World · Latin America · 1 day ago
Brazilian inquiries about moving to the US surge after Lula’s re-election
After President Lula was re-elected in Brazil, immigration law firms and a relocation company said inquiries from Brazilians about moving to the United States surged.
One Miami law firm received 700 inquiries in a day, compared with its usual 500 to 600 in a month; an Orlando firm received 643, far above its usual 20 daily contacts.
A separate company said its contacts rose 2,154% above its daily average.
These were initial requests for information, not a count of people who moved or received visas.
The firms said many inquiries came from families able to invest in the US or highly qualified professionals, and cited political differences and dissatisfaction with Brazil’s Supreme Court among some reasons.
Common routes include investment and visas for people with exceptional skills; the investment visa requires $800,000 in a US project.
The surge came as the US government was tightening enforcement against irregular immigration, while the firms said legal visa routes had not changed.
Applicants still need to qualify for a visa, and the firms said only some people who make inquiries go on to pursue an application.
Inquiries from Brazilians seeking to move legally to the United States surged after President Lula was re-elected, according to immigration law firms and a planning company.
The Piquet Law Firm received 700 inquiries on Monday, while Bicalho Legal Consulting received 643 assessments that day.
D4U Immigration reported a 2,154% increase in contacts compared with its daily average.
The firms said many prospective clients were families able to invest in the United States or highly qualified professionals.
The inquiries concern initial assessments, and the firms said legal migration routes had not changed despite tighter US immigration enforcement.
- Who
- Brazilian families with investment funds and highly qualified professionals seeking to move to the United States.
- What
- Inquiries about legal migration and green cards surged after Lula’s re-election.
- When
- The increase was reported on Monday, October 26, the first business day after the re-election.
- Where
- Brazil and the United States; the cited law firms are based in Florida.
- Why
- The sources report that the election result prompted a rush for information; some prospective clients cited political differences and dissatisfaction with Brazil’s Supreme Court.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Bicalho Legal Consulting reported a surge in inquiries the day after a court hearing related to a possible investigation of Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes was postponed.
A stricter US rule for reviewing applicants’ finances, employment, health and use of social benefits took effect.
The day after Lula’s re-election, the Piquet Law Firm received 700 inquiries and Bicalho Legal Consulting received 643 assessments.
Reports described the surge in migration inquiries, including D4U Immigration’s reported 2,154% increase in contacts.
- Piquet Law Firm inquiries
- 700 on October 26
- Bicalho Legal Consulting assessments
- 643 on October 26
- D4U Immigration contacts
- Up 2,154% compared with the daily average
- EB-5 investment threshold
- US$800,000
- Brazilian residents in the United States
- At least 2 million, according to the latest Itamaraty data