US consulate denies Andrade’s visa

Black belt Bianca Andrade was champion of Brazilian ADCC trials

Bianca Andrade is living a drama. The champion of the under 55 kg category at the Brazilian ADCC 2007 trials, the Gracie Barra/Alagoas black belt was refused her request for a visa by the US consulate in Recife. Despite her being armed with several documents proving her conquests, including issues of GRACIE Magazine and Nocaute, Bianca did not achieve her objective, and now runs the risk of not participating in the greatest submission grappling competition on the planet.



“It is the greatest opportunity of my life, and the man at the consulate didn’t want to hear about it. I hope somebody helps me,” declared Bianca to GRACIEMAG.com.

In spite of the negative result of the first attempt, Bianca guarantees she will not give up on her dream. “I have never given up on anything in my life, and it won’t be any different this time. I will keep trying…” she guarantees.

The situation Bianca is going through is not unprecedented. In 2005, on the occasion of the first ADCC to take place in the United States, several fighters met with difficulties in obtaining a visa. Bruno Bastos, Nova União black belt, was not given the stamp, and even Ronaldo Jacaré, who at the time was already world open weight Jiu-Jitsu champion, was almost left out of ADCC 2005, only receiving his visa at the last moment, which obliged him to arrive in Los Angeles when the first day of the competition was already taking place.

(Source)