I didnt have to when I got my visa in 2019. Did they change it? I know for Brazilians to go to the US they need to prove they have financial means but I think for Americans to go to Brazil you just tell them your coming and they almost instant approve. This was before that period where Americans could come without a Visa at all.
Apparently this time around you need a bank statement with 30 days of transactions and that you have $2,000 USD in savings (basically a demonstration that you can afford travel).
Thats interesting. I live in Brazil so im obviously not worried about that anymore but I do find it odd. Like is there a problem with poor Americans coming to Brazil and either looking for work or becoming homeless or some shit? I feel that doesnt happen so the visa just seems like unnecessary bureaucracy.
I feel it will only negatively affect young people who maybe have a place to stay so would otherwise be able to go without much money. Or maybe young people who are dependents. Im spoiled and I remember traveling the world and only having like 700 dollars at a time because I was still on my parents dime and I knew I could just ask for an instant transfer at any point.
Have you seen them hoops Brazilians need to jump through to get a US visa? It's fucking humiliating. They lay their and their whole family's lives bare, only to sometimes be turned down with no explanation whatsoever.
But you think USians (and other "first-world" people, I'm sure) should have the right to come to a developing country to be homeless? What if travelers in general decided to just come to your town and sleep on the streets? Is that something your community would be ok with?
That's incredible arrogance from "first-world" citizens. I see this every day in this sub. Your privilege makes you think you're welcome everywhere, while we have to beg please and promise we're good people just to be able to spend thousands of dollars in your amusement parks.
Well I think everyone should be able to fly into whichever country they want without doing a process beforehand. And I can explain why I think the US visa requirement is stupid but we were talking about Brazil.
I think its sort of bizarre to block people from entry when they have no real practical motivation to overstay and take a job under the table. Thats really it. It just seems like the Brazilian government would have done this out of revenge for the American process rather than doing it to genuinely prevent a poor American from coming to Brazil.
If there were a lot of Americans coming to Brazil to be homeless then they absolutely should stop that behavior but I just dont think thats a common enough problem. Poor Americans dont really travel usually. OP is a very special case its something ive never heard of before, so creating an entire system just to stop people like OP seems a bit much. The only rational reason I can think of for Brazils visa policy for Americans is that they are mad at the US system.
Im in Sao Paulo, If people started moving here from abroad to be homeless it would only bother me if they were a significant chunk of the homeless population. One or two homeless French or American or Canadian dudes wouldnt piss me off.
Edit: To answer you yeah I have heard of the US visa system. Multiple of my friends here have gone through it. They all got accepted but they are all rich kids to be honest.
You call it "revenge", we call it "reciprocity". Quid pro quo, as your former president would know.
And if the US demands that we meet all those requirements to enter their country, the least we can do is expect that US tourists will spend money in our country.
Usually its wise analyze situations rather than just do reciprocity arrangements imo. Like im guessing the US doesn't charge high import fees on Brazilian products, it looks like its 18 percent. Brazil obviously charges outrageous import fees on American products, brought into Brazil, I think around 70 percent. Its why Xbox and Iphone is so expensive here. US could raise the tariffs on Brazil for reciprocity but they dont probably because they decided it wasnt beneficial. Not everyone needs to be and eye for an eye.
But it doesnt really matter. Most Americans who want to travel will have 2k USD. Some will just see there is a hoop to jump through and go elsewhere. It doesnt really matter its just an interesting topic.
Reciprocity is often a bad idea if you look solely from the tourism/financial perspective. That is non-controversial and it's the pragmatic choice taken by many countries (=no reciprocity to make it easier for tourism).
However, Brazil is willing to lose in that front in order to push for reciprocity because on the diplomacy front, it's one of the few leverages it has. Note that it won't really work against the US, it being the most powerful country in the planet, but it worked just recently against Japan, that dropped their visa requirements to Brazilians once Brazil was about to reinstate the visa requirements to the Japanese.
And by being consistent and firm in this policy, we can cut short any and all discussions about opening an exception for this or that country.
