Expat Exchange
Free MembershipSign In

Ecuador Expat Forum

Visit Planned

New Topic Newest First
frazi89
  3/9/2013 20:44 EST

I plan to visit Ecuador soon to determine whether residence there is an option for me. I would appreciate someone telling me best time to get best hotel rates there(Cuenca) as well as the best place to meet up with other expats to share info. I am a widow, age 75 so would like reasonable,safe accomodations for a short visit. My health is good but I want to try to find out all I can about the area when I come. Do you recommend an atty, friendly expats, or ????

DUNMOVN
  3/9/2013 22:06 EST

Any hotel in the Central area of Cuenca is safe as are hostels and B&Bs. There is not any real seasonal difference in price. The hotel Dorado is very nice with an excellent restaurand and it is centrally located. There are expats meeting in various places at different times, it all depends on when you will be here. There are only about 2500 full time North Americans in Cuenca, a city of 550,000, so the place is not crawling with gringos. For visa purposes, you do not need a lawyer. If you want to buy real estate, you will need a lawyer.

Ecuador Visas - Law office of Attorney Sara ChacaEcuador Visas - Law office of Attorney Sara Chaca
Connect

With Offices in BOTH Ecuador and the US, Ecuador Visas with Attorney Sara Chaca is the No. 1 Visa Law Firm for Your Move! Specializing in Ecuador Residency Visas plus converting from Temporary to Permanent Residency, Containers, Real Estate Closings, Wills and Estate Planning, Driver Licenses, Opening Businesses & Citizenship!

Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

Ecuador Visas - Law office of Attorney Sara ChacaEcuador Visas - Law office of Attorney Sara Chaca

With Offices in BOTH Ecuador and the US, Ecuador Visas with Attorney Sara Chaca is the No. 1 Visa Law Firm for Your Move! Specializing in Ecuador Residency Visas plus converting from Temporary to Permanent Residency, Containers, Real Estate Closings, Wills and Estate Planning, Driver Licenses, Opening Businesses & Citizenship!
Connect

Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

OceanHideaway
  3/10/2013 11:47 EST

Actually ...

According to the US consulate there are over 5,OOO American citizens living as permanent residents in and around Cuenca at this time.

As for applying for and acquiring a visa, while Cuenca does now have some English speaking assistants, you do want to be prepared with the proper paperwork properly prepared prior to arrival to save on the cost and frustration of acquiring these documents from the USA once here.

While an attorney might be necessary for a complex immigration matter that requires a sophisticated response, most visa's are better handled by a facilitator, and the best facilitators are those with years of experience and hundreds and satisfied clients and excellent references. They are the ones who have no problem providing information free of charge since it is their abilities on the ground, their knowledge of the offices and subtle changes in the rules, contacts and support professionals that makes them worthwhile.

Highly recommended here is Dana Cameron who works in Guayaquil and Cuenca, has 1O years of experience, and provides services not only for the expatriate community but for many of the unvoersities in the Guayaqil area. She goes by the handle Silverwater here and she can be reached at [email protected]

For lodgings check out tripadvisor.com .

Susan
TheOceanHideaway.com

DUNMOVN
  3/10/2013 11:50 EST

The University of Cuenca conducted an extensive study of this subject in 2012 and 2200 was the number they came up with. I would sooner believe that than what the US Consulate says. Most of the people who work there could not find their butts with both hands in a lighted room

boatmax
  3/10/2013 13:12 EST

Well Malcolm, with your vast knowledge, I suppose that I should correct both the ex President of Ecuador, as well as the US Ambassador, and use your ststement to correct them. There are indeed 5,000 US citizens living in and around Cuenca, including returning Ecuradorians; plus a total of 50,000 US citizens as of last year.

DUNMOVN
  3/10/2013 13:19 EST

I do not believe the Univ of Cuenca study included returning Ecuadorian citizens, only North American expatriates which also included Canadians. Furthermore I do not believe the University researchers asked the former President or the US Ambassador, who like most governement officials are out of touch with the facts.

Ecuador Visas - Law office of Attorney Sara ChacaEcuador Visas - Law office of Attorney Sara Chaca
Connect

With Offices in BOTH Ecuador and the US, Ecuador Visas with Attorney Sara Chaca is the No. 1 Visa Law Firm for Your Move! Specializing in Ecuador Residency Visas plus converting from Temporary to Permanent Residency, Containers, Real Estate Closings, Wills and Estate Planning, Driver Licenses, Opening Businesses & Citizenship!

Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

Ecuador Visas - Law office of Attorney Sara ChacaEcuador Visas - Law office of Attorney Sara Chaca

With Offices in BOTH Ecuador and the US, Ecuador Visas with Attorney Sara Chaca is the No. 1 Visa Law Firm for Your Move! Specializing in Ecuador Residency Visas plus converting from Temporary to Permanent Residency, Containers, Real Estate Closings, Wills and Estate Planning, Driver Licenses, Opening Businesses & Citizenship!
Connect

Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

frazi89
  3/10/2013 17:03 EST

Thank you for the info. Not far enough along to consider visa for residency yet, but would like to be prepared when I make the decision. Will keep the info you have given me.

JanMyers
  3/10/2013 17:49 EST

I disagree with the statement, "While an attorney might be necessary for a complex immigration matter that requires a sophisticated response, most visa's are better handled by a facilitator . . . "

I don't see any way in the world our visas - approved in 5 working days while we were in the U.S.A.- were perfectly handled by our Ecuadorean attorney. And there's nothing better than perfection!

That said, I would also second the recommendation of Dana (Silverwater). She knows her stuff!

boatmax
  3/10/2013 21:31 EST

Larry Arnold, DBA Malcolm Reding, DBA WTFC.
I have been on this forum for 1 1/2 years, watching you spew bilge water, but your last statement is too outlandish to comment on, but too outlandish to not comment.
If you can understand that the returning Ecuadorians who have lived in the USA for many years, went through much more regulations and paperwork than we complain about, and have become US citizens, thus when they return, they are US citizens.
Please let me make this perfectly clear. Maybe 3 months ago, I sat across the dinner trable from a former President of Ecuador. He had just that day had lunch with the US Ambassador for Equador, and he relayed those facts to me, among many other things that we discussed.
The former President has a new book out now, and it has been translated into English, and is available in Kindle format. The name of the book is:
Portrait of a Nation, Culture and Progress of Ecuador. The book explains much more about the culture of Ecuador, than I ever knew

frazi89
  3/11/2013 12:03 EST

I have rec'd several responses which are very informative and are greatly appreciated. Will post more as I get closer to arrival.

Ecuador Visas - Law office of Attorney Sara Chaca
Ecuador Visas - Law office of Attorney Sara Chaca

Ecuador Visas with Attorney Sara Chaca is the No. 1 Visa Law Firm for Your Move!
Learn More

Ecuador Visas - Law office of Attorney Sara ChacaEcuador Visas - Law office of Attorney Sara Chaca

Ecuador Visas with Attorney Sara Chaca is the No. 1 Visa Law Firm for Your Move!
Learn More

Living in Ecuador GuideLiving in Ecuador Guide

Expats in Ecuador share some of the pros and cons of living in Ecuador. Topics covered include where to live, the bureaucracy, the people and more.

Ecuador Forum Ecuador Forum
Join our Ecuador forum to meet other expats and talk about living in Ecuador.

Contribute to Ecuador Network Contribute
Help other expats and newcomers by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Ecuador.

Best Places to Live in Ecuador Best Places to Live in Ecuador

If you're dreaming about living in Ecuador, here are the 15 Best Places to Live in Ecuador in 2023.

Healthcare in EcuadorHealthcare in Ecuador

Expats in Ecuador share their experiences with healthcare and overseas medical insurance in Ecuador.

Cost of Living in EcuadorCost of Living in Ecuador

Expats offer insight into the cost of living in Ecuador.

Moving to EcuadorMoving to Ecuador Guide

Expats in Ecuador offer advice to newcomers and people considering a move to Ecuador about clothing, sunscreen, renting before buying, gringo pricing, Ecuadorians politeness and much more.

Real Estate in EcuadorReal Estate in Ecuador

Real estate listings in popular cities and towns in Ecuador.

Pros Cons of Living in EcuadorPros & Cons of Living in Ecuador

Take off your rose-colored glasses and learn what expats have to say about the biggest challenges and the greatest rewards of living in Ecuador.

Retiring in EcuadorRetiring in Ecuador

Advice for people retiring in Ecuador.

10 Tips for Living in Ecuador10 Tips for Living in Ecuador

If you've recently arrived in Ecuador, here are 10 tips for digital nomads living in Ecuador.

Ecuador Visas - Law office of Attorney Sara Chaca
Ecuador Visas - Law office of Attorney Sara Chaca

Ecuador Visas with Attorney Sara Chaca is the No. 1 Visa Law Firm for Your Move!
Learn More

Ecuador Visas - Law office of Attorney Sara ChacaEcuador Visas - Law office of Attorney Sara Chaca

Ecuador Visas with Attorney Sara Chaca is the No. 1 Visa Law Firm for Your Move!
Learn More

Contribute to Ecuador Network Contribute
Help others in Ecuador by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Ecuador.

Allianz Care
Allianz Care

Copyright 1997-2024 Burlingame Interactive, Inc.

Privacy Policy Legal