Good news for Brazilian business travellers headed to the United States: the latest U.S. State Department update dated 17 September shows that the next available B1/B2 interview slots in Rio de Janeiro and Recife are now “under 15 days.” São Paulo, Brasília and Porto Alegre remain longer but have also improved, with waits ranging from one to 2.5 months. Travel website Melhores Destinos published the consolidated figures on 18 September. The reduction follows the redeployment of temporary U.S. consular officers and the continued expansion of interview-waiver eligibility for renewals. Two years ago, pandemic backlogs pushed waits past 600 days, forcing many companies to cancel trips or route travellers through third-country posts. For mobility managers the shorter queues present a window to clear pent-up travel demand before the U.S. fiscal year ends on 30 September, when quotas for officer overtime may reset. Experts advise applicants to book the earliest slot available and then use the “refresh” function daily to capture cancellations that pop up. Premium visa-expediting agencies caution that slots can vanish in minutes during office hours. Consulates remind applicants that proof of strong ties to Brazil—salary slips, property deeds and family certificates—remains essential and that expedited-appointment requests will still be limited to medical or humanitarian emergencies.
Source: Melhores Destinos
