US Consulate in Guayaquil, Ecuador

[TE AMO ECUADOR 0]

Hi All

Been a while sense I was here and the consulate in GYQ is the same I see. My advice to all of you is to relax and understand that each embassy in the world can by law set there own protocol on issuing visas. I have spoken to number of Immigration attorney's on this subject and the law is clear.you can complain to your congressmen all you want but it is not going to change anything. The consulate seems to require a 2 interview process minimum and you might as well accept this as what is the process. If you cannot accept the conditions of this embassy, then look in a country that does expedited processing like Colombia where it is normal to get the visa the same day. If your Ecuadorian is worth it, then the conditions are as they are. Actually Ecuador has one of the highest numbers of visa overstays in Latin America and I am sure this is one of the reasons that the process is more lengthy. The law is very clear in that you have the right to marry anyone in the world you want, but you do not have the right to bring them to live with you in the USA. Just because you are a US citizen makes no difference. The actual fiance visa was originally put out for US servicemen that had lengthy stays abroad to bring there fiances and wives back when there tours were up. This was not originally intended for Internet/marriage broker reasons. As much as you want to be with your woman, I suggest to forget the negative and revengeful posters and just allow the process to take place as the protocols for its embassy dictate. It will only make your bloodpressure go up anyway. The facts are that most visas will be issued with time or additional evidence, but not all visas will be granted just as not all are granted in any embassy in the world. My process was long just like everybody else's and I got all worked up too. I will say that the second interview dates can be moved up with being persistent by calling the embassy, but the rest is just luck of the draw.

[TBoneTX 45,598]

The consulate seems to require a 2 interview process minimum and you might as well accept this as what is the process.

It is saddening indeed to envision that a blood brother (through the process of being completely hosed) has sold out. The truth is that this hellhole has issued visas on the first interview when both partners were there. It is with true sadness that I urge everyone to ignore the entire quoted post and to attend to this consulate´s track record of beastly treatment of U.S. citizens.

[TE AMO ECUADOR 0]

Talk to an Immigration attorney and they will tell you that what I say is true. Sorry bu tthese are the facts.

[Chamy and Gatita 3]

On the bright side--

I would like to add that, because of the assistance we received from our friends on Visa Journey, we knew ahead of time that we had to both be at the interview, regardless of what the officials told us when we made the appointment. We also tried our best to prepare the most thorough package of evidence as we could, and we relied on the advice of those who went before us and on the Nolo Press book on fiance visas. We successfully got our K-1 visa on one interview only, with no lawyer.

(Full disclosure: we also had no kids, no previous marriages, didn't meet online, no marriage broker, no criminal record, no sponsor, no financial difficulty, no overstays or previous visas of any kind, etc etc etc. I don't know if it would have mattered if we had had any of those.)

So, anyone who's reading this thread who's got an interview coming up in Ecuador, don't lose hope! Plan on being at the interview, do the best you can, and most of all, ask other VJers for help!

All the best--

[VivaBaños 2]

On the bright side--

I would like to add that, because of the assistance we received from our friends on Visa Journey, we knew ahead of time that we had to both be at the interview, regardless of what the officials told us when we made the appointment. We also tried our best to prepare the most thorough package of evidence as we could, and we relied on the advice of those who went before us and on the Nolo Press book on fiance visas. We successfully got our K-1 visa on one interview only, with no lawyer.

(Full disclosure: we also had no kids, no previous marriages, didn't meet online, no marriage broker, no criminal record, no sponsor, no financial difficulty, no overstays or previous visas of any kind, etc etc etc. I don't know if it would have mattered if we had had any of those.)

So, anyone who's reading this thread who's got an interview coming up in Ecuador, don't lose hope! Plan on being at the interview, do the best you can, and most of all, ask other VJers for help!

All the best--

Although we were applying for a CR-1 visa, I second Chamy and Gatita's post here. One interview with both of us present, lots of evidence and the same for the points on their full disclosure (except we did have a sponsor). Our interview was easy. We learned a ton from VJ members and that helped us know more about the process. It was DHL that was a nightmare to work with in our case.

[NatPatBen 3]

This was a heartbreaking thread to read. I'm mad at the embassy in Ecuador and I don't even deal with them. But I can imagine what you are going through. My team leader @ work lives in Ecuador. He works for a Fortune 500 (Fortune 1?) company yet had a very hard time getting a visa to come to the states for a 1 week workshop. He's not one to talk a lot, so when he says they gave him a hard time, I know the story is longer.

Glad for those who survived. Good luck to those still going through.

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

I have a feeling this quote is by Thomas Paine with input by TBoneTX.

[TBoneTX 45,598]

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

I have a feeling this quote is by Thomas Paine with input by TBoneTX.

