Check the official site before you travel. imptmanhattan.com is a hotel and travel site; it does not issue visas or ESTAs and this is not legal advice. Rules change: confirm on esta.cbp.dhs.gov and travel.state.gov.
| Status | B-2 visitor visa |
|---|---|
| Visa or authorization | B-2 visitor visa from a US embassy or consulate |
| Where to apply | Online DS-160 form, then an interview |
| Fees and processing | Set by the US government: check the official site |
| Arrival | Inspection by US Customs and Border Protection at the airport |
Brazil is not a Visa Waiver Program country. Brazilian citizens flying to Manhattan for tourism need a B-2 visitor visa arranged before departure, and a passport alone is not enough. The route runs through the online DS-160 form, an interview at a US embassy or consulate, and the passport returned with the visa. Allow time for the process before booking flights, and check current rules on travel.state.gov.
What the visa status means
Brazil sits outside the Visa Waiver Program, so a Brazilian passport alone does not open the door to the United States. A B-2 visitor visa covers a holiday, family visits and short tourist trips, and a US embassy or consulate in Brazil issues it, not the airline. The visa is tied to the trip described in the application. Procedures change, so confirm the current process on travel.state.gov before booking anything.
Before you fly and on arrival
Book flights after the passport comes back with the visa inside. On travel day, keep the passport, the DS-160 confirmation, the Manhattan hotel address and the return flight details in hand luggage. JFK, LaGuardia and Newark each have a Customs and Border Protection hall where officers photograph, fingerprint and question arriving visitors. Admission is the officer's decision, so answer plainly and keep the answers consistent with the application.
Staying in Manhattan and getting in
A hotel confirmation showing the address and the dates of the stay is the most useful paper to carry, because officers may ask where the nights are booked. Write the full address down, with street numbers and cross streets, for the ride from the airport. Trains and buses link all three airports with Manhattan. Check the current fare and route before landing, and keep the return flight details at hand.
Longer stays, work and study
A B-2 visa covers tourism, family visits and short social or medical trips. Study, paid work, internships, long stays and moving for a job need a different visa category, each with its own form, documents and interview. Do not travel on a visitor visa intending to work or enroll. Check travel.state.gov and the nearest US embassy or consulate before planning anything beyond a holiday.
How to apply for a visitor visa
- Complete the DS-160 online form for a B-2 visitor visa and save the confirmation.
- Pay the visa application fee through the official route on travel.state.gov and keep the receipt.
- Book an interview at the US embassy or consulate handling your part of Brazil.
- Attend with the passport, confirmation page, receipt, photograph and trip documents.
- Wait for the passport to come back with the visa before booking flights.
- Fly to New York and present the passport and visa for inspection on arrival.
Documents to carry
- Passport with the B-2 visitor visa inside
- DS-160 confirmation page and the official fee receipt
- Hotel confirmation in Manhattan with address and stay dates
- Return flight details and proof of funds for the stay
Brazilian citizens: questions
Do Brazilian citizens need a visa to visit the United States?
Yes. Brazil is not in the Visa Waiver Program, so Brazilian citizens need a B-2 visitor visa for a holiday, arranged through the DS-160 form and an interview at a US embassy or consulate. A passport alone is not enough. Confirm current rules on travel.state.gov.
Where do Brazilian citizens apply for the US visitor visa?
At a US embassy or consulate in Brazil, usually the mission that handles the city or region where the applicant lives. Complete the DS-160 online first, then book the interview there. Check travel.state.gov for the current process and the documents the consulate asks for.
What do Brazilian citizens show at a New York airport?
At JFK, LaGuardia or Newark, a Customs and Border Protection officer checks the passport, the visa, the return flight and the Manhattan hotel address, and may ask about the purpose of the trip. Admission is the officer's decision, so keep the documents in hand luggage.
Can Brazilian citizens work in the US on a visitor visa?
No. A B-2 visitor visa covers tourism, family visits and short social or medical trips, not paid work or study. Employment or a course needs a different visa category, with its own form and interview. Read the guidance on travel.state.gov before planning anything beyond a holiday.
Where will you stay in Manhattan?
Midtown for a first visit, SoHo or the West Village for character, the Upper West Side for the park. Live prices for your dates open in the IMPT app.
Photo credits: Pexels.