Update: Went to PF Office Rio.

ExpatUSATravels Contributor

Member since 07 March 2023

ExpatUSATravelsContributor20 March 2023 12:12:12

108

Just wanted to post an update.

Went last week to PF office to get info.

Lady told us that I can try to just renew the card but worst case would be they ask me to apply for a new one. She gave us easy instructions to follow and said when done applying online we can set an appointnent to talk to them, at which point they will determine if I can just renew or not.

But she wouldnt let us talk to the real official agents until we did all the steps. Kind of like the wizard of oz behind the curtain 10 feet away.

Oh and after completing the last page to confirm online got an error message saying that my PR id# did not match.

Very weird. But at least the form generated because they sent an automated email with a protocol # so that i can now set an appointment. I have to say, this is not a good system.

abthree Brazil Expert

Member since 28 December 2017

abthreeBrazil Expert20 March 2023 12:18:13

6341

03/20/23 @ExpatUSATravels. Glad you were able to get it to work for you. When it was first introduced, it wouldn't even to that.

ExpatUSATravels Contributor

Member since 07 March 2023

ExpatUSATravelsContributor20 March 2023 12:49:27

108

Thanks,

Now the only question I have is, if I am able to pay the R$ 204,77 for the C.I.E. fee what happens if after paying and PF agent tells me that I have to start fresh and reapply for new PR, do I lose the R$204,77 that I already paid, or do they credit that towards the proper fees for what I would have to apply for?

ExpatUSATravels Contributor

Member since 07 March 2023

ExpatUSATravelsContributor20 March 2023 12:55:27

108

@abthree

well actually it did not work.

it would not let us complete the online form due to error.

even in the email with protocol # it mentioned the error still. But at least i have a protocol # to try to set a real appointment now, hopefully. 😒

abthree Brazil Expert

Member since 28 December 2017

abthreeBrazil Expert20 March 2023 13:02:26

6341

03/20/23 Now the only question I have is, if I am able to pay the R$ 204,77 for the C.I.E. fee what happens if after paying and PF agent tells me that I have to start fresh and reapply for new PR, do I lose the R$204,77 that I already paid, or do they credit that towards the proper fees for what I would have to apply for?
-@ExpatUSATravels

It's a processing fee, not a purchase price. If they process your application they get to keep it, regardless of the result. If they decide that there's something lacking in your application, though, they're just as likely to give you a chance and a deadline to correct the deficiency as they are to reject it outright and close the process.

ExpatUSATravels Contributor

Member since 07 March 2023

ExpatUSATravelsContributor20 March 2023 13:32:08

108

@abthree

thanks for the process fee info.

so it might be better to just get an appointment first before paying any fees.

the woman who helped us was telling us to just pay the renewal fee and hope they dont require a whole new P R from scratch at our appointment date.

according to what you're saying this can backfire by making us lose R$204 and have to start all over again if the decision maker says no to the simple renewal.

rraypo Serial expat

Member since 01 October 2020

rraypoSerial expat20 March 2023 13:32:46

775

Just wanted to post an update.
Went last week to PF office to get info.

... Kind of like the wizard of oz behind the curtain 10 feet away...

-@ExpatUSATravels

Welcome to bureaucracy in Brazil. Sadly, it all too often comes down to finding the right person who just magically gets everything done for you, often this is just a matter of luck.