2014 FIFA World Cup May Delay Immigration Processing

Visa processing at Brazilian consular posts worldwide may be delayed in the coming months due to a sharp increase in application volume leading up to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in June and July. Long wait times are also expected during the World Cup for admission at ports of entry and for in-country immigration procedures.

Additionally, immigration procedures could slow down further if labor unions representing government employees decide to strike or take other labor actions in anticipation of the World Cup.

Ministry of Labor (MOL) processing for work visa applications currently has not been impacted, as foreign nationals applying for work visas in conjunction with the World Cup benefit from priority processing by a dedicated unit within the MOL. The recent introduction of the electronic filing system is expected to reduce the MOL’s overall processing times.

What This Means for Employers and Foreign Nationals

Though it is too early to determine how much of an impact the World Cup will have on immigration procedures for Brazil, employers and their foreign workers considering travel this summer may want to apply for visas well in advance or consider delaying any trips until after the World Cup.

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].