The articles written by the PÚBLICO Brasil team are written in the variant of the Portuguese language used in Brazil.
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Since April this year, Brazilians who have Portuguese nationality have been able to apply for the E-2 visa, intended for people who intend to invest and reside in the United States. The information comes from lawyer Gustavo Kanashiro, Director of Immigration at Fragomen in Brazil, a company specialized in migration. Data Ministry of Justice of Portugal point out that, between 2010 and 2023, more than 400 thousand Brazilians obtained Portuguese citizenship.
The facility granted to Portuguese-Brazilians results from an agreement called AMIGOS (Advancing Mutual Interests and Growing our Sucess), signed with Portugal by the President of the United States, Joe Biden, in December 2022, but which only came into effect in the first half of the year. Since then, US consulates in Brazil have put into practice the E-2 Investor Treaty, which encompasses Portugal and 70 other nations. Brazil is not part of this list.
“It is important to highlight that hundreds of thousands of Brazilians have or can claim Portuguese citizenship through ancestry, legal residence in Portugal or through other means. Furthermore, the demand for immigration possibilities to the United States is always high, so this new path attracts a significant audience”, highlights Kanashiro, who admits the possibility of Fragomen opening an office in Portugal. The company is a global leader in the area of migration, with more than 60 offices around the world.
Kanashiro states that agreements like the one signed between Portugal and the United States, which benefit Portuguese-Brazilians, are based on bilateral understandings between countries. Lawyer Priscila Corrêa, a specialist in migration and, particularly, in processes for obtaining an E-2 visa, adds that, despite the facilities brought by the treaty, the North American authorities must evaluate, with criteria, all requests made by Portuguese nationals. Brazilians, who will have to show “consistency in the promised investments and the economic impact on the country”.
The director of Fragomen agrees: “The E-2 visas require that interested parties present financial statements and evidence of properties, in addition to a business plan for the North American territory.” He also says that, after preparing the documents required for visas, it is necessary to schedule an interview consular office, the first effective step in the process. Throughout the process, at least ten requirements will be required and the necessary legal proof of the information will be provided.
From US$ 100 thousand
There is, however, no minimum amount required for investments in the United States, but, according to him, what is observed is that, when the promised investment is above US$ 100 thousand (95 thousand euros or R$ 570 thousand), normally , visa applications are approved.
Kanashiro emphasizes that, since the entry into force of the agreement between Portugal and the USA favoring Portuguese-Brazilians, 14 visa requests have been made. “We believe that this number should grow as there is greater dissemination and knowledge on the part of Portuguese citizens and dual nationals”, he emphasizes.
He details that the benefits of the E-2 visa for investors are several, such as permission for the investor’s spouse to work in another company, authorization for children under 21 to enroll in public schools and a visa renewed indefinitely, while the business is in operation and generating jobs. Later on, it will be possible to request the Green Card (seen as resident).
