Brazil to USA: B1/B2 Visa Guide, Best BRL Travel Cards & Complete Planning

Visa requirements

Flights from Brazil to United States

Money, cards & forex fees

ATMs in United States

Top cities in United States

US visa for Brazilian passport holders: B1/B2 explained

Brazilian nationals require a B1/B2 Tourist/Business Visa to enter the United States. Despite the USA and Brazil's strong bilateral trade relationship and cultural ties, Brazil is not part of the Visa Waiver Program. Applications are made at the US Embassy in Brasília or one of five US Consulates: São Paulo (Rua Henri Dunant 500, Chácara Santo Antônio), Rio de Janeiro, Porto Alegre, Recife, or Manaus. São Paulo handles the largest volume of Brazilian applications. The process: DS-160 form at ceac.state.gov, payment of the $185 (approximately BRL 940) MRV fee, appointment scheduling at ustraveldocs.com/br, biometrics and interview, then 2–6 weeks waiting period. Brazilian applicants generally have good approval rates for well-documented applications — the bilateral relationship is warm, and Brazil's growing middle class is a strong source of bonafide tourists. The Imposto de Renda (annual income tax return) is an important financial document that Brazilian officers particularly value, as it provides an official government-certified view of income and assets.

Applying for a US visa from Brazil: step by step

Step 1: Complete DS-160 at ceac.state.gov. Available in English only — use browser translation assistance if needed. Include accurate employment history (5 years) and all travel history. Step 2: Pay the $185 MRV fee via the methods listed on ustraveldocs.com/br — typically via bank slip (boleto) at Citibank or other designated banks. Step 3: Schedule appointments at ustraveldocs.com/br. Check availability at multiple consulate cities — sometimes São Paulo has shorter waits than Brasília or vice versa. Step 4: Gather full documentation. Step 5: Attend your biometrics appointment (OFC), then your interview at the consulate. Step 6: After interview, track case online. Approved passport returned by courier or available for pickup in 5–10 business days.

Document checklist for Brazilian US visa applicants

Financial documents: 6 months of bank statements (Itaú, Bradesco, Caixa, Santander Brasil, Banco do Brasil, Nubank, Inter Bank) showing consistent income and adequate savings. Imposto de Renda (IR) declaration for last 2 years — this is highly valued by consular officers. For employees: Carteira de Trabalho (work card) or employment contract, salary slip (contracheque), and formal employment letter. For MEIs and self-employed: CNPJ registration, DAS payment receipts, business bank statements. Property and assets: IPTU document showing property value, CRI property registration extract. Family ties: birth certificates, marriage certificate (Certidão de Casamento). Travel details: confirmed return flight, hotel or accommodation booking, travel insurance. Keep all documents organised in a folder labelled in English.

Best flights from Brazil to the USA

Brazil has excellent direct connectivity to the USA. From São Paulo Guarulhos (GRU): LATAM to New York JFK, Miami MIA, Los Angeles LAX, Chicago ORD, Orlando MCO, and others. American Airlines to Miami, New York, Chicago, and Dallas. United to Houston IAH and Newark EWR. From Rio de Janeiro Galeão (GIG): LATAM and American to New York and Miami. From Campinas (VCP): Azul to Miami and Orlando (MIA, FLL, MCO) — great option for interior São Paulo travellers. From Belo Horizonte (CNF): Azul to Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Economy fares GRU to Miami start from BRL 2,200–3,500 return (approximately $440–700) booked 6–8 weeks ahead — some of the best transatlantic value fares given the relatively short distance (8 hours). To New York: BRL 2,500–4,000 return. Miami is particularly cheap because of the high volume of flights and competition.

IOF tax and travel money: the critical issue for Brazilian travellers

Brazilian travellers face a unique financial challenge: the IOF (Imposto sobre Operações Financeiras) — a 6.38% tax applied to all international card transactions using Brazilian-issued credit cards and debit cards. On a $3,000 US trip with a standard Brazilian bank card, that is BRL 1,140 in IOF alone — before any bank forex markup. The solution is to use international accounts not subject to Brazilian IOF: Wise (registered internationally, not subject to IOF on purchases), C6 Bank Global (specifically designed to avoid IOF on international spending), or by pre-purchasing USD at a licensed casa de câmbio in Brazil and carrying/loading USD before departure. Nubank's Ultravioleta card also offers zero forex on international transactions without IOF application. This is the single most important financial tip for any Brazilian travelling to the USA or anywhere internationally.

