Applying to US Universities from Brazil: Timeline, Documents, and Costs

How the Brazilian calendar lines up with US deadlines

The Brazilian school year runs from February to December. Most US universities start their fall term in August or September, with Early Action or Early Decision deadlines in October or November and Regular Decision in December or January. You apply while still finishing your final Brazilian school year, using in-progress grades, then send your final histórico escolar (school transcript) after graduation.

Start building your university list and gathering documents 12 to 18 months before your target start date. For an August or September 2027 start, begin testing and research in mid-2026 and submit applications between November 2026 and January 2027.

Typical US application rounds

Deadlines differ by university. Confirm the exact date on each school's admissions page before you set your calendar.

Which Brazilian school record you send

Admissions offices treat a histórico escolar from a public escola estadual, a private bilingual school, or a federal institute (IF) the same way: as your official secondary record. What differs is how each type of school issues transcripts and how quickly. Federal institutes and technical schools sometimes combine Ensino Médio with a technical qualification (curso técnico integrado), so ask your school's secretaria to explain both credentials clearly in the transcript your evaluator or university receives. Private bilingual schools often already issue an English-language transcript alongside the Portuguese original, which saves a translation step.

Documents US universities ask from Brazilian applicants

Checklists differ by school, but Brazilian applicants consistently need the following.

• Histórico escolar covering all three years of Ensino Médio, with a certified English translation

• Certificado de Conclusão do Ensino Médio once you graduate

• A course-by-course credential evaluation from a NACES member , required by many public universities

• English proficiency score: TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic, or Duolingo English Test, depending on what each school accepts

• SAT or ACT scores, required at some private universities and optional or unused at many public ones

• A personal essay and, at some schools, supplemental essays

• Two or three recommendation letters from teachers or a school counselor

• Proof of funds (bank statement or sponsor letter), needed after admission for your I-20

Brazil belongs to the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille from a Brazilian notary replaces the older consular legalization step for documents a university asks you to authenticate. Certified translations come from a tradutor juramentado, a sworn translator registered with a Brazilian board of trade.

Most undergraduate applicants use the Common App or Coalition App, accepted by more than 1,000 US universities. Some public flagship campuses use their own separate portal instead.

Do you need the SAT or ACT?

Test policies for international applicants differ by university and change from year to year, so check each school's current testing policy rather than assuming last year's rule still applies. Many universities that dropped SAT or ACT requirements for domestic applicants still recommend or require scores from applicants whose secondary school does not grade on a US-recognized scale, since a standardized test gives the admissions committee a comparison point across school systems. If a school on your list is test-optional for international applicants, strong grades, a solid English score, and a clear essay carry more weight in that application.

Two paths into a US bachelor's: direct entry or community college transfer

Applying directly to a four-year university is not the only route. Many Brazilian students start at a community college, complete an associate degree over two years, then transfer to a four-year university for the final two years. Community colleges charge lower tuition than four-year schools and often use simpler application requirements, sometimes without SAT or ACT scores. Check each community college's international student office page for its own transcript and English test rules before you choose this path.

Building your application timeline

1. Two years out: research universities, start English test preparation, take a TOEFL or IELTS diagnostic.

2. November of your final year: take the ENEM if your target universities want it as part of your academic record, even though US schools do not require it directly.

3. Spring or summer before senior year: sit your English test, draft your personal essay, request a credential evaluation if a school requires one.

4. Fall of senior year: submit applications through the Common App or each university's portal, upload transcripts, ask teachers for recommendation letters.

5. December through April: compare decisions and financial aid or scholarship offers.

6. After you accept an offer: send your final histórico escolar and proof of funds. The school issues your I-20.

7. After you receive the I-20: pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160, then book your visa interview.

Proof of funds: what your sponsor documents need to show

Before a university issues your I-20, its international office confirms you (or your sponsor) have funds to cover one year of tuition, fees, and living costs. Acceptable proof usually includes a recent bank statement in your name or your sponsor's name, plus a signed sponsor letter if a parent, relative, or employer is paying. Some schools also ask for an affidavit of support. Each university sets its own format and minimum balance, so follow the instructions in your admission packet exactly. If a Brazilian bank statement lists balances in reais, some schools ask for a currency conversion note dated close to submission, since exchange rates move.

What the process costs

Application fees, test fees, and evaluation fees are set by each provider and differ by school. Check each university's admissions page and each test or evaluation provider's site for current pricing. Three fees are fixed by the US government and apply to every F-1 applicant, as of 2026.

The SEVIS and visa fees come first. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act added the $250 visa integrity fee for F-1 and other nonimmigrant visas from October 1, 2025, collected when the visa is issued rather than when you apply, and it cannot be waived or reduced (University of Illinois Chicago OIS ). The three total $785 and sit on top of your university application fees, test fees, credential evaluation fees, and travel costs.

Free help: EducationUSA advising centers in Brazil

EducationUSA runs free advising centers in Brazil that help you compare universities, check application requirements, and prepare financial documentation. Advisors work from official, accurate information rather than commission-based recommendations, unlike many paid agencies. Bring your draft school list and your questions about a specific university's requirements to an advising session rather than researching alone.

Common mistakes Brazilian applicants make

• Waiting for final ENEM or vestibular results before starting applications, which pushes your whole timeline past Regular Decision deadlines

• Submitting an uncertified translation that a university rejects, costing weeks to redo

• Assuming every school wants a credential evaluation, when some accept the original transcript directly

• Requesting the I-20 financial documents at the last minute, delaying the SEVIS fee and interview booking

After admission: I-20, SEVIS fee, and visa steps

Once you accept an offer and show the university you have funds to cover at least one year of study, its international office issues your Form I-20. Pay the SEVIS I-901 fee online at fmjfee.com, complete the DS-160 online visa application, then book your interview at the US Embassy in Brasília or a consulate in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Recife, or Porto Alegre. Our visa interview guide covers what happens at the appointment.

DHS finalized a rule ending open-ended duration of status admission for F-1 students, effective September 15, 2026. From that date, your admission ties to a fixed period, up to your program length on the I-20 and capped at four years, plus 30 days to arrive and 30 days to depart. If your program runs longer, your school files an extension with USCIS before that period ends. Read the Study in the States FAQ for how this affects your program length.