Thais Mendes, the Brazilian star known from 90 Day Fiancé, had everything set for a dream trip back to her homeland—this time with her daughter Aleesi. The flights were booked, the bags packed, and the excitement palpable. But at the airport check-in counter, that excitement turned to dread. A quiet exchange with airline staff quickly escalated into confusion and panic.
Thais’s daughter Aleesi wasn’t allowed to board. Thais stood frozen, trying to make sense of what was happening. No one had mentioned any issues during booking—no warnings, no alerts. Just a sudden, crushing halt to their journey.
Only after the shock settled did Thais learn the truth: as of April 10, 2025, U.S. citizens are required to obtain a visa to enter Brazil. Aleesi, holding an American passport, didn’t have one. Thais had trusted the airline to flag any travel requirements, but nothing had come up. The realization hit like a tidal wave, everything they’d carefully planned was now unraveling. Flights, car rental, excursions… all needed to be rebooked, and the refund process was already proving to be a frustrating maze. There was no financial loss yet, but the emotional toll of scrambling to fix everything was immense. Thais felt helpless, blindsided by a rule she hadn’t known existed.
In a moment of raw vulnerability, Thais turned to Instagram to share the ordeal. Her story, posted just minutes after the incident, showed her crying as she explained what had happened. In both Portuguese and English, she poured out her devastation: “I didn’t know Aleesi needed a visa for Brazil… now we lost I don’t know how many thousands of dollars with everything 😢.” Her followers, many of whom were equally shocked by the visa change, flooded her with support. It was a painful reminder that even celebrities aren’t immune to the chaos of shifting travel rules.