Brazilian Consulate

I like Brazil but their visa process is horrendous. The Hartford consulate is heaven compared to the NY branch, no ones talking down to you and making themselves seem more important than they really are. They actually do care to help you.
I went yesterday (Jan.20) EVERYONE was pleasant and very helpful. I came to drop off my papers to obtain my visa for my February 2^nd trip. It was very empty. Drop off is between 1−3pm, for US citizens only at the moment. I had a problem obtaining a money order but they were willing to extend the time period to allow me to get the money order, thus saving me another trip from NY. I had to pay an additional $ 23 at the post office on top of my $ 160 money order for express mailing back to me. The woman I spoke with said I should have my passport and visa back by the 26^th.
Luckily a visa lasts for 10 years! Not looking forward to that renewal unless it’s at the Hartford consulate.
FYI
They close at 3:30, NOT 4pm.
Make sure your passport signature and visa application signature are identical.
You can get your visa same day but that’s only for those who have an appointment and are near to flight date.
The post office is right across the street
Money orders can only be purchased via debit or cash only. Not credit!
You don’t have to come pick it up, your passport can be mailed back to you.
For express mail pick the flat rate envelope $ 23
CVS also does money orders for $ 1, right down the street to your left on Asylum St, walking away from the consulate.

I cannot say enough GOOD THINGS about this consulate and its efficiency. We needed a tourist visa right away. No appointments in NYC, our jurisdiction. Desperate I found reviews here in Unilocal suggesting the Hartford Consulate. Every expeditor agency said Hartford would not accept us since we were from NJ but I made an appt on line, showed up with every single thing needed and walked out with a tourist visa. Took a total of 3 hours.
The key is to have all your paperwork in order and to have everything uploaded to the website before you go. Follow their instructions and it is indeed possible to get a tourist visa for Brazil in the Hartford Consulate regardless of where you live.

Last minute visa
Best place to go.
New york city I am very dissappointed.
We waited in line in NY for 3 hours prior to the 9am. Heard we could walkin due to no appointments but when they get to the first 20 people they close the doors and say come back the next day. We were number 21 and we couldnt do anything. At that moment we decided to drive to Hartford ct. The consulate was very clean and open for business. We waited for two hours but were atleast acknowledged and finally our papers were reviewed by the best consulate representative Alexandra. Thank you thank you!
She made the process so quick and easy. Makes me wonder why own jurisdiction (NYC) has to be so difficult. Who came up with this rule of the 1^st twenty people receiving visa that creates lines starting at 430 am and causing altercations to occur. They dont let you make appointments so let us atleast show up and get a number. Hartford you have it figured out! We thank you!
If you are in need of a visa for brasil I highly recommend going to CT. They accept anyone. If you are going to apply in person make sure you bring Only a Us postal service money order nothing else. Also if applying for someone else get their form notorized and you are all set. Hartford is the place to go!

This was the worse experience that I’ve encountered at a consulate facility! We had a scheduled appointment for 9am, which had been booked 2 months in advanced. When we arrived, the place was packed, meaning that all those folks were also booked for 9am (opening time), not to mention there were no chairs left! A man greeted us at the door and gave us a ticket with a number (like when your at the RMV)…but wait I had a booked appointment?! Sorry ma’am the process is different now. Okay, so I’m a reasonable person and thought I’ll wait for my turn. 2 hours passed and they finally called our number, we sat down and reviewed our paperwork and required documents, the lady at the window (PATRICIA) seemed annoyed that she had to give us any extra information, and that we had our kids with us, anyway, she then proceed to give us yet another ticket w/​a different number. So I asked, how much longer until we are called again? she immediately got annoyed and answered. listen when you come here you need set out a whole day, but don’t worry it won’t be long. I bit my tongue, but I wanted to give her a piece of my mind.
So we again waited another 2 HOURS! until they called us to another counter to digitally scan our fingers and sign some more paperwork. But tell me why this couldn’t all be done by the same person? any how the lady said okay this is the final step, your passports should be done in 40minutes… Great! it’s lunch time anyway so I’ll be back just in time.
My family and I got back after 45mins and waited, waited and waited, my kids had been awesome for the past 5 hours patiently waiting quietly. I began to get really upset, walked to the counter and made clear that the way in which they were running that establishment was inefficient, extremely rude and inconsiderate! tell me why people have appointments in the first place? I demanded all 4 of my passport within 15 minutes or else and… miraculously they were handed to me in 15minutes. A 6 hour ordeal! We saw plenty of people arrive after us and leave way before us.
I write in detail because, I just want to make sure that I’m heard and that they can improve the quality of their customer service skills, be honest with people, and be more efficient in running a government agency. I’m not sure that I ever want to travel to Brazil after that experience.

I have dealt with the consulates from other countries and this experience was great. The staff were very kind and informative. The walked me through all required paperwork and requirements during my call to them and my visit in the office was quick and smooth.

This place is a dream come true for anyone looking to secure a tourist visa to Brazil quickly. New York «can’t do it,» D.C. «can’t do it,» (of course they CAN, they just won’t — they instead make you wait for weeks and weeks). I drove in from NY (I’m a NY resident) without an appointment. I arrived at 9:45 am with everything I needed, as listed on the website. Read the website carefully! Make yourself a checklist, don’t forget anything! The consulate was already full of people, and once the lady at the front desk realized that I would be traveling to Brazil the next week, she gave me a ticket for an appointment. I should point out — maybe I got lucky. As far as I can tell from the website, you may be asked to «drop off» the visa and come back at the end of the day or a week later to pick it up. However, because my flight ticket boldly proclaimed that I was going to Brazil the next week, the woman at the front desk just handed over an appointment ticket and told me to wait until my number was called. The process is similar to the DMV — come with EVERYTHING you need and just wait for your number to be called. You should block off the whole day, or at least half a day just to be safe (after all, one full day waiting for your visa to be processed is nothing compared to two or three weeks.) My number was called within half an hour, and then I received my visa half an hour later. Altogether, the whole visa process took ONE HOUR and TEN MINUTES. A dream come true! I walked out with my visa in hand and samba on my mind!

I apparently went to a different consulate than the other reviewers. But maybe I just didn’t expect the staff to stop what they were doing and process my visa in less than 30″.
I arrived at opening to apply for my visa, and was greeted by a polite, cheerful and professional staff. They took my information and I received my visa by lunchtime. I have traveled all over the world. The wait was actually shorter than most similar processes.
I did find it interesting that the American next to me was complaining that they wouldn’t take his credit card or cash for the fee. The Brazilian consulate website is extremely clear — they only take USPS money orders. The rest of the instructions are very clear as well.
If you can’t follow basic instructions, or have no patience to wait for your last minute request, then you probably shouldn’t be traveling anywhere. Better you don’t give Americans a worse reputation.

1 star doesn’t begin to describe the inefficiency of this place. I’m not sure why they require appointments, as we waited 3 hours past our appointment time to actually start the visa process.
Staff have no hustle, with each person generally taking 30 minutes to actually get the visa. Most employees sat at stations marked closed, further lengthening the process.
It seems crazy to me that one has to pay $ 160 and wait hours for the privilege of visiting and giving business to a country. Next time I’ll pick a place with an efficient government that wants me to come.

Very rude and inefficient staff, doing all possible to complicate things. The staff has an «I am better than you» attitude, and will do absolutely nothing to help. You cannot contact them phone, and they do not answer emails. If you are traveling to Brazil and need a visa or if you are a Brazilian trying to renew your passport, be sure to pack «a lot of patience» before going to the consulate. Extremely disappointed!