Visa approved - US Embassy in Guayaquil

[existengirl 0]

Hi,

I just got word today from my Ecuadorian fiance that his visa was issued. I looked at this site many times for advice, inspiration, and sometimes to contemplate the worst. So I thought I should post a description of our visa journey to help others.

I mailed in our initial visa application in June of 2008, and received a notice of receipt at the end of July 2008. We got the approval from the USCIS at the end of November, and a month later we got the K-1 visa informaton packet from the US embassy in Guayaquil . It took us awhile to compile all the needed information for the interview, because our immigration lawyer never told us that we would have to re-submit all the same material again- photos, copies of emails, etc. Please note this- this info. is not passed on by the USCIS to the local embassy. Once we were ready, and called the Visa Center in Ecuador, the interview was scheduled for a week later, on February 4th, 2009. My fiance had copies of 4 years of email communication, a copy of my passport which showed 6 visits to him over the 4 years, copies of my flight itineraries, a couple of snail mail letters, and only 3 photos. One thing he did not bring was his police record. We thought that since he was never arrested, he had no record to bring. We didn't realize that he needed a form from his city police stating this fact. Maybe a little dense on our part, but again, the lawyer never clarified this.

The interview was short- he said they asked very few questions. At the closure, they gave him a letter stating that he needed to send them his police record, a notarized copy of his passport, my actual passport, and more photos, through DHL. We had no more pictures of us together, but I created a photo essay of my travels there, and kind of laid out a pictoral love story with photos of me with his family and in his community. I was surprised that they would want my actual passport, and called the Visa center to clarify, and indeed they did. Again, there was a delay as we compiled this info, and he mailed it through DHL on March 10th, 2009. At that time, they had him pay the return fee, and said he would get a response back in 8-15 days. Two weeks later, he had word that a response was waiting for him. He traveled 4 hours to the DHL office today- and the visa was waiting for him. So in total, the complete process from beginning to end was about 9 months, though part of that delay was our own doing.

In retrospect, I don't feel that the lawyer was necessary for this process- I feel like it was $700 of wasted money. As long as you diligently fill out the forms and follow the instructions, it is mostly self-explanatory- especially if you utilize the experience and advice on sites like this, and don't make little oversights like we did.

Suerte!

Edited April 3, 2009 by existengirl

[raymaga 25]

Congrats on the successful interview.

Your experience will provide valuable information for others.

Best wishes to you both.

[sara..... 371]

\

Congratulations :dance: :dance: :dance:

[PrinceandPrincess 0]

Congratulations!!

[TBoneTX 45,091]

Congratulations, si man, but I emphasize that interviewees in Guayaquil should NOT COUNT ON THIS RESULT AS TYPICAL. It is completely feasible that the consuls will refuse to accept evidence brought to the interview and will then issue a 221(g) for "lack of evidence." Read the thread (in the Latin American subforum) entitled "US Consulate in Guayaquil, Ecuador" for the CONSISTENT horror stories.

[sara..... 371]

Congratulations, si man, but I emphasize that interviewees in Guayaquil should NOT COUNT ON THIS RESULT AS TYPICAL. It is completely feasible that the consuls will refuse to accept evidence brought to the interview and will then issue a 221(g) for "lack of evidence." Read the thread (in the Latin American subforum) entitled "US Consulate in Guayaquil, Ecuador" for the CONSISTENT horror stories.

aha tbonetx if u look at the india embassy they been given a lot of problems to k1 especially and also some of the marraige visas i have a few friends that have filed for k1 and marraige visas that have been denied or in ap so long they just gave up and went to live in india........seems that most of the third world countries are now giving no reasons for denial other than the old stand by not enough evidence of relationship (while refusing to look at what was presented as evidence), or asking for evidence that they know the person can not provide as in proof of formal engagement party when the person clearly stated there was none

im beginning to think the immigration process is just a money maker for the government with out the right to defend ourself against unjust and ignorant embassy employees anyways just my opinion for what ever its worth

sara

[kiwiana 2]

congratulations!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Hi,

I just got word today from my Ecuadorian fiance that his visa was issued. I looked at this site many times for advice, inspiration, and sometimes to contemplate the worst. So I thought I should post a description of our visa journey to help others.