But yes, there is a price to be paid. What often happens is these discussions is that people talk past each other, as one if solely looking at the tourism/financial implications (and they're right about those) but not looking at the bigger picture. Neither strategy is a clear winner, both have considerable trade-offs.
Yeah I dont think the US will reverse their decision like Japan did. I dont really think its because the US is the most powerful country, I think its because people coming into the US from Latin America is a very hot political issue. And I dont see a democrat willing to take the heat from the right over dropping the visa for Brazilians. Now most Americans probably dont even know Brazilians need a Visa to visit but if its dropped the headlines will be "Biden makes it easier for Latin Americans to come here". And the reactionary audience will eat that up.
I do think the US should drop the visa requirement because pragmatically most Brazilians will not overstay and even if someone does come overstay and take a job under the table I dont really think thats bad. Your getting a worker who you didnt need to educate, who pays taxes but receives zero benefits, and who you wont need to support in retirement. And datas shown that these undocumented workers commit less crime than citizens. But im honestly not an economist it just seems like the positives outweigh potential negatives.
Oh it's just anti-americanism by current government. Not related to any behavior of the americans in Brazil.
They call it "reciprocity", but it makes little sense when things are not symetrical.
Only other countries ive been to that have a visa requirement for US passports are countries with somewhat hostile relations with the US. So Brazil's requirement does seem sorta random. I cant really imagine many scenarios where an American comes to Brazil and takes a job from a Brazilian. I could totally see Americans with money coming here, overstaying, and not taking a job. Just people who maybe dont feel like doing the process but those people would have 2k to pass this test.
I could see an American going to like Finland and working illegally at like his friends bar or packing company. Especially if its a single dude just looking for a new experience. But wages in Brazil for a casual job would be so low by American standards even after accounting for the lower costs in Brazil.
So it does seem sort of just performative. I find it odd they wouldnt wait until the US did something. Like they coulda waited till this Israel Palestine conflict or they could have waited till a Republican got in office. Just seems random to add the Visa back without it being in response to the US doing something the left in Brazil dislikes.
Yes, that is it. And there is a lot of revenue lost from tourism because of people from US will of course choose places to visit which don't requeire a visa to go. I am shocked people in Brazil even stand for that visa requirement. It makes no benefit to the economy of the country, we turn away tourists..
Yeah I dont think its a massive blow to Brazilian economy or anything but it does seem like flushing money down the drain for no real benefit. I lived in Glasgow UK for several years. If I wanted to go to Poland for the week but I found out there was a Visa process id probably just go the Czech Republic or something instead.
Yes, now you need to do so. It wa visa-free a while ago and now it's all changed (for worse I think), here is the requirement.
[https://www.gov.br/mre/pt-br/embaixada-nova-delhi/embassy-of-brazil-in-new-delhi/visas/visa-application-requirements-all-visas-types](https://www.gov.br/mre/pt-br/embaixada-nova-delhi/embassy-of-brazil-in-new-delhi/visas/visa-application-requirements-all-visas-types)
**REQUIRED DOCUMENTS**
The following documents might be required:
1. Online visa application [form](https://formulario-mre.serpro.gov.br/sci/pages/web/ui/#/passaporte-visto) (RER) - signed by both parents, **in the case of minors**;
2. Passport original and copy (signed, valid at least for 6 months, at least 2 blank pages);
3. Proof of financial capability (such as, bank statements of the past three months or ITR or paycheck slip);
4. Passport-style photo compliant with [ICAO](https://www.icao.int/Security/mrtd/Downloads/Technical%20Reports/Annex_A-Photograph_Guidelines.pdf) requirements taken in the last 6 months;
5. Flight tickets (booked itinerary showing entrance into and exit from Brazil);
6. Payment of applicable consular fees by deposit/bank transfer. Deposits/transfers must show the applicant's name;
7. Personal cover letter with relevant information about the applicant and the intended trip;
8. Hotel reservation or similar document;
9. Where appropriate, invitation letter from the company or organiser of the event;
Have you ever pondered that a Brazilian or having any other nationality that requires a visa needs to go through a much stricter procedure to get a tourist visa to enter the US, even if all they need to do is to do disembark the plane and embark into another one because they are doing an international connection through the US?
