Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories
From: 76702.1202@CompuServe.COM (Wally Doerge)
Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Brazil
Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die
Distribution: wstd
Date: Wed, 2 Jun 1993 17:52:28 GMT
STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Brazil
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Brazil - Consular Information Sheet
 May 27, 1993

Country Description:  Brazil has a developing economy.  Facilities 
for tourism are good in the major cities, but vary in quality in 
remote areas.

Entry Requirements:  A passport and visa are required.  Visas must 
be obtained in advance.  Minors (under 18) traveling alone, with one 
parent or with a third party must present written authorization by 
the absent parent(s) or legal guardian, specifically granting 
permission to travel alone, with one parent or with a third party.  
This authorization must be notarized, authenticated by the Brazilian 
Embassy or Consulate, and translated into Portuguese.  For current 
information concerning entry and customs requirements for Brazil, 
travelers can contact the Brazilian Embassy at 3006 Massachusetts 
Avenue N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, tel. (202) 745-2700 or the 
nearest consulate in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Miami, New 
York, Chicago or San Juan.

Medical Facilities:  Medical care varies in quality, particularly 
in remote areas.  Cholera has been reported in the Amazon Basin 
region and northeastern Brazil.  Some cholera outbreaks have also 
been reported in major cities.  However, visitors who follow proper 
precautions about food and drink are not usually at risk.  Doctors 
and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health 
services.  U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the 
United States.  In some cases, supplemental medical insurance with 
specific overseas coverage has been found to be useful.  For 
additional health information, contact the Centers for Disease 
Control's international travelers hotline at (404) 332-4559.

Crime Information:  The threat of crime in Brazilian cities varies, 
but the areas surrounding discotheques, bars, nightclubs and other 
similar establishments are often the sites of criminal incidents, 
especially at dusk and during the evening hours.

Because of the high volume of tourists, crime is particularly acute 
in Rio de Janeiro.  As a result, Rio state authorities established 
the Rio tourist police (tel: 511-5112) to patrol various areas for 
the protection of tourists.  The areas of greatest concern are the 
popular beaches and nearby neighborhoods where young street 
criminals target tourists for armed robbery or theft.  For security 
reasons, U.S. government personnel visiting or assigned to Rio are 
not housed at hotels in Rio's Copacabana and Leme neighborhoods.

The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported 
immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or 
consulate.  Useful information on guarding valuables and protecting 
personal security while traveling abroad is provided in the 
Department of State pamphlet "A Safe Trip Abroad" which is available 
>from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing 
Office, Washington, D.C. 20402.  Also available from the same 
address is the Department of State publication, "Tips for Travelers 
to Central and South America."

Adoptions: The adoption process in Brazil is often lengthy and 
costly.  It is not unusual to encounter serious unforeseen problems, 
particularly in the northeastern states of Ceara, Paraiba, and 
Pernambuco.  Updated information on Brazilian adoption proceedings 
is available from the Consular Section of the U.S. consulate having 
jurisdiction over the locality where the adoption will take place.  
Information on U.S. immigrant visa requirements is available from 
the consular section of the U.S. Consulate General in Rio de 
Janeiro, where all immigrant visa cases for Brazil are processed.  
Additional information is available by writing the Office of 
Citizens Consular Services, CA/OCS/CCS, Room 4817, Department of 
State, Washington, D.C. 20520, or by telephoning (202) 647-3712.

Drug Penalties: U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the 
country in which they are traveling.  Penalties in Brazil for 
possession, use and trafficking in illegal drugs are strict, and 
convicted offenders can expect lengthy jail sentences and fines.

Embassy Location/Registration:  Americans who register with the 
Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy or consulates may obtain 
updated information on travel and security within Brazil.

The U.S. Embassy is located in Brasilia at Avenida das Nacoes, Lote 
3, telephone (55-61) 321-7272.

There are consulates in:

Rio de Janeiro at Avenida Presidente Wilson 147, telephone (55-21) 
292-7117;

Sao Paulo at Rua Padre Joao Manoel 933, telephone (55-11) 881-6511;

Porto Alegre at Rua Coronel Genuino 421 (9th flr.), telephone 
(55-51) 226-4288; and at

Recife at Rua Goncalves Maia 163, telephone (55-81) 221-1412.

There are also consular agencies in:

Belem at Avenida Oswaldo Cruz 165, telephone (55-91) 223-0800/0413;

Manaus at Rua Recife 1010, Adrianopolis, telephone (55-92) 234-4546;

Salvador de Bahia at Avenida Antonio Carlos Magalhaes S/N Edificio 
Cidadella Center, Suite 410, Candeal, telephone (55-71) 358-9195; and

in Fortaleza at the Instituto Brasil-Estados Unidos (IBEU), Rua 
Nogueira Acioly, 891, Aldeota, telephone (55-85) 252-1539.

 No. 93-126

This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated October 27, 1992 
to provide updated information concerning crime, adoptions in Brazil 
and reporting the loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport.