Fiance in Ecuador, get married there or in US?

[wadeanderson 0]

I never thought I would be looking at a process like this! I went on a trip for 4 months in Colombia and Ecuador not looking to meet anyone but now I have a fiance living in Ecuador! I am back in the US to work for 3 months, which this job contract will end in less than a month and then I am going back to see her again on July 12!

I already have an apartment in Ecuador and since I overstayed my 90 days on my passport I went and got a 6 month visa for Ecaudor... the easiest process ever!

She would prefer to be married there and her family would prefer her to married to me before coming to the US. But I hear it is easier to get a K1 Fiance visa. It is my hope to not have to stay there the full 6 months, I want to go there and do whatever it takes to bring her back here the fastest way.

I am wondering if anyone has experience with the consulate in Ecuador and can share how fast or slow the process is.

thank you very much,

Wade

[Ryan H 3,810]

Moved from K1 Process & Procedures to Mexico, Latin & South America regional forum; OP is asking for experiences from the US Consulate Guayaquil.

**Organizer hat off**

The Consulate in Guayaquil has a reputation as being a very tough consulate. I'm sure TBone TX will be along to tell you what you are in for. You would be very wise to listen to what he and others have to say regarding their experiences with this Consulate.

[wadeanderson 0]

Moved from K1 Process & Procedures to Mexico, Latin & South America regional forum; OP is asking for experiences from the US Consulate Guayaquil.

**Organizer hat off**

The Consulate in Guayaquil has a reputation as being a very tough consulate. I'm sure TBone TX will be along to tell you what you are in for. You would be very wise to listen to what he and others have to say regarding their experiences with this Consulate.

OK thanks! from what I have read so far it sounds like the fiance visa is the easier route to take.

[TBoneTX 44,673]

The Consulate in Guayaquil has a reputation as being a very tough consulate. I'm sure TBone TX will be along to tell you what you are in for. You would be very wise to listen to what he and others have to say regarding their experiences with this Consulate.

Here I am, sigh man.

Brother Wade, read this thread in its entirety:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/110313-us-consulate-in-guayaquil-ecuador/

Pay very close attention to the worst accounts and descriptions.

Then, go atop any VJ page and click on the "Reviews: Embassy" link. In the Reviews, be aware that the more recent, positive-sounding reviews were written chiefly by people who heeded the warnings about this evil, ####### consulate. Several of us are holding back on writing our reviews, because we plan to file "after-visa complaints" with the U.S. Department of State and the Consul General at Guayaquil. You can, however, read the review by PDXBicycleBoy, every word of which needs to be burned into your forebrain before you act in any fashion.

Do all this before you plan any future with any Ecuatoriana whom you would seek to bring to the United States.

In terms of your plans, I recommend in the strongest possible terms that you pursue the CR-1 visa and that you file NO PETITION OF ANY KIND with USCIS until you have a very, very long and unquestionably bona fide relationship with your fiancee (who would be your wife if you were to file the I-130 petition that precedes her CR-1 visa application). Otherwise, you're playing with very hot fire and strongly risk being barbecued by that hellhole consulate. If you never heed another word that I've ever written or will write on any other topic, heed me now.

[EminTX 131]

I don't have the experience with Ecuador, but I am recently married (2 months ago) with a K-1 fiance visa. In the process of the adjustment of status (AOS), I can see where the spousal visa is easier after arrival. It depends on what your circumstances, but now with our experience, I advise folks to choose that over the K-1 any day. (For us, in the beginning, it was a toss-up. Getting married in my husband's country requires time off work that we had already used--I simply couldn't travel there to wait around for a few more weeks, so we chose this visa. My husband has to return for a single class to finish his university education and we are biting our nails waiting for the permission for him to travel. Sigh. Plus, if we'd gotten married and then filed, since it took 9 months, I could have claimed him on my taxes last year--the difference was the cost of him immigrating minus the flight. Getting married before filing is a financially smart move, IMHO.)

Please be sure to document your experience well so that those who follow your foot steps can benefit, too. Good luck.