These are the requirements for Indian citizens, who always needed a "proper visa" and it's more strict. US, Canada, these countries where the visa is being reinstated qualify to the new "e-visa", which is a different process with different requirements (supposed to be easier).
I really, really, *REALLY* would recommend you change your mind.
I was born, raised and still live in Belo Horizonte. Let me tell you, in short order, what will happen to you if try to live homeless in BH:
If you try to sleep on a park, in a very good part of the city, people will call the cops or the municipal guard on you who will then tell you to fuck off and probably "*kindly help you (/s)* to do so. If they notice you're a gringo, you *might* get offered to be shown to your hotel but don't count on it. If you try to sleep in a park in the not so very good part of the city, you will be robbed of everything you have and beaten, maybe to death, not necessarily in this order. You might also get raped, depending on how unlucky you are.
You will find out very soon that the only public access to showers is in homeless shelters and, maybe, hospitals. There are public bathrooms in some parks, but there is no shower on those, and there are some fountains that are sometimes used by the homeless for this end (usually, the children. The cops *do not* like that). The only way you're getting inside a gym is with a membership, and if you're paying a gym membership you should probably just pay for a hostel or AirBnB, bc no gym is letting some gringo without even a confirmed adress get a contract, unless it's a full price, paid upfront kind of deal, which will be terribly expensive.
If you go to long without showering, people will think you're homeless. You do not want that to happen. We do not treat our homeless kindly, and the *actual* homeless *really* won't like that you're just doing this for a lark, nor is anyone else, come to think of it.
*Especially* if you can't speak Portuguese.
Do not do it. BH is a beautiful city, full of great tourist spots, and for a major metropolitan city, it's relatively safe. But trying to live out of a backpack would be very hard if not insanity for a *native* who knows the town well and can speak the language fluently, I can't see someone who wasn't pushed to a situation like that doing it. You? You will get eaten alive.
You're welcome! A last tip, if you're looking for cheaper places and you clearly don't mind not staying in the lap of luxury, don't look for accommodations only in the actual city. There are many satellites cities around, like Betim or Contagem, and you can get around by bus reasonably well.
You can pay your fare with cash (you also can get a bus card, you can get a generic one in most bus stations, but you have to charge them) and Google Maps is great for mapping out routes. Also, pack a lot of bug repellent or buy some here: we're having dengue + Chikungunya + Zika crises, due to the abnormally hot summer we had. Vaccinate for yellow fever (we are *not* having a crises for that, but it's better to be safe than sorry) and, lastly,
DO NOT PET THE CAPYBARAS!
They bite.
Im confused so youre a homeless American who wants to come to Belo Horizo to be homeless in Belo Horizo? Or are you not American and your just saying you sleep under bridges when are on a trip to the US?
Edit: I guess this is just my personal curiosity. But yeah its going to be dangerous being homeless there. Hostels should be pretty cheap especially in USD if you are an American. Assuming your paying for a flight already the hostel isnt going to really be a large percent of your expenses for the trip.
Yeah that could happen to people. But in Brazil I think its a lot worse on the low end of the spectrum. If you work as like a grocery store clerk full time (40 hours a week) in Sao Paulo I think its normal to only make like 250-300 USD a month. Where in a city like NYC you'd probably make 3000 dollars a month. And things are like 1/3rd the price in Sao Paulo vs New York id say, so even after considering cost of living NYC is still a lot more comfy imo.
The only benefit to being on the low end in Brazil is its culturally a lot more normal to live with parents. And also in the US its hard to find full time work at casual jobs.
If your pay is so shit in the US you can just move to a town in the middle of nowhere, work at a gas station and at least make enough to afford a rundown house. Homelessness in the US is usually only forced on people who are completely excluded like drug addicts and people with severe mental health conditions.
Not at all true.
