Yes, I’m still here!

Hi all,

A regular reader left a comment that I haven’t posted recently, which is true. Sorry about that. It’s been a confluence of things. I have had more classes than usual recently. I also had a nasty cold that slowed me down. (I think the cooties here are a bit different from those back home.)

But, lest I get started with an Arlo-Guthrie-sings-Alice’s-Restaurant-esque ramble, that’s not what I want to talk about today.

I want to talk about my legal status in Brazil.

Sometimes JIB readers will send me messages asking how I am able to live and work legally in Brazil. Although I’d like to say I invested large sums here or vaguely suggest that “I know people”, the truth is much more prosaic: I got lucky.

I came to Brazil in late 2008 knowing that I wanted to make a go of it here. I had known since my first visit here (1993 I think?) that eventually I’d migrate to Brazil. But one thing and another delayed the move. After a series of setbacks in Florida –

Oops, going Arlo again. The deal is that I came here on a tourist visit, which allows visitors to stay in Brazil for 180 days. Actually, a tourist visa allows you to stay for 90 days, at which point you must either cross a border (weekends in Buenos Aires are popular) and then return for another stay of 90 days, or you can apply at the Department of Federal Police for a 90-day extension.

I did neither. I stayed and became technically illegal.

What does that mean? Well, on a day-to-day basis, not much. I had plenty of teaching work. I even worked for some language schools, under the don’t-ask-don’t-tell policy that pervades that industry.

The catch comes when an illegal wants to leave Brazil. At that time you have to pay a fine. Don’t cite me, but I think it is still 8 reais per day over the legal limit, capped at 100 days or 800 reais.

However, you also won’t be able to return for some indefinite period of time. I say indefinite. The government may have fixed rules on this, but I’ve heard different things and don’t know what the facts are.

So at the end of April 2009, I became technically illegal. No one was coming to arrest me and deport me, but I couldn’t leave and return without incurring significant problems.

Then in late June, my mother called to tell me that my stepfather Marty, with whom I was close, had died. This presented me with a very tough decision: Return for his service and give up on my life here, at least for the foreseeable future, or stay and miss the service. My mother spared me by telling me that Marty would not want me to give up my dream by returning. I wrote my thoughts for my sister to deliver at the memorial service, had a good cry, and soldiered on.

This is what you may face if you decide to relocate to another country. You have to accept that. It isn’t always going to be easy, for you, or for those back home.

Then in August (maybe it was July?) of 2009, former president Lula announced an amnesty program for illegal residents. The requirements for amnesty were few and well defined. I qualified. I applied and was accepted. The process was amazingly simple, especially in a country which, should bureaucracy ever become an Olympic sport, would take home the gold every 4 years, no question.

As an aside, the consensus for why Lula pushed this amnesty plan were that: 1) he wanted to present Brazil in a good light internationally, shortly before the announcement of where the 2016 Olympics would be held, and 2) by legalizing illegals, the government would be adding thousands of taxpayers to its rolls. Politics and taxes.

But I am not complaining. I was now legal, for a period of 2 years. I could visit the US for the holidays and return to my life here. Life was good again.

Fast forward 2 years. My residencia provisoria is now running out. I checked the requirements online for converting my provisional residence to permanent status, and contacted Carolyn, a Brit here who had coached me through the amnesty process. (Thanks, Carolyn!) I collected my docs and went to the Department of Federal Police at Galeão Airport, hoping to walk away with my new permanent status.

Ah, but we have a new administration now in Brazil which perhaps is not quite so open and welcoming. Also, the government wants to be sure that it will be collecting taxes going forward. (Fair is fair. If I am going to be allowed to stay and work here, I should pay taxes.) I found that there were more requirements than those listed on the website. I didn’t get much explanation of what the full requirements were. The woman at the front desk would give me a piece of paper. The paper turned out to be a printscreen of government website, with no instructions. I found myself wondering for the first time if I would in fact not receive permanent residency.

This was a week ago yesterday. Quashing down panic, I sent a flurry of texts and emails to friends and students who might be able to help me. I was gratified by the many responses I received. One of the reasons I came to Brazil is because of her people. As a rule they are very helpful. Several rushed to my aid.

A former student of mine, Daniel, really came through. By a stroke of good luck, he knew someone who works… wait for it… at the Department of Federal Police. A couple of phone calls later and I had an appointment arranged.

I still have a couple of forms to get, but I feel confident now that when I return next time, I will be approved for permanent residency. This is very important, as I am supposed to travel back to the US in a couple of weeks. A delay in my being accepted would bollix up everything.

So, yes, I’m still here.

And I’m planning to stay. Stay tuned.

John

Still in Brazil

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