Belgium or Brazil: some considerations please

GringoLouco
I think that your idea has a lot going for it, provided that your girlfriend likes Belgium. 

Once you have your permanent residency -- which can happen very quickly, within one to three months at the outside, if your documents are in order -- there are very few restrictions on you.  You can't be absent from Brazil for more than two years continuously, that's about it.  So you can live most of your time in Belgium, and as long as you spend time in Brazil on a regular basis until you're ready to move, you'll be ok.  Regular visits to the in-laws should take care of that.

Argentina and Brazil are as different as Belgium and Greece, so I would no more try to extrapolate your friend's Argentine experience to life in Brazil, than I would someone's experience during the Greek crisis to life in Belgium.  Pay more attention to the advice of your girlfriend, and of your in-laws-to-be, if you think they're intelligent, well-informed people; they should know more about their own country, and be able to advise you regarding the facts on the ground.

Best not to assume a divorce before you're even married!  But no, you won't lose your CPF -- the Receita Federal will not lose their interest in your because your marital status changes.  The picture is a little murkier about your permanent residency, but the consensus here seems to be that once you have it, you have it, period, as long as you're not absent for more than two years running.   Hopefully, this is a situation you'll never face, and if you do, you'll have legal advice.

Exiting times -- good luck!

Thanks for the reply, abthree.

I don't consider my relationship to be so unstable that it may end in divorce. But what I do consider a threat is that she may not be able to adapt to Belgian society. The language is hard for her (and I think it will be tough for her to find a job that she likes), she has to build a social circle from scratch and there are cultural differences that she struggles with. She's had some moments of "saudades" when she was here for the first time. Now she's back in Brazil, but even though she liked it in BE she just asked me if she can extend her stay in Brazil for another month. I get it, but it makes me worry about our future.

Belgians are very punctual but she is the opposite, showing up late for work on a daily basis. And if you try to make her be on time she gets upset. "My life is not a clock". I also think that Belgians are more productive, as in the pace being higher.

I like being in Brazil as a tourist but not for working there. I currently work as a physical therapist and I take postgraduation courses to become an osteopath (DO) which will take another 7 years of education. When I see the poor level of health care for the middle class in Brazil (for example I have heard that it is uncommon to have a total hip/knee  replacement as surgery), I don't think there's good money to be made in health care. I make about $4000/month after tax (free health care etc) at home, and I have heard about physical therapists making about a tenth of that in Brazil.

I want nothing but the best for her, but from a job perspective I couldn't move to Brazil yet. I hope that that will never drive us apart

GringoLouco,

As an American married to a Brazilian, I TOTALLY get your punctuality thing!  My husband is  (reasonably) punctual for a Brazilian, but he does share the cultural tendency to believe that time is somehow flexible and responds positively to wishes.  Coping mechanisms range from just starting to prepare a half hour or an hour earlier than normal, to asking friends, when we set something up, "Now, is that Brazilian Time, or American Time?"  That always gets a big laugh, but also makes everybody a little more aware of the value of time and punctuality.  One has to choose one's battles.

I wouldn't be so sure about your field not paying well in Brazil, particularly in the São Paulo area.  I would expect that you could make a comparable income in the private medical sector, with a very good quality of life, provided that you can get your credentials certified.  You would only be working with wealthy patients, and their quirks; if that doesn't bother you, it could be worth some research.

As far as living in Belgium goes, you already know that you're not going to change Belgium; you're also probably not going to be able to change your Brazilian girlfriend, at least not much.  All that's really under your control is your attitude and response to both.  If you try to interpret Belgium to her, and her to the Belgium that's really important to you -- your family and friends -- chances are that you can come to an understanding.  If you try to squeeze a Brazilian into some ideal model of  "Belgianness" or even more, "Flemishness" (I would guess from your posts that you're a Fleming, not a Walloon), your chances of making that work are pretty poor. 

An interesting challenge -- all the best!

Hi Gringo

I completely concur with the point of view that has been expressed by Ab3.

Adding on to that please note that your CPF is with you for life, it is basically a TAX ID number.

You can also gain a CPF through the Embassy of Brazil, without getting married or without ever entering Brazil.

If you gain your permanency through marriage, you will usually receive your Permanent Resident Card which used to be known as a CIE before and is now called a CRNM, within 2 months from the date of submission of your paperwork here in the Brazilian Policia Federal.

Lastly based on marriage you are eligible to apply for your Brazilian citizenship after completing 1 year of Residency.  Of course there are specific requirements that you need to meet, which include passing the CELPE Bras (Portuguese language test) among other items accordingly.

What a few couples do is that they come to a mutual agreement which they sign and register in the Notary public prior to getting married, a basic prenuptial agreement, in order to secure there assets and other things.

All in all I hope the above info helps.  Furthermore we wish you the best of luck

Regards

Stanza