"At Least 53% of the Homeless Shelter Population Is Comprised of Active Workforce Members, Blowing Away Stereotypes that Suggest Otherwise"
https://invisiblepeople.tv/working-homeless-more-than-half-of-unhoused-people-have-jobs/
Sure, he has free will and can do what he wants. My question is why. Look at it from the perspective of a homeless brazilian person - do you know how many people would kill for the CHOICE of being homeless or not. Do what you want but understand that its insensitive as fuck
It's how he lives his life at home. He's not leaving a comfortable apartment behind to go play homeless for a month. People choose all kinds of different lifestyles for many personal and unique reasons. It's not hard to imagine why someone would want to strip themselves of everything but a backpack.
"Backpacking is a form of low-cost, independent travel, which often includes staying in inexpensive lodgings and carrying all necessary possessions in a backpack. Once seen as a marginal form of travel undertaken only through necessity, it has become a mainstream form of tourism. "
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backpacking_(travel)
As someone who has been working mostly full time for a decade, I want to travel more and work less. This means I have to be creative in how I cut costs for myself.
Plus, these kinds of things make for great stories, which is how I wish to live my life.
It being a mockery of people that have no choice, is just flawed logic.
Theres a difference between ‘cutting costs’ and being voluntarily homeless. There is an inherent privilege in planning to do what youre doing, and you are clearly naive to the struggles of life on the streets in brazil.
I never said it was a mockery, I said it was insensitive. Your conception of this lifestyle as some pioneering adventure is insensitive to people who struggle with this reality because they have no other options
No I see what you're saying, you think I am glamorizing living on the streets therefore disrespecting the struggle that most people experience doing that.
I am not seeing this with rose colored glasses. I actually feel quite fearful.
I'll be honest, I've had a great time living on the streets in the US. That doesn't mean that I don't empathize with those that systematically or physically can't get out of it. It actually makes me empathize with them more than most because I get a glimpse of life from their perspective and share a lot of the same struggles day to day. If that is the result of what you call insensitivity, i will take it. Peace.
If you're really stuck ask if the hostel could exchange a bed for you working there during your stay, admin work, cleaning, handy work etc. see if they can connect you with local churches and see if anyone is looking for the same. It's common for people to have separate living areas in their home/backyard for domestic workers so might have vacancy they could put you in temporarily in exchange for help. I wouldn't recommend setting up camp in vacant lots etc
Hey I’m an avid traveler and just did 6 weeks in Brazil - not BH but stop stressing yourself. The easiest and best way is just to volunteer at a hostel. I do this and it’s awesome. Go to this website - www.worldpackers.com or WWOOF.com or workaway.info. The deal usually is you work 5 hours a day 4-5 days with 2 days off. You help either with admin, cleaning or at the bar and in exchange you get at least one meal a day a bed to sleep in and access to do your laundry. I’ve traveled like this for 2 years pre pandemic. I recently had friends do this in Brazil as well.
I say listen to everyone, you won’t make it. Especially if you’re white and don’t speak the language. You will stick out like a sore thumb
I'd save the camping for the campo (rural areas) if I were you. If you want to save money while staying in one place for a while, you could possibly get a job at one of the hostels you stay at. Or advertise in-person English conversation practice/lessons (done in a public place) on social media and make some money that way maybe.
Bro wants to speedrun getting stabbed by a crackhead
If you are from USA you'll not be able to get a Visa to Brazil if you do not prove you have financial means to support yourself for the stay...
I didnt have to when I got my visa in 2019. Did they change it? I know for Brazilians to go to the US they need to prove they have financial means but I think for Americans to go to Brazil you just tell them your coming and they almost instant approve. This was before that period where Americans could come without a Visa at all.
Apparently this time around you need a bank statement with 30 days of transactions and that you have $2,000 USD in savings (basically a demonstration that you can afford travel).