I mailed in our initial visa application in June of 2008, and received a notice of receipt at the end of July 2008. We got the approval from the USCIS at the end of November, and a month later we got the K-1 visa informaton packet from the US embassy in Guayaquil . It took us awhile to compile all the needed information for the interview, because our immigration lawyer never told us that we would have to re-submit all the same material again- photos, copies of emails, etc. Please note this- this info. is not passed on by the USCIS to the local embassy. Once we were ready, and called the Visa Center in Ecuador, the interview was scheduled for a week later, on February 4th, 2009. My fiance had copies of 4 years of email communication, a copy of my passport which showed 6 visits to him over the 4 years, copies of my flight itineraries, a couple of snail mail letters, and only 3 photos. One thing he did not bring was his police record. We thought that since he was never arrested, he had no record to bring. We didn't realize that he needed a form from his city police stating this fact. Maybe a little dense on our part, but again, the lawyer never clarified this.

The interview was short- he said they asked very few questions. At the closure, they gave him a letter stating that he needed to send them his police record, a notarized copy of his passport, my actual passport, and more photos, through DHL. We had no more pictures of us together, but I created a photo essay of my travels there, and kind of laid out a pictoral love story with photos of me with his family and in his community. I was surprised that they would want my actual passport, and called the Visa center to clarify, and indeed they did. Again, there was a delay as we compiled this info, and he mailed it through DHL on March 10th, 2009. At that time, they had him pay the return fee, and said he would get a response back in 8-15 days. Two weeks later, he had word that a response was waiting for him. He traveled 4 hours to the DHL office today- and the visa was waiting for him. So in total, the complete process from beginning to end was about 9 months, though part of that delay was our own doing.

In retrospect, I don't feel that the lawyer was necessary for this process- I feel like it was $700 of wasted money. As long as you diligently fill out the forms and follow the instructions, it is mostly self-explanatory- especially if you utilize the experience and advice on sites like this, and don't make little oversights like we did.

Suerte!

Congratulations. Consider the $700 a cheap lesson that lawyers aren't needed.

[MikeMc 38]

Congrats and have a happy wedding!!

Save me some cake!!

:joy: :joy: :joy:

I love happy endings!

[Saska+Tim 7]

Congratulations!!!

[thepizzadude 26]

Hi,

I just got word today from my Ecuadorian fiance that his visa was issued. I looked at this site many times for advice, inspiration, and sometimes to contemplate the worst. So I thought I should post a description of our visa journey to help others.

I mailed in our initial visa application in June of 2008, and received a notice of receipt at the end of July 2008. We got the approval from the USCIS at the end of November, and a month later we got the K-1 visa informaton packet from the US embassy in Guayaquil . It took us awhile to compile all the needed information for the interview, because our immigration lawyer never told us that we would have to re-submit all the same material again- photos, copies of emails, etc. Please note this- this info. is not passed on by the USCIS to the local embassy. Once we were ready, and called the Visa Center in Ecuador, the interview was scheduled for a week later, on February 4th, 2009. My fiance had copies of 4 years of email communication, a copy of my passport which showed 6 visits to him over the 4 years, copies of my flight itineraries, a couple of snail mail letters, and only 3 photos. One thing he did not bring was his police record. We thought that since he was never arrested, he had no record to bring. We didn't realize that he needed a form from his city police stating this fact. Maybe a little dense on our part, but again, the lawyer never clarified this.

The interview was short- he said they asked very few questions. At the closure, they gave him a letter stating that he needed to send them his police record, a notarized copy of his passport, my actual passport, and more photos, through DHL. We had no more pictures of us together, but I created a photo essay of my travels there, and kind of laid out a pictoral love story with photos of me with his family and in his community. I was surprised that they would want my actual passport, and called the Visa center to clarify, and indeed they did. Again, there was a delay as we compiled this info, and he mailed it through DHL on March 10th, 2009. At that time, they had him pay the return fee, and said he would get a response back in 8-15 days. Two weeks later, he had word that a response was waiting for him. He traveled 4 hours to the DHL office today- and the visa was waiting for him. So in total, the complete process from beginning to end was about 9 months, though part of that delay was our own doing.

In retrospect, I don't feel that the lawyer was necessary for this process- I feel like it was $700 of wasted money. As long as you diligently fill out the forms and follow the instructions, it is mostly self-explanatory- especially if you utilize the experience and advice on sites like this, and don't make little oversights like we did.

Suerte!

Great News!!! Congratulations!!

[TBoneTX 45,091]

lawyers aren't needed.

This statement cannot be taken as gospel. In some people's circumstances, the assistance of an attorney is advisable.