When the U.S. government enters a shutdown, many federal activities are interrupted, with employees placed on unpaid leave and essential services partially suspended. However, not all operations stop. Consular services, such as visa and passport issuance, continue functioning because they are funded by the fees paid by applicants, independent of the budget approved by Congress.
The American consular system in Brazil operates independently, keeping consulates in cities like Brasília, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Recife, and Porto Alegre active in receiving applications for tourist and business visas. This self-financed model ensures that even during political crises or shutdowns, the service remains available to applicants, providing stability and continuity in operations.
Despite the continuity, the shutdown does not accelerate the process. Visa interviews follow varying timelines depending on location and demand, which can take several months during peak periods. Brazilians planning to travel should prepare for potential delays, scheduling appointments well in advance to avoid disruptions that could affect planned trips.
The U.S. Department of State emphasizes that appointment timelines can change at any moment, depending on workload and the number of available staff. Applicants need to follow official channels and remain flexible with their schedules, ensuring that all steps of the process are completed within the required timeframe.
The official procedure to apply for a visa remains unchanged: filling out the DS-160 form, paying the fee that keeps the service active, scheduling the appointment for fingerprinting and photography, and attending the consular interview when required. All these steps remain available during the shutdown, ensuring that the service continues to operate for those wishing to travel to the United States.
Although the system is operational, a prolonged shutdown can bring secondary effects, such as temporary staff reductions, delays in security checks, and fewer available rescheduling slots. Therefore, it is recommended not to wait until the last minute and to start the visa process early enough to avoid potential issues.
For upcoming events, such as the 2026 World Cup in the United States, the recommendation is clear: begin the visa process as soon as possible. Even if consular services remain active during the shutdown, the system’s natural slowness makes early preparation essential to ensure that all steps are completed on time.
In summary, while the shutdown causes interruptions in many sectors of the U.S. government, consular services remain fully operational in Brazil. The self-financed structure and continuity of processes ensure that Brazilian tourists and business travelers can safely and reliably obtain their visas, even during periods of political crisis in the United States.
Autor: Clodayre Daine
