Update: Went to PF Office Rio.

03/20/23 @ExpatUSATravels. Glad you were able to get it to work for you.  When it was first introduced, it wouldn't even to that.

Thanks,

Now the only question I have is, if I am able to pay the R$ 204,77 for the C.I.E. fee what happens if after paying and PF agent tells me that I have to start fresh and reapply for new PR, do I lose the R$204,77 that I already paid, or do they credit that towards the proper fees for what I would have to apply for?

@abthree

well actually it did not work.

it would not let us complete the online form due to error.

even in the email with protocol # it mentioned the error still. But at least i have a protocol # to try to set a real appointment now, hopefully. 😒

03/20/23 Now the only question I have is, if I am able to pay the R$ 204,77 for the C.I.E. fee what happens if after paying and PF agent tells me that I have to start fresh and reapply for new PR, do I lose the R$204,77 that I already paid, or do they credit that towards the proper fees for what I would have to apply for?
-@ExpatUSATravels

It's a processing fee, not a purchase price.  If they process your application they get to keep it, regardless of the result.  If they decide that there's something lacking in your application, though, they're just as likely to give you a chance and a deadline to correct the deficiency as they are to reject it outright and close the process.

@abthree

thanks for the process fee info.

so it might be better to just get an appointment first before paying any fees.

the woman who helped us was telling us to just pay the renewal fee and hope they dont require  a whole new P R from scratch at our appointment date.

according to what you're saying this can backfire by making us lose R$204 and have to start all over again if the decision maker says no to the simple renewal.

Just wanted to post an update.
Went last week to PF office to get info.

... Kind of like the wizard of oz behind the curtain 10 feet away...


-@ExpatUSATravels

Welcome to bureaucracy in Brazil. Sadly, it all too often comes down to finding the right person who just magically gets everything done for you, often this is just a matter of luck.

It's a processing fee, not a purchase price.

Haha...  I laughed out loud when I read that.  It's 100% accurate, and a perfect explanation, but still struck me as humorous.