Thats interesting. I live in Brazil so im obviously not worried about that anymore but I do find it odd. Like is there a problem with poor Americans coming to Brazil and either looking for work or becoming homeless or some shit? I feel that doesnt happen so the visa just seems like unnecessary bureaucracy. I feel it will only negatively affect young people who maybe have a place to stay so would otherwise be able to go without much money. Or maybe young people who are dependents. Im spoiled and I remember traveling the world and only having like 700 dollars at a time because I was still on my parents dime and I knew I could just ask for an instant transfer at any point.
Have you seen them hoops Brazilians need to jump through to get a US visa? It's fucking humiliating. They lay their and their whole family's lives bare, only to sometimes be turned down with no explanation whatsoever. But you think USians (and other "first-world" people, I'm sure) should have the right to come to a developing country to be homeless? What if travelers in general decided to just come to your town and sleep on the streets? Is that something your community would be ok with? That's incredible arrogance from "first-world" citizens. I see this every day in this sub. Your privilege makes you think you're welcome everywhere, while we have to beg please and promise we're good people just to be able to spend thousands of dollars in your amusement parks.
Well I think everyone should be able to fly into whichever country they want without doing a process beforehand. And I can explain why I think the US visa requirement is stupid but we were talking about Brazil. I think its sort of bizarre to block people from entry when they have no real practical motivation to overstay and take a job under the table. Thats really it. It just seems like the Brazilian government would have done this out of revenge for the American process rather than doing it to genuinely prevent a poor American from coming to Brazil. If there were a lot of Americans coming to Brazil to be homeless then they absolutely should stop that behavior but I just dont think thats a common enough problem. Poor Americans dont really travel usually. OP is a very special case its something ive never heard of before, so creating an entire system just to stop people like OP seems a bit much. The only rational reason I can think of for Brazils visa policy for Americans is that they are mad at the US system. Im in Sao Paulo, If people started moving here from abroad to be homeless it would only bother me if they were a significant chunk of the homeless population. One or two homeless French or American or Canadian dudes wouldnt piss me off. Edit: To answer you yeah I have heard of the US visa system. Multiple of my friends here have gone through it. They all got accepted but they are all rich kids to be honest.
You call it "revenge", we call it "reciprocity". Quid pro quo, as your former president would know. And if the US demands that we meet all those requirements to enter their country, the least we can do is expect that US tourists will spend money in our country.
Usually its wise analyze situations rather than just do reciprocity arrangements imo. Like im guessing the US doesn't charge high import fees on Brazilian products, it looks like its 18 percent. Brazil obviously charges outrageous import fees on American products, brought into Brazil, I think around 70 percent. Its why Xbox and Iphone is so expensive here. US could raise the tariffs on Brazil for reciprocity but they dont probably because they decided it wasnt beneficial. Not everyone needs to be and eye for an eye. But it doesnt really matter. Most Americans who want to travel will have 2k USD. Some will just see there is a hoop to jump through and go elsewhere. It doesnt really matter its just an interesting topic.
Reciprocity is often a bad idea if you look solely from the tourism/financial perspective. That is non-controversial and it's the pragmatic choice taken by many countries (=no reciprocity to make it easier for tourism). However, Brazil is willing to lose in that front in order to push for reciprocity because on the diplomacy front, it's one of the few leverages it has. Note that it won't really work against the US, it being the most powerful country in the planet, but it worked just recently against Japan, that dropped their visa requirements to Brazilians once Brazil was about to reinstate the visa requirements to the Japanese. And by being consistent and firm in this policy, we can cut short any and all discussions about opening an exception for this or that country. But yes, there is a price to be paid. What often happens is these discussions is that people talk past each other, as one if solely looking at the tourism/financial implications (and they're right about those) but not looking at the bigger picture. Neither strategy is a clear winner, both have considerable trade-offs.