Best travel cards for Brazilian visitors to the USA

Given the IOF issue, the card selection for Brazilian international travellers is critically important. C6 Bank Global is the most recommended domestic solution — C6 Bank's Global account is specifically structured to avoid IOF on international transactions and offers zero forex fees on purchases with free international ATM withdrawals within monthly limits. Nubank Ultravioleta (the premium black card tier) charges zero forex fee on international transactions. Wise Multi-Currency Card is an international fintech solution that avoids Brazilian IOF entirely since the transaction originates from Wise's international infrastructure rather than Brazilian banking rails. For traditional bank card comparison: Itaú Personnalité International charges IOF + 2% forex, Bradesco Visa Infinite charges IOF + 1.5% forex, Santander Select charges IOF + 1.5% forex. The total cost difference between a standard card (IOF + bank forex = ~8%) and a C6 Global or Wise card (0%) is massive over a $3,000 trip — approximately BRL 1,200–1,500 in savings.

Where to go in the USA: Brazilian traveller favourites

Miami is the spiritual home of Brazilian visitors to the USA. The city is so deeply connected to Brazil that it is sometimes described as the northernmost Brazilian city. Brickell and the Brickell City Centre are packed with Brazilian-owned businesses, Portuguese-speaking service staff, and Brazilian restaurants. Aventura (north Miami) has one of the USA's best malls (Aventura Mall) and a huge Brazilian population. Hallandale Beach and Deerfield Beach are popular Brazilian residential areas. Orlando is the Brazilian family holiday destination — Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, and the concentration of theme parks within an hour's drive make it irresistible for families with children. Pre-book Disney World tickets 60 days in advance for the best prices and date availability. New York City is more cultural — the Little Brazil block on West 46th Street in Midtown has authentic Brazilian churrascaria, pão de queijo, and caipirinha bars. Las Vegas, San Francisco, and the national parks of the Southwest offer different faces of America for returning visitors who have already done Miami and Orlando.

Budget planning for Brazilian visitors to the USA

The BRL/USD exchange rate (approximately 4.9–5.1 BRL per USD in mid-2026) means US prices are significant in real terms. Miami for 7 nights mid-range: return flights GRU to MIA BRL 2,400–3,600. Hotel (South Beach, mid-range): $200/night × 7 = $1,400 (BRL 6,860–7,140). Food and nightlife: $150/day including tips × 7 = $1,050 (BRL 5,145–5,355). Aventura Mall shopping: variable. Total (excluding shopping): approximately BRL 15,500–18,000 per person. Orlando 7 nights: add $130–190/person/day for park tickets ($910–1,330/person per week — BRL 4,460–6,516). Family of four for a week in Orlando: approximately BRL 45,000–55,000 including flights.

Arriving in the USA from Brazil: immigration and customs

Brazilians are among the most frequent non-immigrant visitors to the USA — CBP processes thousands of Brazilian arrivals daily at Miami MIA and Orlando MCO. Have your passport with B1/B2 visa, US accommodation address, and return flight details ready for the officer. Answer questions about the purpose, duration, and financing of your visit. Biometrics on first entry. I-94 electronic record at i94.cbp.dhs.gov. At Miami customs: agricultural inspection is strict — declare all food items from Brazil. Brazilian packaged foods (pão de queijo, biscoito globo in sealed packaging) should be declared. Fresh fruits (including açaí in fresh form), palm hearts in fresh form, and meat products are prohibited. Queue times at MIA for South American arrivals can be 60–90 minutes on busy summer days — use Mobile Passport app to cut this.

Cryptocurrency for Brazilian visitors in the USA

Brazil has a large and regulated crypto market — exchanges like Mercado Bitcoin, Foxbit, and NovaDAX serve millions of Brazilian users. The USA's 30,000+ Bitcoin ATMs make USD cash accessible from crypto holdings. BTM fees of 8–15% remain poor value. For Brazilian visitors with USDT or BTC on international exchanges, US spending via crypto is technically possible but taxable under Brazilian Receita Federal rules. For everyday spending, C6 Bank Global or Wise remains far superior. Apple Pay and Google Pay work seamlessly with Brazilian Visa/Mastercard cards set up on the device before departure.

On-arrival tips

• 1Miami has the largest Brazilian community in the USA — Portuguese is widely spoken in Brickell, Aventura, and Hallandale Beach areas
• 2The IOF (Imposto sobre Operações Financeiras) tax of 6.38% applies to Brazilian-issued card international transactions — use Wise or C6 Bank Global to avoid this entirely
• 3Azul Airlines flies direct from Campinas (VCP) and Belo Horizonte (CNF) to Orlando and Miami — convenient for travellers outside São Paulo and Rio
• 4Orlando's theme parks require pre-booking for most major rides — book Disney World tickets 60+ days in advance
• 5Brazilian visitors to Miami are so numerous that many South Florida shops, restaurants, and hotels have Portuguese-speaking staff
• 6US customs in Miami (MIA) processes enormous numbers of Brazilian arrivals — immigration queues can be 60–90 minutes on peak summer flights