Florida immigration lawyers report an unprecedented rush of enquiries from Brazilians considering investor and skilled-worker routes to the US after Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won a second term.
The number of Brazilians exploring a move to the United States rose sharply almost immediately after Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s re-election, with immigration lawyers in Florida saying they were flooded with enquiries from people considering everything from investor visas to highly skilled work routes. In Miami, Piquet Law Firm told Folha it received 700 new contacts on Monday alone, far above its usual monthly intake of 500 to 600, while Bicalho Legal Consulting in Orlando said it logged 643 assessments on the same day, compared with a normal daily average of about 20.
The lawyers said the surge fitted a pattern seen after Brazilian elections, a tendency they trace back at least to the 2014 race and that also appeared after the 2022 contest, though they said this latest wave was larger. Vinícius Bicalho said many of those calling were reacting not only to the political result itself but also to discontent with the Supreme Federal Court’s role in public life, a complaint he said had also driven a smaller spike in September after a delayed vote on a possible investigation involving Justice Alexandre de Moraes and banker Daniel Vorcaro.
The demand is coming chiefly from families with enough capital to invest in the US property market or other business ventures, as well as from professionals seeking to enter the American labour market. The most requested routes, according to the lawyers, are the EB-5 investor visa, which requires an investment of US$800,000 in a qualifying project, and the EB-1A and EB-2 NIW categories, which are aimed at applicants with extraordinary ability or exceptional skills. The firms stressed that the numbers refer to initial screening enquiries rather than completed applications, although Piquet said 150 of the 700 people who contacted the firm were judged potentially eligible for visas.
The political backdrop has not changed the US immigration rules themselves, the lawyers said, even as Donald Trump’s administration has pursued a tougher line on irregular migration and stepped up deportations, including to Brazil. What has changed is the mood among some Brazilians who see the US as a more attractive long-term option. That interest comes against the backdrop of a sizeable Brazilian diaspora: the foreign ministry says at least 2 million Brazilians live in the US, concentrated in south Florida, Massachusetts, New York and New Jersey. Voting patterns in the Brazilian diaspora also remain firmly right-leaning, with Flávio Bolsonaro taking 61.45 per cent of the overseas vote in the second round, compared with 36.63 per cent for Lula.
Source Reference Map
Inspired by headline at: [1]
Sources by paragraph:
– Paragraph 1: [2], [3]
– Paragraph 2: [2], [4]
– Paragraph 3: [2], [5]
– Paragraph 4: [2], [6], [7]
Source: Noah Wire Services
Verification / Sources
- https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/mundo/2026/10/numero-de-brasileiros-querendo-emigrar-para-os-estados-unidos-dispara-apos-reeleicao-de-lula.shtml – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/mundo/2026/10/numero-de-brasileiros-querendo-emigrar-para-os-estados-unidos-dispara-apos-reeleicao-de-lula.shtml – Following President Lula’s re-election on October 25, 2026, there was a significant surge in Brazilians seeking to emigrate to the United States. Law firms in Florida reported a substantial increase in consultations, with Piquet Law Firm in Miami receiving 700 inquiries in a single day, surpassing their usual monthly average of 500 to 600. Similarly, Bicalho Legal Consulting in Orlando recorded 643 evaluations, compared to their typical daily average of 20. This trend is attributed to political dissatisfaction and concerns over the Supreme Federal Court’s actions.
- https://www.reporterpb.com.br/noticia-extra/2026/10/27/numero-de-brasileiros-querendo-emigrar-para-os-estados-unidos-dispara-apos-reeleicao-de-lula/136331.html – After President Lula’s re-election on October 25, 2026, there was a notable increase in Brazilians interested in emigrating to the United States. Law firms in Florida reported a significant rise in consultations, with Piquet Law Firm in Miami receiving 700 inquiries in a single day, exceeding their usual monthly average of 500 to 600. Bicalho Legal Consulting in Orlando also saw a surge, recording 643 evaluations compared to their typical daily average of 20. This surge is linked to political dissatisfaction and concerns over the Supreme Federal Court’s actions.