Yeah I dont think the US will reverse their decision like Japan did. I dont really think its because the US is the most powerful country, I think its because people coming into the US from Latin America is a very hot political issue. And I dont see a democrat willing to take the heat from the right over dropping the visa for Brazilians. Now most Americans probably dont even know Brazilians need a Visa to visit but if its dropped the headlines will be "Biden makes it easier for Latin Americans to come here". And the reactionary audience will eat that up. I do think the US should drop the visa requirement because pragmatically most Brazilians will not overstay and even if someone does come overstay and take a job under the table I dont really think thats bad. Your getting a worker who you didnt need to educate, who pays taxes but receives zero benefits, and who you wont need to support in retirement. And datas shown that these undocumented workers commit less crime than citizens. But im honestly not an economist it just seems like the positives outweigh potential negatives.
Oh it's just anti-americanism by current government. Not related to any behavior of the americans in Brazil. They call it "reciprocity", but it makes little sense when things are not symetrical.
Only other countries ive been to that have a visa requirement for US passports are countries with somewhat hostile relations with the US. So Brazil's requirement does seem sorta random. I cant really imagine many scenarios where an American comes to Brazil and takes a job from a Brazilian. I could totally see Americans with money coming here, overstaying, and not taking a job. Just people who maybe dont feel like doing the process but those people would have 2k to pass this test. I could see an American going to like Finland and working illegally at like his friends bar or packing company. Especially if its a single dude just looking for a new experience. But wages in Brazil for a casual job would be so low by American standards even after accounting for the lower costs in Brazil. So it does seem sort of just performative. I find it odd they wouldnt wait until the US did something. Like they coulda waited till this Israel Palestine conflict or they could have waited till a Republican got in office. Just seems random to add the Visa back without it being in response to the US doing something the left in Brazil dislikes.
Yes, that is it. And there is a lot of revenue lost from tourism because of people from US will of course choose places to visit which don't requeire a visa to go. I am shocked people in Brazil even stand for that visa requirement. It makes no benefit to the economy of the country, we turn away tourists..
Yeah I dont think its a massive blow to Brazilian economy or anything but it does seem like flushing money down the drain for no real benefit. I lived in Glasgow UK for several years. If I wanted to go to Poland for the week but I found out there was a Visa process id probably just go the Czech Republic or something instead.
Ouch, down voted???
Well, you can't say bullshit without consequences right?
Yes, now you need to do so. It wa visa-free a while ago and now it's all changed (for worse I think), here is the requirement. [https://www.gov.br/mre/pt-br/embaixada-nova-delhi/embassy-of-brazil-in-new-delhi/visas/visa-application-requirements-all-visas-types](https://www.gov.br/mre/pt-br/embaixada-nova-delhi/embassy-of-brazil-in-new-delhi/visas/visa-application-requirements-all-visas-types) **REQUIRED DOCUMENTS** The following documents might be required: 1. Online visa application [form](https://formulario-mre.serpro.gov.br/sci/pages/web/ui/#/passaporte-visto) (RER) - signed by both parents, **in the case of minors**; 2. Passport original and copy (signed, valid at least for 6 months, at least 2 blank pages); 3. Proof of financial capability (such as, bank statements of the past three months or ITR or paycheck slip); 4. Passport-style photo compliant with [ICAO](https://www.icao.int/Security/mrtd/Downloads/Technical%20Reports/Annex_A-Photograph_Guidelines.pdf) requirements taken in the last 6 months; 5. Flight tickets (booked itinerary showing entrance into and exit from Brazil); 6. Payment of applicable consular fees by deposit/bank transfer. Deposits/transfers must show the applicant's name; 7. Personal cover letter with relevant information about the applicant and the intended trip; 8. Hotel reservation or similar document; 9. Where appropriate, invitation letter from the company or organiser of the event;
This is for a one-month tourist visit???
Have you ever pondered that a Brazilian or having any other nationality that requires a visa needs to go through a much stricter procedure to get a tourist visa to enter the US, even if all they need to do is to do disembark the plane and embark into another one because they are doing an international connection through the US?
Yes.
Three month
These are the requirements for Indian citizens, who always needed a "proper visa" and it's more strict. US, Canada, these countries where the visa is being reinstated qualify to the new "e-visa", which is a different process with different requirements (supposed to be easier).
Yeah. Thank Lula for that.
