Bottom line: I recommend you NOT use Visa Center Canada.
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If you ever want to go to Brazil, know that the process for getting a travel visa is difficult. Brazil “reciprocates”, asking of YOU whatever your nation asks of a Brazilian traveling to your country.

I recommend you use a 3rd party company to HELP you with the application.

Visa Center Canada seemed to be the biggest and best in Canada. AND they had a drop-off Office in Calgary. I went in person to be sure my application was done correctly.

(Online instructions are confusing. For example, the size of the required mugshot PHOTO is listed differently on different pages. I assume the size requirement has changed over the years.)

It takes 3 business weeks to get a Brazil visa. Canadian and Brazilian holidays MIGHT mean that it could actually take 4 weeks. I saw no option to speed up that process. By comparison, I can get a visa to China in 2-3 business days, if I pay.

The girl at Calgary Visa Application Center (DROP-OFF ONLY) 400 5th Avenue SW was very helpful.

We filled out everything carefully, so far as she was concerned. Sent all documents to Vancouver.

NEXT day I got an automated email stating:

Your documents for VISA BRAZIL TOURIST MLT have been received. Unfortunately we are unable to process your order at this time.

The reason for this is: need online application form.

The girl at the Calgary Office had printed out a copy of the application form. I’d filled it out correctly. Attached the needed documents:

• passport photo
• letter detailing my trip
• hotel
• copy of bank statement
• copy of my 2013 income tax declaration

It’s not cheap. I paid about CDN$240.

As I had only 3 weeks to get this visa before flying out of Calgary, I was worried.

I went back to the Calgary office next morning. The girl was surprised to see me back.

We telephoned and I was told we had done the application incorrectly. We had printed a blank form. And filled it out in pen. Then signed it. The way the girl in Calgary had always done it.

By phone I was told I must (instead) fill out the online form. Print it so it includes digital bar codes. Sign it. Email it to the Vancouver office.

Having lost time, I immediately did as requested. Sending the NEW application form to the Vancouver office.

vancouver@visacenter.ca

I also copying this general address:

info@visacenter.ca

In my email I emphasized:

Time is critical on this application as I fly to Saudi Arabia soon. I’ll need my passport back.

It was your Calgary office that resulted in this miscommunication. Please explain to Calgary the correct procedure.

Sincerely,

Richard Blake McCharles

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I feared that these few lost days would result in me having to fly out of Calgary without my passport in hand.

I hoped that when a company like VisaCenter.ca screws up like this, that they would have some sort of fast tracking process to put my application into the queue where it should have been, had they not screwed up.

Unfortunately the Vancouver office of VisaCenter.ca is not very efficient. My main contact there was a woman named Susan. She was slow in responding. She was wrong or incomplete in her answers to my questions. (I would urge VisaCenter.ca do a performance review on Susan.)

There were a couple more days delay.

In the end, Susan finally admitted that we had run out of time to get this visa before I flew out of Calgary. That honest statement was the only moment I had any confidence that she’d follow up on anything she told me.

I asked that she rush my passport back to me. At any price. She said she’d courier it immediately, at a cost of about $30.

I was relieved.

I cancelled my Brazil trip. But was happy that this incompetent company had not completely lost my one and only passport.

… Unhappily, the Vancouver Office of VisaCenter.ca did not put my complete address on the package. Here’s what they did:

It took several more days to finally get delivery of my passport, 6 days before I flew.

Here’s the address correction adding the essential condo unit number:

Avoid VisaCenter.ca, if you can. Try a different company. Or go directly to the embassy or consulate.

I’m copying VisaCenter.ca the sad story of one disgruntled customer. If they have any response, I’ll add it here.

Bottom line: I recommend you NOT use Visa Center Canada.