FORT WORTH, Texas - Fabiano Vieira expected to contend for a world title this year.

But upon entering the United States, a problem with his visa was discovered. One box had been checked incorrectly on his previous application, and it took nearly two months to sort out. He missed the first six Built Ford Tough Series events of 2012.

"It was extremely frustrating," said Vieira. "I was in Brazil, so I couldn't ride in the events here and I couldn't ride in the events there. I started the year off with the intention of being a World Champion, and I missed six events.

"It makes it a lot harder to get to my objective, and it was very frustrating."

At ninth in the world, Fabiano Vieira has a higher riding percentage than five of the men ranked ahead of him.

Still, Vieira is currently ranked ninth in the world. No one would ever think he missed a single event.

In fact, no other rider in the Top 15 has missed more than three events, yet Vieira is ranked higher than 15 others who have ridden in more BFTS events than he has.

In 13 events he has finished in the Top 10 eight times - three times in the Top 5, including an event win in Indianapolis.

"I came here to win a World Championship, and nothing is impossible," said Vieira, who despite the missed events is focused on finishing as a viable contender in the Top 5. "In my head - everything I'm doing when I'm riding - I'm aiming at a World Championship."

'In my head - everything I'm doing when I'm riding - I'm aiming at a World Championship.'

He's earned a total of 5,050.75 points for an average of 388.5 points per event, and he's gone 0-for-the-weekend in regular competition only once since arriving. That was in Nampa, Idaho, where he still managed to post 90.25 points in the special 15/15 Bucking Battle round.

Like many of the other Brazilian riders, he's spending the summer months in South America.

Fabiano Vieira notches 90.25 points on Cooper Tires Grey Ghost in Nampa, Idaho.

Unhappy with having ridden only two of his past seven bulls - he's covered 57.5 percent on the season - Vieira said he intends to compete at four or five international PBR events taking place in Brazil.

The summer (locally winter) schedule in Brazil is well underway, with six different events taking place this weekend.

"When I get back from the break, I plan on riding twice as good as I am now," he said. "The last couple of events I've been riding poorly and I've had great bulls. It's been my fault that I've come off the bulls - not the bulls' - and when I come back I'm going to be riding a lot better."

He trails world leader Valdiron de Oliveira by 3,166.25 points, but is less than 800 points outside of the Top 5.

Vieira said he has no concerns about returning to the States.

"My visa is good now," he said. "I won't have any more problems. It was just a problem from last year, but now it's good."