[fantonledzepp 159]

I also believe that Ecua law states that one must be in the country for at least 75 consecutive days before being eligible to marry. I heard this from a friend of a friend that works in the Registro Civil.

Anybody correct me if I'm wrong...

Edited June 20, 2012 by fantonledzepp

[amyjohans 4]

I also believe that Ecua law states that one must be in the country for at least 75 consecutive days before being eligible to marry. I heard this from a friend of a friend that works in the Registro Civil.

Anybody correct me if I'm wrong...

That is the law, however there are ways around it. I had been in Ecuador for 4 months and A month before I got married, I made a trip to Colombia. So when I got my movimiento migratorio (which shows entrances and exits from Ecuador) they told me that the clock had been reset and I couldn't get married yet and would have to wait another 75 days. But they also told me that if I went to the Registro Civil in Quito we could get married by exception (Matrimonio por excepcion). It was a bit of a hassle but its doable. I also have another friend who was only in Ecuador for a week to get married and she managed to get everything done in that time.

[fantonledzepp 159]

That is the law, however there are ways around it. I had been in Ecuador for 4 months and A month before I got married, I made a trip to Colombia. So when I got my movimiento migratorio (which shows entrances and exits from Ecuador) they told me that the clock had been reset and I couldn't get married yet and would have to wait another 75 days. But they also told me that if I went to the Registro Civil in Quito we could get married by exception (Matrimonio por excepcion). It was a bit of a hassle but its doable. I also have another friend who was only in Ecuador for a week to get married and she managed to get everything done in that time.

Thanks for the info. I guess there are always ways around things if you know the right people and have a deep enough pocket. Police shaking people down for money on traffic stops, why wouldn't it happen at the next level? Hehehe.

[wadeanderson 0]

Here I am, sigh man.

Brother Wade, read this thread in its entirety:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/110313-us-consulate-in-guayaquil-ecuador/

Pay very close attention to the worst accounts and descriptions.

Then, go atop any VJ page and click on the "Reviews: Embassy" link. In the Reviews, be aware that the more recent, positive-sounding reviews were written chiefly by people who heeded the warnings about this evil, ####### consulate. Several of us are holding back on writing our reviews, because we plan to file "after-visa complaints" with the U.S. Department of State and the Consul General at Guayaquil. You can, however, read the review by PDXBicycleBoy, every word of which needs to be burned into your forebrain before you act in any fashion.

Do all this before you plan any future with any Ecuatoriana whom you would seek to bring to the United States.

In terms of your plans, I recommend in the strongest possible terms that you pursue the CR-1 visa and that you file NO PETITION OF ANY KIND with USCIS until you have a very, very long and unquestionably bona fide relationship with your fiancee (who would be your wife if you were to file the I-130 petition that precedes her CR-1 visa application). Otherwise, you're playing with very hot fire and strongly risk being barbecued by that hellhole consulate. If you never heed another word that I've ever written or will write on any other topic, heed me now.

Wow thank you very much!! So maybe it is better to get married there first. I do not care, I just want to know the easiest process. Someone else mentioned having to be there 75 days, I heard somewhere else 6 months.

Thanks,

Wade

[EminTX 131]

75 days??? Yikes! What about marrying in another country? Perú (It takes 3-4 weeks there) or Colombia? (Bolivia and Chile seem to have the same time-frame as Perú.)

Are there any special wedding packages for Galapagos with expedited time? What are the laws regarding being married at sea?

[TBoneTX 44,673]

Wow thank you very much!! So maybe it is better to get married there first. I do not care, I just want to know the easiest process. Someone else mentioned having to be there 75 days, I heard somewhere else 6 months.

Brother Wade, did you read the thread? Honestly, it sounds like you're on a "ready, fire, aim" path, which will NOT work at the ####### Guayaquil consulate.

[wadeanderson 0]

Brother Wade, did you read the thread? Honestly, it sounds like you're on a "ready, fire, aim" path, which will NOT work at the ####### Guayaquil consulate.

