Bolsonaro: Trump signals he will facilitate visa for Brazilians

The idea is to include Brazil in the US Global Entry program

Published on 22/03/2019 - 13:15 By Pedro Rafael Vilela - Brasília

US President Donald Trump signaled the possibility of facilitating the entry of Brazilians in the US in exchange for the decision by the Brazilian government to exempt citizens from four countries—including the US—from visa requirements.

“Trump signaled the possibility of starting to open the visa exemption for some groups of Brazilians,” President Bolsonaro said yesterday (Mar. 21) during a live Facebook transmission broadcast from Santiago, Chile, where he has engagements starting Friday (22).

The issue is reported to have been discussed during a bilateral meeting held Tuesday (19) in Washington, during  Bolsonaro’s first official trip overseas.

Global Entry

According to Trump, the idea is to bring Brazil to the US government’s Global Entry program, which allows frequent visitors from certain countries to enter the US without having to go through immigration. Nationals from 11 countries are eligible under the initiative: Argentina, India, Colombia, the UK, Germany, Panama, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, and Mexico.

Despite the move, Global Entry does not exempt travelers from visa requirements. It demands certain basic conditions, like an interview and a clean criminal record.

Bolsonaro justified the Brazilian government’s waiver decision benefiting citizens from the US, Japan, Canada, and Australia by saying the move will boost Brazil’s revenues through tourism.

“There was criticism from the press, according to which we’d fail to make some R$60 million every year with this visa issue. However, with the significant inflow of people here, each visa waiver for tourism and business will no doubt allow them to leave billions here, which by far surpass these R$60 million we may be losing by no longer requiring a visa,” he argued.

Nato

During the broadcast, in which he took stock of his US trip, Bolsonaro celebrated another promise made by President Donald Trump: to work to have Brazil in the future join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato), a military organization formed by 29 countries in Europe and North America.

“Another topic discussed in the meeting was the possibility of having Brazil the select group of non-Nato allies. But then, President Trump said that, more than that, he wants to see us become full members of Nato. He plans to change the alliance statute and bring to the other partners for appreciation the question of Brazil effectively joining this circle.”

The president also mentioned the signing of the Agreement on Technological Safeguards, which grants to the US the commercial use of the Alcântara launch base, in Maranhão state.

Translation: Fabrício Ferreira -  Edition: Denise Griesinger / Augusto Queiroz

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