2004 General Reports

[Charly]

I understand you Paolino,

But see: Brazil had to endure a lot of bad things in the past decades, from several brutal military regimes to corrupt presidents to severe economic crisis and so on. But Brazil never lived through anything similar to 9/11. Brazil is likely not very high on the priority list of Al-Kaeda & co. But the US is!

In my mind it doesn't make any sense to get fingerprints of US tourists. Retaliation here on the part of the Brazilian judge is simply stupid!
The fingerprinting/foto taking actions for Brazilian tourists entering the States is not directed against Brazil or its people but simply a measure to ward of terrorists entering the country via South America.

Again: I DO understand the feelings of Brazilians (and even the judge who ordered that nonsense), wanting to play on an even field with the USA, but like it or not, it's not a realistic option. It'll just cause further resentment.

Charly

[Rio D]

some of you sound like addicts, willing to put up with any insult in the pursuit of your addiction - brazilian hookers. yes, they are some of the best in the world, but the negatives you have to endure to get to them are becoming too much.

having your fingerprints on file anywhere is not a good idea. if this continues, eventually the fingerprint database in brazil will be composed mostly of brazilian cons, ex-cons, and u.s. tourists - especially *****mongers. what if a crime happens in a hotel room or taxicab soon after you were in it? when they find your fingerprints, you become one of the suspects. if they don't find you in copacabana, they can snatch you at the airport, since your passport number will now be associated with your fingerprints. even if you are innocent you will need to hire a brazilian lawyer to get out of trouble. someone said they hope they use digital technology to speed things up. wrong - you better hope they don't use digital.

most regular tourists won't stand for the fingerprint business, they will choose other destinations over brazil. that just leaves you.

[Johan]

Sorry to read that some of us would submit to anything to get brasilian pussies. I for one, draw my line at finger printing and photo taking. There is a degree of dignity that we, as American should uphold. We should not be arrogant (ala "ugly American") however, we should also hold our pride.

I met a couple of young men in uniform (definitely not more than 20 years old) at the airport just after Christmas. They were flying out to training camp and after six months training, will serve in Iraq. despite their young age, they were extremely articulate, respectful and intelligent. In the short conversation I had with them, they expressed their pride to serve the country and to "help the Iraqi people". Man, I was touched. Young men at this age will have such high dignity and they will represent this country well wherever they go.

So, message to all mongers. Let's learn from these young kids. carry yourself with some dignity and not subjugate yourself to this finger printing stuff.

By the way, CNN just reported that the Federal Police at Rio is filing petition to over turn this judge's order. Carioca police said they don't have the men power and equipment to do the finger printing. I like carioca, they always have a lot more common sense than the rest of Brasil.

EDITOR's NOTE: This report was edited to meet the Forum's Posting Guidelines.

[Kuranyi]

I have been in Rio only once but I definetely come back. I fell in love with the termas and his girls. Unfortunately my time for holiday is limited but I want to spend more time with the terma girls. Anybody know if you can invite them to your home country on a tourist visa?

EDITOR's NOTE: Posting of this report was delayed pending revisions to add a space after commas and after periods at the ends of the sentences. To avoid delays in future reports, please include one space after commas and after the period at the end of a sentence. Please review the Forum's Posting Guidelines for further information. Thanks!

[Rio Bob]

Fingerprints:

They can take a picture of any body part they want on me, Im still going in.

[seekpetite]

Why stop going to Brazil?

Becase they want a photo and fingerprints to store in their records. OK - fine by me, Those Barney Fifih cops will just lose it anyhow.

Don't fear!

[Rabo Verde]

Oops my bad! Brazil already makes you go thru the rigamarole of getting a visa for $100, just to retaliate for the fact that Brazilians have to get a visa and pay $100 to enter the USA. But how many Gringos are gonna become illegal aliens in Brazil? They are just cutting off their nose to spite their face and foregoing needed tourist dollars. Guess it's a pride thing. Oh well my two cents.

[Johan]

Finger Printing and other Measures.

1a. how many illegal aliens from Brasil if US do not require Visa? even with the current stringent Visa requirement, there are lots of brasilians overstaying their Visa in U.S. already. i myself know of a few.
2. how many of us, american gringos will become illegal aliens in brasil or overstay their visa?
3. what measure has brazil taken to combat terrorism at their local airport. answer: nothing. most of brazil's airport security screening system is a joke. bottomline, they don't think their country will ever be targetted.
4. which country makes more money from tourism? US from Brasil or Brasil from US?

bottomline is, brasil is going through an "inferiority syndrome". it's no different from that mexican flag flying in Juarez across from El Paso which is considered to be the world's largest flag. so mexico is flying the world's largest flag right across from El Paso TX in your face type of facial. brasil is doing the same.

to all patriotic mongers
1. are you willing to let them do this to you and your beloved country? after all, there is Argentina, Cuba..... many many places to go.
2. more importantly, are you going to let your finger prints and photo be stored somewhere in brasil's so called justice and federal police system, a system that even brasilians themselves do not give much credence to?

so, guys, vote with your feet. stop going to brasil.

