Expat Exchange
Free MembershipSign In

Ecuador Expat Forum

* Prepare visa documents IN ECUADOR

New Topic Newest First
nondescripthalfbaloon
  9/22/2022 16:22 EST

Lots of people go back to the US to get all their documents prepared before applying for a visa here in Ecuador. Why?

I've read that people will fly back from Ecuador back to the US to get all the documents they need. Then come back to Ecuador to apply for their visa. I've even read horror stories of folks having to fly back to the US twice. But I don't understand why.

It seems to me that everything would be cheaper (translations, apostilles, notaries, copies, etc) here in Ecaudor. Except maybe postage. But postage should be *much* cheaper than a round-trip flight, no?

The one item that stands-out as the most difficult to me is the background check. But I was reading through the FBI website, and it seems that you can order it online, and then they mail it to you. It costs $18 and takes 3-5 days. I guess the most difficult thing here is that you have to mail them your fingerprints. But that shouldn't be too difficult. Also, I've done this process for an FBI report outside the US before, but with an agency that sent them digital scans of my fingerprints. Surely there's some place here that will do the digital fingerprint scans for as much as it costs to mail them from Ecuador (and wayy less than a flight back to the US)?

* https://www.fbi.gov/services/cjis/identity-history-summary-checks

Is there something else that I'm missing that's more difficult to get inside of Ecuador?

Has any other US Americans had experience preparing all the necessary documents to apply for a 2-year visa entirely inside Ecuador?

soccergirl2020
  9/23/2022 09:23 EST

You are forgetting apostilles. The process for getting antecedentes penales from FBI.


1. get fingerprints takes
2. Pay for background check and send fingerprints to FBI
3. Receive results
4. Send results to company near Washington DC to carry the report to the Department of State for apostille (about $80)
5. Have apostilled document sent to you FEDEX or DHL, no mail service in Ecuador. About $130.
Takes about 3-6 weeks, then start on translations...

Wash, rinse, repeat for however many documents from different locations that have to be apostilled in different states. Have to have background checks from all living locations last 5 years, hope you didn't just move!

William RussellWilliam Russell
Get Quote

William Russell's private medical insurance will cover you and your family wherever you may be. Whether you need primary care or complex surgery, you'll have access to the best hospitals & doctors available. Unlike some insurers, we also include medical evacuation and mental health cover in our plans (except SilverLite). Get a quote from our partner, William Russell.

William RussellWilliam Russell

William Russell's private medical insurance will cover you and your family wherever you may be. Whether you need primary care or complex surgery, you'll have access to the best hospitals & doctors available. Unlike some insurers, we also include medical evacuation and mental health cover in our plans (except SilverLite). Get a quote from our partner, William Russell.
Get Quote

soccergirl2020
  9/23/2022 09:23 EST

You are forgetting apostilles. The process for getting antecedentes penales from FBI.


1. get fingerprints takes
2. Pay for background check and send fingerprints to FBI
3. Receive results
4. Send results to company near Washington DC to carry the report to the Department of State for apostille (about $80)
5. Have apostilled document sent to you FEDEX or DHL, no mail service in Ecuador. About $130.
Takes about 3-6 weeks, then start on translations...

Wash, rinse, repeat for however many documents from different locations that have to be apostilled in different states. Have to have background checks from all living locations last 5 years, hope you didn't just move!

soccergirl2020
  9/23/2022 09:35 EST

Problem is you have a 3 month tourist visa which can be extended for 3 more months. Getting documents from USA can take 2-3 months then a 1 month wait for appointment to present documents THEN (I have had 2 rounds of tourist visa with extensions, permanent resident visa and naturalization so lots of rounds with immigration) part of your paperwork is not needed (for no obvious reason) and other documents are required. Easy to run out your 6 month clock.

soccergirl2020
  9/23/2022 09:43 EST

Documents cannot be apostilled in Ecuador. An apostille is a government verification of the document. So in the USA, state issued documents have to be apostilled by that state. Federal issued documents have to be apostilled by the federal government in Washington DC.



Ecuador can only apostille Ecuador issued documents like Ecuadorian birth certificates and the like. They CANNOT apostille USA issued documents.

mariache
  10/10/2022 23:50 EST

I got everything translated and notarized in Canada. Flew to Quito and went to Canadian embassy to have the Canadian notary’s signature authenticated.

Canada has not signed the Apostille Hague Convention so after the Canadian embassy’s authentication I took my docs to be apostilled at the Ministry of Human Mobilit.y.

All my documents were accepted everywhere after the Ecuadorian apostille. I submitted them to apply for a temporary residency visa and it was approved immediately.

Excellent service by the Ecuadorian administration by the way.

William RussellWilliam Russell
Get Quote

William Russell's private medical insurance will cover you and your family wherever you may be. Whether you need primary care or complex surgery, you'll have access to the best hospitals & doctors available. Unlike some insurers, we also include medical evacuation and mental health cover in our plans (except SilverLite). Get a quote from our partner, William Russell.

William RussellWilliam Russell

William Russell's private medical insurance will cover you and your family wherever you may be. Whether you need primary care or complex surgery, you'll have access to the best hospitals & doctors available. Unlike some insurers, we also include medical evacuation and mental health cover in our plans (except SilverLite). Get a quote from our partner, William Russell.
Get Quote

mariache
  10/10/2022 23:52 EST

The Ecuadorian government apostilled all of my Canadian documents.

frankEC
  10/11/2022 07:34 EST

Why not get them all done BEFORE coming down to apply? That is what I did.

mariache
  10/11/2022 08:36 EST

Contact the American consulate in Quito, they will know the whole process and where to get your finger prints taken locally; it’s usually done at a police station.

budajiho
  10/25/2022 16:53 EST

Questions:
1. Is a birth certificate required for visa? If so, it has to be apposiilled in the state you were born. Is that correct?
2. Does a Social Security Verification Letter need to be apostilled? If so, where should that be sent?
3. I’ve been divorced for 28 years; however, do I need to obtain a Dissolution of Marriage document - that also has to be apostilled?

Thanks, budajiho.

frankEC
  10/31/2022 08:46 EST

yes to all

William Russell
William Russell

Get a quote for international health insurance from our partner, William Russell.
Get Quote

William RussellWilliam Russell

Get a quote for international health insurance from our partner, William Russell.
Get Quote

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.

William Russell
William Russell

Get a quote for international health insurance from our partner, William Russell.
Get Quote

William RussellWilliam Russell

Get a quote for international health insurance from our partner, William Russell.
Get Quote

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

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

Copyright 1997-2024 Burlingame Interactive, Inc.

Privacy Policy Legal