- https://ncnews.com.br/2026/10/27/brasileiros-vistos-eua-reeleicao-lula/ – Following President Lula’s re-election on October 25, 2026, there was a significant increase in Brazilians seeking information about visas and residency options in the United States. Immigration law firms reported hundreds of contacts in the hours after the election results, with Piquet Law Firm in Miami receiving 700 inquiries in a single day, surpassing their usual monthly average of 500 to 600. Bicalho Legal Consulting in Orlando recorded 643 evaluations, compared to their typical daily average of approximately 20. This trend is attributed to political disagreements and plans for relocation.
- https://tribunaonline.com.br/brasil/busca-de-brasileiros-por-visto-para-os-eua-dispara-apos-reeleicao-de-lula-333706 – After President Lula’s re-election on October 25, 2026, there was a significant increase in Brazilians interested in emigrating to the United States. Law firms in Florida reported a surge in consultations, with Piquet Law Firm in Miami receiving 700 inquiries in a single day, exceeding their usual monthly average of 500 to 600. Bicalho Legal Consulting in Orlando also saw a rise, recording 643 evaluations compared to their typical daily average of 20. This surge is linked to political dissatisfaction and concerns over the Supreme Federal Court’s actions.
- https://diariolocal.com.br/economia/visto-eua-dispara-pos-reeleicao-lula – Following President Lula’s re-election on October 25, 2026, there was a notable increase in Brazilians seeking to emigrate to the United States. Law firms in Florida reported a significant rise in consultations, with Piquet Law Firm in Miami receiving 700 inquiries in a single day, surpassing their usual monthly average of 500 to 600. Bicalho Legal Consulting in Orlando recorded 643 evaluations, compared to their typical daily average of 20. This trend is attributed to political dissatisfaction and concerns over the Supreme Federal Court’s actions.
- https://fatosonline.com.br/procura-por-vistos-para-os-eua-dispara-apos-reeleicao-de-lula-dizem-escritorios/ – After President Lula’s re-election on October 25, 2026, there was a significant increase in Brazilians seeking information about visas and residency options in the United States. Immigration law firms reported hundreds of contacts in a single day, with Piquet Law Firm in Miami receiving 700 inquiries, surpassing their usual monthly average of 500 to 600. Bicalho Legal Consulting in Orlando recorded 643 evaluations, compared to their typical daily average of 20. This surge is linked to political disagreements and plans for relocation.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score: 8
Notes: The article reports a recent surge in Brazilian interest in emigrating to the United States following President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s re-election on October 25, 2026. (www1.folha.uol.com.br) Similar reports from other sources, such as Poder Nacional, corroborate this trend. (podernacional.com.br) However, the article’s publication date is October 27, 2026, which is two days after the election results were announced. This slight delay raises questions about the immediacy of the reporting. (www1.folha.uol.com.br)
Quotes check
Score: 7
Notes: The article includes direct quotes from Vinícius Bicalho, a legal consultant, regarding the surge in inquiries and the political context influencing this trend. (www1.folha.uol.com.br) However, these quotes are not independently verifiable through other sources, which raises concerns about their authenticity. The lack of corroboration from other reputable outlets diminishes the reliability of these statements.
Source reliability
Score: 9
Notes: The article originates from Folha de S.Paulo, a major Brazilian newspaper known for its investigative journalism. (www1.folha.uol.com.br) This lends credibility to the reporting. However, the article is behind a paywall, limiting access to the full content and potentially restricting independent verification of the information presented.
Plausibility check
Score: 8
Notes: The reported surge in inquiries about U.S. immigration following Lula’s re-election aligns with historical patterns observed after previous Brazilian elections. (www1.folha.uol.com.br) However, the article lacks specific data or independent verification to substantiate the extent of this increase, making it difficult to fully assess the claim’s accuracy.