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Pondering the thoughts of relocation. .

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shon
  3/21/2012 16:51 EST

First, I want to say greetings in salutations to at expat exchange in the Brazilian forum. I was searching for a forum that would give sound information and advice on brazil and its culture. Found it. That being said I will be vacationing in brazil (Belo Horizonte Niteroi, Recreio dos Bandeirantes) this September entertaining the thoughts of relocation. I always wanted to live abroad.

I am a Geomatics Engineer and would like to remain in this field but if push comes to shub I don’t have to. I was wondering if there are any reputable websites in brazil that list all the job because I was unable to find one.

Any help will be greatly appreciated and I thank you in advance


Shon the Contemplator

papazcol
  3/21/2012 17:32 EST

Welcome to the Forum. I moved to Belo Horizonte two months ago with my Brazilian wife, this forum has helped me a lot with my questions and doubts. If you need information about this city let me know I'm getting to know it very well. about the jobs websites, I think the best is Vagas.com which is free and is linked to many companies that use your profile from that particular site. Another I know that is very helpful and searches around many other job sites is http://www.indeed.com.br/ Good luck!

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suirvale
  3/21/2012 19:46 EST

if i married a kenya woman wiill i need to show the government ther that i have lots of money, or does it matter , wil i be able to get a kenya passport automatically

shon
  3/22/2012 18:13 EST

Thank you papazcol for your reply I will search those sites.

How is life in belo in comparision to where you are from. Is it difficult to find an apartment? How is the cost of living such as electricity, water, and cell phone coverage and internet in the city. The basics that I currently have right now. I am just trying to get a feel of what to expect when I do move.

papazcol
  3/24/2012 21:31 EST

Hi Shon,

Well, I came from NYC, the comparison is huge! In my opinion here are some good things better than the States, one, health Plans, they are affordable and good, and also compared to NY housing is more affordable and all the apartments have private garage. However, this is a country in development transition and all seems to be upside down. here there is a 20km avenue that is been in construction for almost seven years, and still has a long way to go.

anyway, cellphone plans in Brazil are much more complicated than in the US, and much more expensive. forget about the 300, 400 minutes you get in verizon and night and weekends free. Here all the companies offer you different rates depending if you call to other companies, if you call to other cities, to other states, if you call at different hours, if you text, if you use internet, if you call to home lines, etc, just too many variables to understand, the point is that is more expensive.
RENT: is not very usual here, everybody is buying and selling, in astronomical prices (same prices in Florida kinda) . We rented an apt of 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, living room, kitchen, service area, garage in a ok area, $1300, plus you pay the property taxes and administration fee. Now, to rent here you will need a bunch of documents such as proof of income, copy of your passport, if you dont have income here you will need a copuple of fiadores (person who pays if you don pay), then all thos docs have to be notarized with everybody's signatures (even the fiadores’ spouses), and then those papers go a particular office that I still don't understand the nature of that, in which the docs go thru analysis to be approved. anyway, the apts here come without showers so be ready to buy and install on your account.

Check well how to transfer money from the US, to open a bank as a foreigner (im already brazilian resident) is difficult, up to today the banks here don't trust my legal documents.

Cheers

shon
  3/26/2012 17:38 EST

Hi papazcol,
Since the cell phone plans are so complicated I might have choose another route.

Do the complicated cell plans include the prepaid as well.? If not, this will have to be the plan for me to use for emergencies till I get settled.

How complicated is it to get a drivers license? As you know in the U.S. once we move it is not hard your convert your license. Also, based on another post I may not be able to ship my truck. Is that correct? Are 2nd hand vehicles reasonably priced?

On the upside, the websites have more jobs listed than I expected in Geomatic Engineering in Belo, Niterói, SP and throughout brazil and I am in the process of creating my CV.

I am also Improving on my Portuguese it is not quite yet conversational. Do you have any recommended sites that can aid in the process?

Thanks

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mineirinho
  3/27/2012 11:50 EST

Hi, I am living in Brasil since july 2010. I live close to Belo Horizonte. I am starting a bussines here. Never found this forum. I am Dutch, would be nice to catch up with other immigrants to exchange experience I can tell yo uI have some. My first tip, a good option for Internet is OI conta total. I pay 265 Reais with Internet on my mobile a fixed line with 2mb ADSL and 500 minutes innerstate calls. Also you can call for free with a max to 3 cellphones innerstate.
Would be nice to grab a beer!

mineirinho
  3/27/2012 12:53 EST

I got a driver licence by going to Detran. You have to make pictures and you have to do a psychological test, which not all brazilian pass for the first time. You don't need to speak perfect portuguese, it is a stress test with pencils with which you have to follow lines, quite interesting. I think you need your RNE to be able to do this.

shon
  3/27/2012 18:44 EST

Thanks for the information about the internet and cell combo. That takes care of that, roughly about how much is utilities ( water, electricity) and anythingelse that is associated with renting an Apartment. I know I may need a couple of fiadores.

Cheers

mineirinho
  3/28/2012 20:55 EST

This really depends on the usage ofcourse, I know electricity is around 60 cts per KWH. You can als rent an app without fiadores. Then you pay insurrance, the amount for insurrance depends on your income. For a mobile you need an energy bill on your house adress.

papazcol
  3/29/2012 08:07 EST

Hello Shon and Other Expats,

So I stopped by DETRAN in here BH. I spoke with the "funcionaria" who deals with international licences, her name is Ofelia just in case. In order for us to exchange the Driver's Licence for a local one there are three steps: 1. Medical Exams (about $R200) 2. Oficial translation of your licence, she will tell you who can do that ($R200). and 3.pay fees registration fee "cadastro" $R140. You must have a RNE from Policia Federal. Proof of address with oficial bill at your house in BH.Picuture and passport.

I wonder if you're definetly moving to Brazil, otherwise you could get a International Driver's Licence at AAA and drive here with that, much easier and cheaper. The American Licence here is valid I think for your first two months.

One thing more about cars, my neighbor just bought a Fiat Uno 2005 in $R18K (roughly $10K USD). I think if you want to drive in Brazil, consider to rent a car by month, I found a nice discount in budget three years ago making the reservation thru the american website,

CellPhones: yes your best beat is prepaid. get a cheap phone there with SIM card and here your would be able to adjust it to the brazilian network (for a low fee). here phones are way too expensive!

Utilities: I don't know yet. the only think we have paid so far is Internet 10MB, land line Phone, and basic cable, all for $R180 month.the internet is ok but often brakes down.

Keep in mind that those fiadores here are dificult to find. Especially that noone wants to be responsible for others payments. I think in some instance you could pay some 3 months of deposit to get an apt, consult to a real estate or "imobiliaria".


cheers.

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NewCarioca
  3/30/2012 16:32 EST

Driving in Brazil with an international Drivers Licence.


All citizens from countries in the Vienna convention can drive in Brazil for a period of 180 days (from the day you enter the country) with your foreign DL accompanied by your passport. After 180 days you will have to request the Brazilian Drivers licence with the documents you have already mentioned. Except it can be a simple translation and not "Traducao Juramentada". You can translate it yourself sign it and have your signature notorized in cartorio "firma reconhecida" it costs about $15 instead of $200 for "Traducao Juramentada" Those are the rules here in Rio de Janeiro.


Also you will need a proof of your foreign address at least 6 month older then the date your international DL was issued. It can be difficult to get a bank statement or a phone bill showing your address in your home country from many years back eg.: American licences are valid for 15 years.

Good Luck

NewCarioca

rpallen
  4/1/2012 17:57 EST

Try infojobs.com.br/ and www.catho.com.br/

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