US Consulate in Guayaquil, Ecuador

[TBoneTX 44,787]

[...] never , ever heard of a Matrimonional Interview being requested for an I-130 Application if all documents were in order from the USCIS/NVC.

Neither had any of us, till it began happening. Under whose authority are these being decreed?

Also she said that Ecuador ranked low on the Fraud Scale for Immigration Visas. This Consulate really has a bug up there ### for some reason.

The first is news to me; the second is not! We should be prepared with the info that I shared with you.

T-Bone, could be like I said on the phone " THE EMBASSADOR IS A WOMAN" and does not like to see men marrying outside of America, who knows.The next week or so will be very interesting.

Andy and Fer

Wouldn't THAT be reverse sexism, si man? I have never heard of an ambassador having such influence over a consulate; I'd be much more inclined to suspect the Anti-Fraud Officer, the Section Chief, or the Consul General. But, as you say, who knows?

The Chinese have a saying "May you have an interesting life," which is a curse. Let us hope that none of us have interesting weeks. I do know that I will be hung out to dry if Roy does not share his experiences quickly.

[TBoneTX 44,787]

4 couples having to come back and have a Matrimonial Interview and all in the next week. This is not a coincidence, there must be something up that has caused the Consulate to really put the brakes on giving out visas. This is just not normal in most Embassy's nor seems to has had a history of this in the past at this particular Consulate.This is not the Embassy in Bogota where they process maybe 100 Cr-1 and K-1 visas a week. This is Ecuador and the number is at least less then half that. Something must be going on and unfortunatley our cases are a victim of bad timing.

Andy and Fer

Could be, but I think that it could be coincidence. Roy was initially told to come in August; I in September (by the Consul) and then November (by the first PIN b*tch); however, we (as you) were able to reschedule for when it was most convenient for us. Had I been able to come down in May, I could have had a time in May.

Edited June 23, 2008 by TBoneTX

[Arlington 5]

My wife just got done with her police certificates. She had to get one in two different provinces (Guayas and El Oro). This is just her experience, but you might want to have your wives check into this: she was told by the police chief that for the police certificates to have validity outside Ecuador, that they have to get a stamp from (notarized by) the Ministry of Foreign Relations (MRE). She went ahead and did this and it was $10 per certificate. Although the consulate's instructions do not mention this (they only mention the provincial authorities), we all know how much THAT counts for. It might be the prudent thing to do. There are three offices in Ecuador (Quito, Guayaquil, and Cuenca). The page linked below has the addresses and phone numbers (about 2/3 way down the page) for the three offices.

http://www.mmrree.gov.ec/mre/documentos/se...directrices.htm

GOOD LUCK!

[TBoneTX 44,787]

[...] for the police certificates to have validity outside Ecuador, that they have to get a stamp from (notarized by) the Ministry of Foreign Relations (MRE).

Thanks, man, but I'm confused. Why is this important? How would a destination country of residence (such as the U.S.) know, care, or recognize that a foreign police certificate would be any more valid with such a stamp than without one? (These are innocent questions here.)

Edited June 25, 2008 by TBoneTX

[Arlington 5]

Here's another link that you can refer to (or have your wives refer to, as it's in Spanish). The process is called "apostillar." The document lists the USA as a country that requires and recognizes this verification.

http://www.mmrree.gov.ec/MRE/DOCUMENTOS/po...alizaciones.htm

It says:

"The necessity of certifying the authenticity of a document becomes vital when a citizen finds himself outside of his home country and needs to use documents from back home. In response to this need, one of the most important services that the MRE offers is the legalization and apostilization of documents originating from public institutions."

Again, I don't know if the consulate needs this, as that is precisely why the US has diplomats looking at these papers (because presumably they have some expertise in what local documents are authentic without needing the apositilization). But, you should consider that someday these same documents might be needed for another purpose. For instance, if your wives are looking for jobs as teachers or daycare workers. The local school board would want to see this validation.

[Arlington 5]

Here is the U.S. State Department's policy on issuance of an apostille, which, unfortunately, doesn't say much about how embassies/consulates are to handle this issue.

http://travel.state.gov/law/info/judicial/judicial_2545.html

[TBoneTX 44,787]

Aha -- thanks for explaining, si man.

Well, I am off to soggy Ecuador on Fri. eve 6/27, interview Mon. 6/30. Will attempt to post even a thumbnail description ASAP of this K-1 interview in hopes that it's of value to you CR-1 guys. There's even a possibility that C. & I can meet up in person with Andy y Fer on Tues.

[TE AMO ECUADOR 0]

TBONE

Hope we can all meet for a drink or something. Good for our ladies to meet and have a common country friend once they are here living in the states. You have Fer's cell, so call whenever you like. As far as the Aposstilled, I am very familiar with this as I had to get all of my legal documents Aposstilled before the Government of Ecuador would accept them as proof so we could marry in Quito. It is an agreement of the 1954 or 1958 Haige Convention for Legal document sharing and acceptance. Arlington, you will not need this appostilled for use in Ecuador. If once you are here in the states and your wife would need to show this to someone other then the Ecuadorian Embassy here, then yes you have to have that Official Seal, but for your interview you do not need to have that Document Aposstilled.

Andy Y Fer

[TBoneTX 44,787]

A-Bone -- si, man, and hope to see you, man!

[TBoneTX 44,787]

It was great to spend time in Guayaquil with Andy & Fer, si man.

The occurrences in our interviews are not something to air on VJ, because they are unique to the Guayaquil consulate and are far beyond the abilities of VJ members to help with. We will pursue matters through other venues and, perhaps, report here at a later time.

[VivaBaños 2]

Thanks to all for notifying us of this issue in Guayaquil. After the headache everyone is having with this consulate office, I am now planning to attend my husband's interview, whenever it is set.

Please keep this thread going!

(I am new to the forum and am happy to be learning from those of you further along in the process than we are!)

[TBoneTX 44,787]

(I am new to the forum and am happy to be learning from those of you further along in the process than we are!)

"If we do not all hang together, we shall assuredly all hang separately, si man." -- Thomas Paine.

[Arlington 5]

Anything new to report? The silence is omnious. We're still at NVC although I am hoping for "case complete" this week. Talked to operator this morning.

[TE AMO ECUADOR 0]

Arlington

The news is everyone of us that you are in contact with are in "ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSING"

Seems every case that goes through the consulate in Guayaquil seems to get put in Admin Processing. The D.O.S is not helpful. Our Congressman's inquires have gone basicly unnoticed and they do utilize some practices that border on the Illigal, but they go unchecked. Anything else, PM me. Big Brother watches this sight.

[Arlington 5]

How depressing! I'm not sure that I want to know more! I just want to stay in denial for the time being, at least until after we get an interview date!!