Brazil to grant amnesty to thousands of illegal foreigners

[Judi Lynn]

Brazil to grant amnesty to thousands of illegal foreigners
September 17 2009 , 6:06:00
Frank Ferro, Sao Paulo.

Brazil is to grant blanket amnesty to about 200 000 foreigners living in the country illegally. Authorities have set up a number of user friendly immigrant call centre's to photograph, finger print and document the thousands of soon to be Brazilian citizens.

One immigrant, Freddie Arratea left neighbouring Bolivia for Brazil with his family for a better life three years ago and have been in the country illegally. However, under the new amnesty law the Arratea's lives are about to undergo a radical change. They will now have free access to the government's health care system, schooling for the children and other social benefits.

Brazilian authorities have until December 31 to regularise the status of thousands of illegal immigrants. The new amnesty law takes the lead in dealing with the world's immigration reality. Elsewhere in the world, foreigners are often ostracised and subjected to xenophobic attacks. In Brazil, immigrants are welcomed, sharing in the same benefits as normal Brazilians.

http://www.sabcnews.com/portal/site/SABCNews/menuitem.5c4f8fe7ee929f602ea12ea1674daeb9/?vgnextoid=73312d80a74c3210VgnVCM10000077d4ea9bRCRD&vgnextfmt=default&channelPath=World

[Downwinder]

1. Will I have to learn the language?

If the cut off is December 31 I had better hurry. Look at the advantages. "They will now have free access to the government's health care system, schooling for the children and other social benefits."

[Bacchus39]

2. so you are going just to take advantage of goverment benefits?

any thoughts on working?? cutting sugar cane maybe??

learning the language would be in your interest.

[Downwinder]

3. At 70 with MS, I have found that I the only thing I can do is run for office.

3 months is a little short to learn the language.

[Bacchus39]

4. I don't see a language requirement

learning the language is still in your interest, doesn't have to be in 3 months.

well, I apologize then, I assume you have a retirement income and/or social security since I doubt that accepting immigrants to live off the Brazil goverment was what they had in mind.. I am definitely thinking of retirement in latin america, but that's quite a ways off.

money will certainly go farther.

[Downwinder]

5. Social Security, retirement went in corporate bankruptcy.

I would like to go back to Brazil, especially before the dollar collapses, but I don't think that is in the cards.

The amnesty creates what appears to be a good opportunity to acquire dual citizenship, which, if the Washington neocons are an example, is a good thing.

Brazilians always seemed to understand Spanish, and I could survive there with English and rudimentary Spanish.