Dot in the Sky (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
dotinthesky) wrote2007-01-23 06:54 pm
dotinthesky) wrote2007-01-23 06:54 pm
Entry tags:
Brasil's Limbo Feels Lonely
I lost my Brasilian citizenship; or, more precisely, I've been thrown into Brasilian legal limbo.
This is what happened: although I was born in South Africa, my parents registered me in the Brasilian embassy (which included an official birth certificate.) Later, when we moved to Brasil, I was given an I.D. card and passport. For all intents and purposes, I was a Brasilian. My family lived in Hong Kong when I turned 18. Every male in Brasil is required to enlist with the military when they reach that age, which I did at Brasil's consulate in Hong Kong. I was given a document which I should give to the military as soon as I moved to Brasil. I also became eligible to vote. What they should have told me was that I needed to, as an adult, choose the Brasilian citizenship. Nothing was said, my passport was re-newed for ten years (which they shouldn't have done) and I went my merry way. When I lived in Brasil for one year, in 2000, the military gave me a letter saying that I was exempt from the army as long as I opted for dual citizenship. As soon as I gave up my British citizenship, my status with the army would change. Regardless of what I did, I was still a Brasilian.
My passport expired last year and the consulate in London explained to me that my status is fucked up: they can't give me a new passport because I failed to opt for citizenship when I turned 18; I'm now a non-brasilian eventhough I still have an I.D. card, birth certificate, can still vote, amongst other things. One consequence of being non-brasilian is that if something were to happen to my mom and brother, I wouldn't be able to inherit our property in Brasil; I also can't buy property or do a number of other things. Yes, that's Brasil's bureacracy for you.
The people at London's consulate agree with me that this is a ridiculous situation (I took this afternoon off to speak to them) and would gladly give me a new passport if they could. I've had to hire a lawyer in Brasil who will begin the process of sorting my legal status; but, as with all lawyers, it's going to cost me more than I can afford. Additionally, she says I can only fix my situation if I become a Brasilian resident again, which means going back to Brasil for a long period of time -- probably in July/August. It means quitting my job, it means the possibility of temp-hell when I return to London (if I return here...); it means all the best laid plans thrown up in the air.
This is what happened: although I was born in South Africa, my parents registered me in the Brasilian embassy (which included an official birth certificate.) Later, when we moved to Brasil, I was given an I.D. card and passport. For all intents and purposes, I was a Brasilian. My family lived in Hong Kong when I turned 18. Every male in Brasil is required to enlist with the military when they reach that age, which I did at Brasil's consulate in Hong Kong. I was given a document which I should give to the military as soon as I moved to Brasil. I also became eligible to vote. What they should have told me was that I needed to, as an adult, choose the Brasilian citizenship. Nothing was said, my passport was re-newed for ten years (which they shouldn't have done) and I went my merry way. When I lived in Brasil for one year, in 2000, the military gave me a letter saying that I was exempt from the army as long as I opted for dual citizenship. As soon as I gave up my British citizenship, my status with the army would change. Regardless of what I did, I was still a Brasilian.
My passport expired last year and the consulate in London explained to me that my status is fucked up: they can't give me a new passport because I failed to opt for citizenship when I turned 18; I'm now a non-brasilian eventhough I still have an I.D. card, birth certificate, can still vote, amongst other things. One consequence of being non-brasilian is that if something were to happen to my mom and brother, I wouldn't be able to inherit our property in Brasil; I also can't buy property or do a number of other things. Yes, that's Brasil's bureacracy for you.
The people at London's consulate agree with me that this is a ridiculous situation (I took this afternoon off to speak to them) and would gladly give me a new passport if they could. I've had to hire a lawyer in Brasil who will begin the process of sorting my legal status; but, as with all lawyers, it's going to cost me more than I can afford. Additionally, she says I can only fix my situation if I become a Brasilian resident again, which means going back to Brasil for a long period of time -- probably in July/August. It means quitting my job, it means the possibility of temp-hell when I return to London (if I return here...); it means all the best laid plans thrown up in the air.
no subject
Yes it will, though we were already planning for Kevin to move back before me. I might just fly straight from Brasil to Canada after I've sorted everything out.
In terms of flying in with a passport, Brasilians get waved in by just showing their passports' photo; customs officers are more concerned with those Brasilians trying to get out. With a British passport, I'm given three months automatically without any fuss. Britain and Brasil have a very good diplomatic relationship and Brits are not required to get Visas before flying in.
The consulate staff were completely mistified, but also aware they couldn't do anything without putting their asses in the firing line.