We spent 10 1/2 hours at the São Paulo airport trying to pick up Nick. The Brazilian Consulate in Houston had messed up our visas when we first came and they had to be sent back. Nick's didn't get corrected because he wasn't here, but he still had a valid visa (we thought). Even though the mistake was theirs, they were telling us that Nick's visa was now invalid, and they were going to send him to Houston, Miami or Buenos Aires, Argentina to get a new visa which, first of all, would have cost us at least $4,000 because Mike would have gone with him, and second, because it was so close to Christmas, it never would have been done in time for them to get back before Dec. 24th. So after lots of prayers and some help from our Bishop (an immigration attorney), our friends at the US Consulate, and paying a $400 fine, we were able to get Nick out and bring him home. It was a terrible "Brazil Moment" kind of day that thankfully ended happily! Since, we have heard from several friends that the same sort of thing happened to them with their kids. I think they just want the fines paid, which Mike asked if we could pay in the first 5 minutes he spoke to authorities in the morning, but he was looked at like he had really offended them. So, 10 hours later, what do we end up doing? Paying a stupid fine! Gotta love Brazil!
16 years ago
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