Moving To Brazil To Live With My Girlfriend

06/09/23  Can someone tell me please... my fiance says that I cannot live there and work here, holding a brazil. Visa. That I'd have to work there???
-@Justinluvwmylady

If you're in Brazil on a Digital Nomad visa, you certainly can. In fact, Digital Nomads are only allowed to receive compensation from foreign sources. 

If you're in Brazil on a Family Unification visa, have a Brazilian Labor Card, classify yourself as an Independent Contractor, and pay your Brazilian income taxes, I'm not aware of any impediment to your working on that basis. 

What is NOT permitted is for a US company to have you on its payroll as an employee in Brazil, unless it's through a Brazilian legal entity that pays into the Brazilian social security system.  That may be what's concerning her. 

06/09/23 Can someone tell me please... my fiance says that I cannot live there and work here, holding a brazil. Visa. That I'd have to work there???
-@Justinluvwmylady

If you're in Brazil on a Digital Nomad visa, you certainly can. In fact, Digital Nomads are only allowed to receive compensation from foreign sources.

If you're in Brazil on a Family Unification visa, have a Brazilian Labor Card, classify yourself as an Independent Contractor, and pay your Brazilian income taxes, I'm not aware of any impediment to your working on that basis.

What is NOT permitted is for a US company to have you on its payroll as an employee in Brazil, unless it's through a Brazilian legal entity that pays into the Brazilian social security system. That may be what's concerning her.
-@abthree

Yes to the last paragraph, I'm sure that's what she speaks of.

Can you tell me if this Digital nomad visa is easier than this process here? And how does that affect me if I were to get married? In this scenario I would not or would still seek a cpf number registration? I'm on steps: obtain divorce certs, obtain cpf.

I've started and am waiting to receive: birth certs, marriage certs. Thus far.

06/09/23 Yes to the last paragraph, I'm sure that's what she speaks of.
Can you tell me if this Digital nomad visa is easier than this process here? And how does that affect me if I were to get married? In this scenario I would not or would still seek a cpf number registration? I'm on steps: obtain divorce certs, obtain cpf.
I've started and am waiting to receive: birth certs, marriage certs. Thus far.
-@Justinluvwmylady

You've got several questions tangled up here, so let me unwrap them.

1. Getting a CPF doesn't in and of itself impose any obligations, and has nothing to do with either getting married or getting residency.  Having a CPF is increasingly just necessary to do normal things in Brazil for anyone who wants to be more than a casual tourist for a week or two.  I think that anybody who intends to spend time in Brazil on a regular basis should get a CPF ASAP.
2. If you qualify for a Digital Nomad visa, it's easier for you than a Family Unification visa because you can get it from a Consulate General in the US before you go to Brazil, while with Family Unification you'll have to go through the Federal Police process in Brazil.  With the visa you'll still have to register with the Federal Police on arrival, but the process is abbreviated compared to what it would be otherwise.  On the downside, you'll have to renew annually, and for renewals you WILL have to go through the Federal Police process with the apostilles, and may need to go back to the US on a document run. Family Unification is basically one-and-done.
3. If you have a Digital Nomad visa and you're registered with the Federal Police you'll have a CRNM, and there's nothing to keep you and your fiancée from marrying. Marriage will change her status, so you'll still have to revise her US visa case.  Renewing your Digital Nomad authorization for residency after your marriage you'd have the opportunity to upgrade your status to Family Unification, but I don't think you'd be required to do so.
4. Remember back to the fact that the Resident Visa process and the Civil Marriage process are two different processes.  You won't have to obtain the Marriage Certificate and the Divorce Decree from your previous marriage and have them apostilled and have Sworn Translations prepared for the Digital Nomad visa, but you still will need them to get married.

@abthree

I don't understand the comment (from a diff reply) about not being able to be on an american payroll and living there. So, if I can be remote through my current job, which I am FT employed, I cannot do this while living there? I have to be employed under another status, contractor etc you say? That would mean that I can't become remote at my own job to pull this off??? I'm confused on this detail.

06/10/23 @abthree. I don't understand the comment (from a diff reply) about not being able to be on an american payroll and living there. So, if I can be remote through my current job, which I am FT employed, I cannot do this while living there? I have to be employed under another status, contractor etc you say? That would mean that I can't become remote at my own job to pull this off??? I'm confused on this detail. 10
-@Justinluvwmylady

Correct.  You can only do your current job remotely and be a legal resident of Brazil as an independent contractor, unless your employer has a Brazilian affiliate to which they can transfer you.  Otherwise, they make themselves subject to Brazil's extensive employment laws.

06/10/23 @abthree. I don't understand the comment (from a diff reply) about not being able to be on an american payroll and living there. So, if I can be remote through my current job, which I am FT employed, I cannot do this while living there? I have to be employed under another status, contractor etc you say? That would mean that I can't become remote at my own job to pull this off??? I'm confused on this detail. 10
-@Justinluvwmylady

Correct. You can only do your current job remotely and be a legal resident of Brazil as an independent contractor, unless your employer has a Brazilian affiliate to which they can transfer you. Otherwise, they make themselves subject to Brazil's extensive employment laws.
-@abthree

When you say be a legal resident of brazil as an independent contractor, is that just how they'll title and view me? It's not something I'd need to change with the job or have an actual title of right?

For instance, if I go to my job to see if they'll allow me to keep the job while I relocate to brazil for a couple of years, all I need from them is a yes (I'm assuming some documents as well), and then I can apply for the digital nomad visa? Print some paystubs for proof of income (not sure how many months), and wait?

@abthree

just applied for the cpf online.

researching remote jobs just in case, my job won't budge. birth and marriage certs on their way. May I ask a reminder of what's next for me, besides the divorce cert? Would it be obataining an apostille? Any other I'm missing?