[Nvr2L8]

Rio Bob:

Thanks for the info - I finally reached someone at United who said basically the same thing. I appreciate the reply.

[Rio Bob]

Nvr2L8


I can answer some of your questions about your flight to Rio with a stop in Sao Paulo. I don't use United I use Continental and ever since Sept. 2001 there is no more nonstop to Rio on Continental they make a stop in SP. First of all you will do customs in Rio not SP.

If everything goes ok your flight should arrive early and they will have more than 40 minutes to transfer your bags to the other flight/aircraft. Im sure this happens all the time and they know what they are doing.

Don't worry, relax if you miss the flight or your bags miss, if United doesn't have another flight to Rio from SP there are plenty of flights on other airlines that I think United will have to put you on if you miss because its their fault.

Don't worry be happy you'll be in Brazil.

[Novio]

BRASILIA, Brazil (Reuters) - Brazilian (news - web sites) police on Thursday began fingerprinting and photographing U.S. visitors on orders of a judge who compared planned U.S. security controls on travelers from Brazil and other nations to Nazi horrors.

Related Links
• US-VISIT Program (dhs.gov)



Federal Judge Julier Sebastiao da Silva, furious at U.S. plans to fingerprint and photograph millions of visitors on entering the United States, ordered Brazil's authorities do the same to U.S. citizens starting on Thursday.


"We've begun doing this," said a Federal Police spokeswoman at Brazil's Guarulhos International Airport in Sao Paulo.


The judge's order came after Brazil's Federal Public Ministry filed a complaint in court over the U.S. measure.


The US-VISIT system is meant to identify people who have violated immigration controls, have criminal records or belong to groups listed as terrorist organizations by the United States.


Starting on Monday, people who need visas to enter the United States will be digitally fingerprinted and photographed when they pass through immigration at major U.S. airports and seaports.


The measure does not apply to citizens of 27, mainly European, nations who do not need a visa to enter the United States.


"I consider the act absolutely brutal, threatening human rights, violating human dignity, xenophobic and worthy of the worst horrors committed by the Nazis," said Sebastiao da Silva in the court order released on Tuesday.


Officials at the U.S. Embassy in Brazil were not immediately available to comment.


Federal Police in Sao Paulo were not able to confirm how many ports of entry had begun the controls and how many U.S. citizens had been fingerprinted and photographed so far.


The order by Sebastiao da Silva, a regional federal judge in the state of Mato Grosso, can be overturned by Brazil's justice system if he is considered to be acting outside of his powers, a Federal Police spokesman said.


Brazilian Foreign Ministry officials were not available to comment on the ruling, which urges the government to pressure the United States to exempt Brazilians from the US-VISIT system.

[Nvr2L8]

Ok, another question not directly related to the "S" in "WSG".

In all my previous trips to Rio or S.P., I've flown directly from the U.S. to either city. However, this time I cashed in miles on United Airlines to get down there, and United no longer flies direct to RJ. My itinerary shows the flight goes to S.P. and arrives at 11:50am. The flight to Rio has a different flight #, and leaves at 12:30pm.

My question is this - does anyone have any direct experience with this United connection? Does the change in flight # mean I changes planes in S.P.? Do I go through customs in S.P. or Rio? If I have to clear customs in S.P., how on earth can I make my connection to Rio?

And yes, of course I called United. And yes, of course I got someone on the phone that had no idea what the deal is down there.

Thanks in advance. Sorry for another off-topic post.

[DogDays]

l just read Brazil is going to fingerprint and photogragh Amercans at Brazilian airports.Who the fuck do they think they are?7/11 didn,t happen in Brazil?l ain,t going back there no more.l have been there twice and l had great time and will love going back ,but not to be fingerprinted like a damn criminal.l got shit load of places to go and have Fun and don,t have to deal with those little Piranhas and Rio Taxis drivers no more

[Ear Muff Diver]

FYI on fingerprinting US citizens entering Brazil.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=564&ncid=564&e=1&u=/nm/20040101/ts_nm/brazil_usa_immigration_dc

[Three I]

Hey guys Brazilian requirement merely mirror U.S. requirements, it has always been this way! When I went to Brazil I had to meet the requirement Brazilians had to meet when thy came to the U.S.!