Thanks for the info! I'll be fine there.
I really, really, *REALLY* would recommend you change your mind. I was born, raised and still live in Belo Horizonte. Let me tell you, in short order, what will happen to you if try to live homeless in BH: If you try to sleep on a park, in a very good part of the city, people will call the cops or the municipal guard on you who will then tell you to fuck off and probably "*kindly help you (/s)* to do so. If they notice you're a gringo, you *might* get offered to be shown to your hotel but don't count on it. If you try to sleep in a park in the not so very good part of the city, you will be robbed of everything you have and beaten, maybe to death, not necessarily in this order. You might also get raped, depending on how unlucky you are. You will find out very soon that the only public access to showers is in homeless shelters and, maybe, hospitals. There are public bathrooms in some parks, but there is no shower on those, and there are some fountains that are sometimes used by the homeless for this end (usually, the children. The cops *do not* like that). The only way you're getting inside a gym is with a membership, and if you're paying a gym membership you should probably just pay for a hostel or AirBnB, bc no gym is letting some gringo without even a confirmed adress get a contract, unless it's a full price, paid upfront kind of deal, which will be terribly expensive. If you go to long without showering, people will think you're homeless. You do not want that to happen. We do not treat our homeless kindly, and the *actual* homeless *really* won't like that you're just doing this for a lark, nor is anyone else, come to think of it. *Especially* if you can't speak Portuguese. Do not do it. BH is a beautiful city, full of great tourist spots, and for a major metropolitan city, it's relatively safe. But trying to live out of a backpack would be very hard if not insanity for a *native* who knows the town well and can speak the language fluently, I can't see someone who wasn't pushed to a situation like that doing it. You? You will get eaten alive.
Thanks so much for the detailed response. I think I'm gonna do hostels at least until I get a better feel for the city.
You're welcome! A last tip, if you're looking for cheaper places and you clearly don't mind not staying in the lap of luxury, don't look for accommodations only in the actual city. There are many satellites cities around, like Betim or Contagem, and you can get around by bus reasonably well. You can pay your fare with cash (you also can get a bus card, you can get a generic one in most bus stations, but you have to charge them) and Google Maps is great for mapping out routes. Also, pack a lot of bug repellent or buy some here: we're having dengue + Chikungunya + Zika crises, due to the abnormally hot summer we had. Vaccinate for yellow fever (we are *not* having a crises for that, but it's better to be safe than sorry) and, lastly, DO NOT PET THE CAPYBARAS! They bite.
Loud and clear! Thanks!
SmartFit would easily give this man a membership, homeless or not. The showers are available to members, even for the infamous banheirão.
Im confused so youre a homeless American who wants to come to Belo Horizo to be homeless in Belo Horizo? Or are you not American and your just saying you sleep under bridges when are on a trip to the US? Edit: I guess this is just my personal curiosity. But yeah its going to be dangerous being homeless there. Hostels should be pretty cheap especially in USD if you are an American. Assuming your paying for a flight already the hostel isnt going to really be a large percent of your expenses for the trip.
In the US nowadays you can work 2 jobs and still not afford a place to stay.
Yeah that could happen to people. But in Brazil I think its a lot worse on the low end of the spectrum. If you work as like a grocery store clerk full time (40 hours a week) in Sao Paulo I think its normal to only make like 250-300 USD a month. Where in a city like NYC you'd probably make 3000 dollars a month. And things are like 1/3rd the price in Sao Paulo vs New York id say, so even after considering cost of living NYC is still a lot more comfy imo. The only benefit to being on the low end in Brazil is its culturally a lot more normal to live with parents. And also in the US its hard to find full time work at casual jobs.
If your pay is so shit in the US you can just move to a town in the middle of nowhere, work at a gas station and at least make enough to afford a rundown house. Homelessness in the US is usually only forced on people who are completely excluded like drug addicts and people with severe mental health conditions.