Si, man, and the consulate is NOT to be trifled with. Both must be there at the FIRST interview, and all the etc. Apologists for this hellhole had better not hope that PDXBicycleboy reads their posts.

[TE AMO ECUADOR 0]

The Embassy in Quito has given several of my mother-in-laws friends a rough time as well. My mother -in-law is not interested in trying to get a tourist visa now even though she has a lot of homes and assets in Quito. The goverment of Correa is trying to play hardball with the US so the US is going to make everyones life difficult that is in need of a Visa to flex there muscle.

[Wildbill 0]

I want to see this thread keep going and hear of other peoples experiences in Guayaquil since we just started the journey!

My Ecuadorian wife and I turned in her I-130 application last week. We brought tons of information, affidavits, pictures, and letters with us to the first interview.

We waited until my name was called and went to the small window together. An Ecuadorian women went through the folder and picked out the I-130 Application, the two G325A's, our original marriage certificate, my wifes original birth certificate, and a copy of my US passport. She gave us back everything else except for the photos. She picked out a few of the oldest photos of us together and then told us to go pay the $355.00. We did and returned with the recieipt. We then went and sat down again.

About 20 minutes later they called us to another window where an American women told us that the I-130 application was approved. She handed us an approval letter with my wifes case number on it, told us to wait 45 days and then download packet 4 from the website and when we have that assembled to call and make an appointment for an interview. She also gave us back all of the photos.

I'm very sorry to hear about everyone elses bad experiences here and can understand your frustrations after 3 unsuccessful tourist visa applications, but we have no complaints about the immigration visa at this point. The people were nice and proffesional and the process was quick. I hope the next step goes as well. Thanks to everyone who has posted here, we felt very prepared going in after reading all of these posts.

[TBoneTX 45,598]

the I-130 application was approved. She handed us an approval letter with my wifes case number on it, told us to wait 45 days and then download packet 4 from the website and when we have that assembled to call and make an appointment for an interview.

This was for the DCF, si man? Congratulations, si man! Be sure to bring back your truckload of evidence to the real interview, just in case.

For everyone reading here, that female CO is probably new but already has a reputation that is not to be trifled with, according to private correspondence. Also, there has been no recent sign of "Mr. Silver," the crewcut ex-military Vice-Consul with the dull blue eyes. This last is a boon, si man.

[TBoneTX 45,598]

Bump (for cause).

It should be added that one VJ couple here had an appointment for 2 p.m. At 9:30 a.m., the Ecuadorian fiancee received a phone call from the consulate, which ordered the couple to show up at 10:30 a.m. instead, or they would lose their appointment. Fortunately, they were already in Guayaquil and could react (with much rushing).

Edited November 10, 2009 by TBoneTX

[Stephen + Elisha 92]

For those would would like to communicate their grievances concerning the Guayaquil consulate to the proper authority, the following contact information may be of benefit:

The Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs is Janice L. Jacobs. She is ultimately in charge of all consulates and embassy consular services worldwide. The Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Visa Services is Tony Edson. As the title suggests, he oversees visa issuance matters at consular posts throughout the world.

The mailing address for both of them:

Bureau of Consular Affairs

United States Department of State

2201 C Street, NW

Washington, District of Columbia 20520

And, the ace in the hole, the Bureau of Consular Affairs executive suite fax number: (202) 647-9622

Both should be styled The Honorable <full name> in addressing the letter, and the appropriate salutation for each is Dear Ambassador <last name>:

[TBoneTX 45,598]

For those would would like to communicate their grievances concerning the Guayaquil consulate to the proper authority [...]

Many thanks, dude, si man. During my own period of torment, I left a phone message for Tony Edson, and naturally it was not returned, no man. A supervisorette at the DOS Visa Department line gave me an address to which to send after-visa complaints; I can't find it at the moment, but it was different from the address above, I remember. It takes a minimum of 6 weeks in order to receive a response, she said. One of my attorneys (himself a former vice-consul in Venezuela) was so disturbed by my story that he suggested filing an after-visa complaint with both DOS and the Consul General in Guayaquil (a glad-handing P.R. flack).

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Moved from K-1 forum to Consulate and Embassies forum as more appropriate for the discussion that has developed in this thread

[seananda 1]

I just heard from my wife that our interview is scheduled for Dec 14th in Guayaquil. Yeah! It actually works out perfectly with a previously planned visit for Christmas. I'm kind of in disbelief given how slow the process felt like it was moving before. Thanks to all of the tips and consular reviews, I feel like we are well-prepared for the interview. We have a mountain of evidence (about 700 pages), and I will be there for my wife's interview. Does anyone have recent experiences that they haven't posted yet? Anyone else have any last minute tips for this consulate? Thanks again for the help. Let's hope luck is on our side as well.