Hey TBoneTX, Yes I read through it and it seems as though it does not matter if we get married there or here, I just need to make sure I can establish that it is an authentic relationship. I have started saving everything I can, western union receipts, backed up MSN messenger conversation history, emails, receipts for gifts, telephone history, skype history, etc... I have to say that with all the conversations we have all day lone every day, this is a very large file! While I am at work and she is at work during the day we rarely go an hour without a message back and forth. If I print off and bring everything in, I will need to use a a hand truck to bring it all in!!!

anyway, I am sorting and organizing everything and even uploading to google documents to have a back up copy on the internet.

All I can do is to follow all the steps and get things in order. I am arriving back there in a few weeks, I have an apartment in Guayaquil and plan to stay 6 months, I wish I could bring her back here before 6 months but that does not seem possible? I do not want to leave her again and I cannot live there, I need to come back and work in the US. I will do whatever it takes but I want the shortest path to bring her here.

I am very lucky to have found this website, I thought it would be easy to go there and bring her here on a visa within a few months, but now I am revising all my plans. It takes all the romance out of a relationship when you have to keep thinking about what the consulate wants

thanks,

Wade

Brother Wade, did you read the thread? Honestly, it sounds like you're on a "ready, fire, aim" path, which will NOT work at the ####### Guayaquil consulate.

oh, and it seems like this Guayaquil consulate has been mentioned for many years, he is still there? What is his name? and if there are problems what is the best course of action, contact congressman?

thanks!

Wade

[fantonledzepp 159]

I am very lucky to have found this website, I thought it would be easy to go there and bring her here on a visa within a few months, but now I am revising all my plans. It takes all the romance out of a relationship when you have to keep thinking about what the consulate wants

You can say that again. How many times did I have unpleasant conversations with the fiancee because of the lack of romance once we realized how unconventional this would be. We were both sad for a few weeks.

But it's coming to an end soon.

Make a plan of attack and plan it well.

[wadeanderson 0]

You can say that again. How many times did I have unpleasant conversations with the fiancee because of the lack of romance once we realized how unconventional this would be. We were both sad for a few weeks.

But it's coming to an end soon.

Make a plan of attack and plan it well.

I just got off the phone with the Ecuador consulate who have always been very nice and very helpful to me. Even going into the office is such a pleasant experience, very relaxed and very welcoming. The woman there told me that she thought is was easier to bring her here on a fiancee visa. I also found out that my 6 month visa I got means I can stay there for up to 6 months for a year and it includes the 3 months I already stayed there from December to March this year. She said I need to leave in 3 months when my 180 days are up for the year and cannot go back until after December 18 which is the date I first entered into the country. I was hoping to stay for 6 months

right now I am shielding my girlfriend from all this bureaucracy and will wait to talk to her about it when I get there. She does not know how complicated this is and it is going to break her heart to know I will have to leave the country without her

You can say that again. How many times did I have unpleasant conversations with the fiancee because of the lack of romance once we realized how unconventional this would be. We were both sad for a few weeks.

But it's coming to an end soon.

Make a plan of attack and plan it well.

I just got off the phone with the Ecuador consulate who have always been very nice and very helpful to me. Even going into the office is such a pleasant experience, very relaxed and very welcoming. The woman there told me that she thought is was easier to bring her here on a fiancee visa. I also found out that my 6 month visa I got means I can stay there for up to 6 months for a year and it includes the 3 months I already stayed there from December to March this year. She said I need to leave in 3 months when my 180 days are up for the year and cannot go back until after December 18 which is the date I first entered into the country. I was hoping to stay for 6 months

right now I am shielding my girlfriend from all this bureaucracy and will wait to talk to her about it when I get there. She does not know how complicated this is and it is going to break her heart to know I will have to leave the country without her I am already sad thinking about it.

[EminTX 131]

I disagree that it is not romantic. You are actually PROVING your love for this woman. It is not just words and drinks and flowers and dates. It is actual work and thinking and planning. Much more effort than the average face-to-face the whole time romance. Certainly more time is involved than the average courtship.

She, USCIS, and Homeland Security all (will) have documented proof of your love.

If that is not romantic, I can't imagine what actually is.