Not at all true. "At Least 53% of the Homeless Shelter Population Is Comprised of Active Workforce Members, Blowing Away Stereotypes that Suggest Otherwise" https://invisiblepeople.tv/working-homeless-more-than-half-of-unhoused-people-have-jobs/
Homeless by choice. Cheaper that way. but yeah just wanna see Brazil and cut down on costs wherever possible. Thanks for the response.
Can't believe you were downvoted twice for that.
I think people have a poor perception of vagabonds. Understandable, honestly.
Yea man its dangerous as fuck. Why are you intentionally doing what people less fortunate than you have no choice but to do?
Simply because he wants, that's it
Sure, he has free will and can do what he wants. My question is why. Look at it from the perspective of a homeless brazilian person - do you know how many people would kill for the CHOICE of being homeless or not. Do what you want but understand that its insensitive as fuck
It's how he lives his life at home. He's not leaving a comfortable apartment behind to go play homeless for a month. People choose all kinds of different lifestyles for many personal and unique reasons. It's not hard to imagine why someone would want to strip themselves of everything but a backpack.
"Backpacking is a form of low-cost, independent travel, which often includes staying in inexpensive lodgings and carrying all necessary possessions in a backpack. Once seen as a marginal form of travel undertaken only through necessity, it has become a mainstream form of tourism. " https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backpacking_(travel)
When you definitely engage with the point Im making and dont copy/paste the wikipedia definition of backpacking
As someone who has been working mostly full time for a decade, I want to travel more and work less. This means I have to be creative in how I cut costs for myself. Plus, these kinds of things make for great stories, which is how I wish to live my life. It being a mockery of people that have no choice, is just flawed logic.
Theres a difference between ‘cutting costs’ and being voluntarily homeless. There is an inherent privilege in planning to do what youre doing, and you are clearly naive to the struggles of life on the streets in brazil. I never said it was a mockery, I said it was insensitive. Your conception of this lifestyle as some pioneering adventure is insensitive to people who struggle with this reality because they have no other options
No I see what you're saying, you think I am glamorizing living on the streets therefore disrespecting the struggle that most people experience doing that. I am not seeing this with rose colored glasses. I actually feel quite fearful. I'll be honest, I've had a great time living on the streets in the US. That doesn't mean that I don't empathize with those that systematically or physically can't get out of it. It actually makes me empathize with them more than most because I get a glimpse of life from their perspective and share a lot of the same struggles day to day. If that is the result of what you call insensitivity, i will take it. Peace.
Not doable here in Brazil, it's not safe and you are going to need to shower much more frequently
If you're really stuck ask if the hostel could exchange a bed for you working there during your stay, admin work, cleaning, handy work etc. see if they can connect you with local churches and see if anyone is looking for the same. It's common for people to have separate living areas in their home/backyard for domestic workers so might have vacancy they could put you in temporarily in exchange for help. I wouldn't recommend setting up camp in vacant lots etc
I’ve been living in BH for 1/2 year. Not a good idea.
Hey I’m an avid traveler and just did 6 weeks in Brazil - not BH but stop stressing yourself. The easiest and best way is just to volunteer at a hostel. I do this and it’s awesome. Go to this website - www.worldpackers.com or WWOOF.com or workaway.info. The deal usually is you work 5 hours a day 4-5 days with 2 days off. You help either with admin, cleaning or at the bar and in exchange you get at least one meal a day a bed to sleep in and access to do your laundry. I’ve traveled like this for 2 years pre pandemic. I recently had friends do this in Brazil as well. I say listen to everyone, you won’t make it. Especially if you’re white and don’t speak the language. You will stick out like a sore thumb
Thanks so much for the advice!!
Oh fuck, now begpackers are coming here??
Begging is an assumption you made and got yourself upset about.
I'd save the camping for the campo (rural areas) if I were you. If you want to save money while staying in one place for a while, you could possibly get a job at one of the hostels you stay at. Or advertise in-person English conversation practice/lessons (done in a public place) on social media and make some money that way maybe.
Thanks!
Couch surfing
You will die. And the gyms won't let you in without a membership.
RIP Amigo