US says head of state visa ceases to be valid when person loses office

Former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL), who has been in Florida since December, cannot remain in the United States with the head of state visa he used to enter the country. If you do not seek the US government within 30 days to change the category of the visa that authorizes you to remain on American soil, such as a tourist visa, you will be in an irregular situation and may even be deported to Brazil.

The information comes from the spokesman for the Department of State (responsible for diplomacy in the US government), Ned Price, who made the reservation that he could not speak specifically about Bolsonaro’s case, since the visa status of individuals is information confidential.

“Generally speaking, if someone enters the US on an A visa, which is essentially a diplomatic visa for foreign diplomats or heads of state, if a holder of an A visa is no longer involved in official business related to their governments, it is up to the visa holder leaves the US or requests a change to another type of immigration authorization within 30 days,” he said.

“If you have no reason to be in the United States, any individual is subject to removal by the Department of Homeland Security.”

Bolsonaro’s presence in the country has become the target of pressure from democratic parliamentarians due to the attack on democracy carried out by supporters in Brasília this Sunday (8). US lawmakers plan to meet this week to discuss a request for the ex-president’s deportation.

Bolsonaro was hospitalized this Monday (9) in Orlando, after experiencing abdominal pain, according to allies. Former first lady Michelle Bolsonaro confirmed the former president’s hospitalization on social media and asked for prayers. Sought, the hospital has not yet reported the health situation of the former representative.

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said this Monday that the White House has not received any formal request from the government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) regarding the former president. The aide also denied any contact between the White House and Bolsonaro, who left for the US on the eve of the end of his term. He reiterated his confidence in Brazil’s institutions.

“We believe that Brazil’s democratic institutions will uphold the will of the people, Brazil’s freely elected leader will govern Brazil and will not be deterred by the actions of these people who have assaulted the seats of government in Brasilia,” Sullivan said.

According to him, Biden and Lula should speak by phone soon. The Brazilian president should also travel to Washington at the beginning of this year.

A formal request from the Brazilian government would be the first step towards a possible extradition of Bolsonaro, according to experts interviewed by the Sheet. The request would need to be made by the Judiciary and then forwarded to the US government – ​​which may or may not accept it.