Joint Statement of Intent toward cooperation on travel facilitation between Brazil and the United States

JOINT STATEMENT OF INTENT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITYAND THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL RELATIONS OF THE FEDERATIVE REPUBLIC OF BRAZIL TOWARD COOPERATION ON TRAVEL FACILITATION BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES

On the occasion of their meeting on July 11, 2012, in Brasilia, Brazil, the Minister of External Relations of the Federative Republic of Brazil, Antonio de Aguiar Patriota, and the Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano,

Reaffirming the increasing quality of the relationship and broad agenda for cooperation between the United States and Brazil, joining a balanced and constructive partnership rooted in mutual respect, and common values and principles;

Taking into account their decision to deepen the bilateral cooperation to discuss reciprocal programs for travelers between the two countries – based on the Joint Statement by President Barack Obama and President Dilma Rousseff, dated April 9, 2012, in Washington D.C.;

Considering what has been agreed in that Joint Statement by the two leaders who “committed to work closely together to satisfy the requirements of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program and Brazil’s applicable legislation to enable U.S. and Brazilian citizens visa free travel”;

The Participants have come to the following understanding:

1. The establishment of a Working Group on Visa Issues (hereinafter referred to as “WGV”).

2. The WGV should be the platform to propose measures and procedures for the implementation of such presidential guidance, taking into account the requirements of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program and Brazil’s applicable legislation.

3. The WGV should be comprised of representatives from both governments and should meet to discuss expedited immigration control and visa exemption-related initiatives between the two countries;

4. The first meeting of WGV should be held in Washington, D.C., by November 2012.

5. Each Participant should implement this Joint Statement in accordance with any domestic law and policies which apply to it.

6. This Joint Statement of Intent does not create any rights or obligations under international or domestic law.

Signed in Brasilia, Brazil, on the eleventh (11th) of July of the year two thousand and twelve (2012), in the English and Portuguese languages, both texts being equally valid.