The Department of State has committed to opening two new consulates in Brazil. Locations in Belo Horizante and Porto Alegre will join the existing consulates in Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, Recife and Sao Paulo to serve the millions of Americans and Brazilians who require consular services each year. The DOS has also sent more consular officers to the country in order to process the visa demand. Currently, Brazil is ranked fourth in terms of overseas visitors to the US. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton says that the increased efforts in Brazil will “make it easier to get those visas, easier to travel, knock down some of the barriers that have been put up, and continue to promote people-to-people contact.” Click here to view the White House statement.