed in the table documentation."

obtained from here:

https://www.gov.br/mre/pt-br/embaixada- … ndividuals

06/07/23 I can apply for CPF now correct?
Never mind, I think this answers that I basically cannot:
" - Deliver it in a Brazilian diplomatic representation within 15 days, along with the documents listed in the table documentation."
obtained from here:
-@Justinluvwmylady

I think that you can, at the Brazilian Consulate responsible for your state.  What state do you live in?

You can also do it the next time you're in Brazil.

@abthree

Mass.

The next time I go, will be thee time I go. I'm tapped out for money to do another trip if I still go according to my normal planned time and try to go again after. I need to do it all in one shot. Plus, we will have a wedding to book in short time, and you know women;).

can she obtain it for me???

@abthree
Mass.
can she obtain it for me???
-@Justinluvwmylady

No, but you can get it yourself at the Consulate General in Boston.  Check their website for how.

@abthree

I will look, hopefully that's not the only city though....probably is. Big things like that aren't usually spread out across the state too much, maybe just a few here and there or 1 etc. something inconvenient. lol. I just ordered 2 birth certs, working on a marriage one right now, but I don't think I may be able to get it quickly from that state...so will that bring things to a halt? It said they're not doing expedited request right now. I'm checking a 2rd party option now however. I don't remember the date of marriage though, so I'm kind of stuck right now and sifting through emails for any trace of that disaster. OMG....I feel stuck now. I need a marriage license from NC and they are updating their outdated system finally and have staff shortages yada yada yada....processing times are 5mos!!!!!!! Even vital records online says " Average Processing: 131-134 Business Days". What can I do???? Do I absolutely have to have this if I have the divorce docs??? Can I not move forward until I obtain this or if I move forward and don't receive this in whatever time frame, will it screw things up??

starting to feel overwhelmed again.... Not enough to list these steps out properly, took care of one (in process now), but the other I need to go in person, and another I can't get for 5mos..... What the heck am I supposed to do now??? Then, I may have to go into boston to the consulate general's office. Online on their site you can change it to english but it doesn't stay in english as you move from page to page...? When you change it again it takes you off of that page???? Ah man......this is...something. Once again, my happiness and well being depends on other people who don't know me, don't care, work poorly, move slow, or have poor systems and processes with ridiculous time frames. It's just not right...

crisis avoided... found a workaround and should be receiving the cert soon enough. So, birth certs down, marriage cert down, need divorce cert now, which requires a day off from work which I don't have. I need to do the apostiile step next I believe. I haven't had enough time to review and organize all this info properly and as suggested.