A Non-Bureaucratic Bureaucracy

I picked up my Passport/Brazilian visa this morning at the consulate in San Francisco. I got there at 8:45 AM and the office was packed. But at 9AM the window opened and they got through everyone waiting to pick up visa's in a matter of minutes. Painless.

Yellow Fever Shot

Making an appointment at the Travel Clinic can be a bit complicated. Yellow Fever vaccine comes in 5-dose vials so the clinic schedules 5 shots together and won't do it unless they have 5. The vaccine degrades within 24hours and it is very expensive. When you call for a consult they call you back when they have an opening .

Timing

Almost forgot... make sure your application for a Brazilian visa is timed so that it will be used withing 90 days of it being issued or it will be invalid.

Brazilian visa and Immunizations

I went to the Brazilian Consulate yesterday for my visa. After a short wait', I was called, answered a few questions and was told to return on the 29th of January to pick up my passport and visa. I had filled out the application form on-line and printed it out along with a blank one just in case. I brought copies of my hotel reservations for both ends of my trip as well as confirmation [from Orbitz] of my flights in and out of Brazil. It all went very smoothly and the only "surprise" was that the visa now [as of 1 January 2008] costs $130.00 accepted only in the form of a United States Postal Service money order. The increase, I was told was because the USA started charging Brazilians another $30. for a visa and this was called a "reciprocity fee." I then went to see about getting immunizations. At the VA hospital I had an extensive interview with an MD in the Infectious Diseases unit. She inquired about where I was going, when and how long in each port. Following the guidelines set by CDC she recommended a Tetanus, Hepatitis A and flu shot as well as a Yellow fever shot which I would have to get elsewhere. She also suggested a Malaria vaccination if I would be spending the night in any of the Brazilian or African ports. I declined as I would be returning to the ship every evening. She recommended I use the insect repellent DEET [20% -30%] and wear long trousers and sleeves at dusk as that was the most likely time for mosquitoes. From a precautionary angle she prescribed a couple of treatments for diarrhea as well as an all-purpose anti-biotic. It was also suggested that while on board the ship to wash hands frequently as there have been a number of outbreaks of infectious diseases on cruise ships in the recent past. I must now contact the Traveler's Clinic to make an appointment for the Yellow Fever vaccination which costs a whopping $103.00. I also just received notification of an additional on-board charge of $83.00 for a Gambian visa [n.b. each passenger is required to pay this even if they don't plan to go ashore in Gambia]. It will be automatically charged to the passenger's account.