US Consulate in Guayaquil, Ecuador

[Wildbill 0]

VISA APPROVED!!!!!

Our jouney ended this morning whith the American Consulate officer in Guayaquil telling us my wifes visa is approved and good luck with our new life in America.

Although the Consulate says they dont offer DCF, I am now pretty sure thats what we did. We both live in Guayaquil so they let us do everything with them and we personally sent nothing to the States. The process was fairly quick and painless and we are both very happy and grateful to everyone who posted information here. We went into the interview very confident that we were over-prepared and that is only because of everyones post. A special thanks to T-bone for all the good advice.

We made the appointment about two weeks ago after receiveing a letter via DHL, from the consulate which said we could download packet 4 and then make an appointment. Just for kicks I had my wife ask if I could accompany her to the interview and they said no. Anyway, we showed up at the consulate at 8:30 and we were led upstairs to the American Citizen services waiting room, it was packed with people and I'm sure we were up there because the two other waiting rooms downstairs were also full. We waited about an hour and heard our name over the speaker system. We went down to booth 4, one of the 4 small interview booths which are seperated from the Consulate officer by a piece of glass. The women behind the glass asked us to pass eveything under the window. She went through our mountain of paperwork and picked out everything she wanted and returned the rest to us. She then asked my wife to swear and then sign the 2nd page of her DS-230. She then asked about 20 questions, mostly basic questions such as where we met, how we met, how long had we been together, a little about our first date, some questions about our wedding etc. Then she looked through our pictures and asked some questions about some of them. She then told us to go pay the 400 dollar fee and return. She then asked a few more basic questions and then told my wife to go get her fingerpints taken and return to the seats until her name was called again. They called us back to booth 4 and asked one final question, "why had we decided to immigrate right now". (I have been living here in Guayaquil for more than 6 years.) We then sat down again for 20 minutes or so and they called us to booth 1 where an American women had us raise our right hands and swear to tell the truth, she then asked 2 or 3 more questions and then told my wife she was approved.

I think maybe some positive changes have been made at the Guayaquil Consulate recently. The people that we dealt with were nice, courtious, and proffesional. We didnt experience any of the problems that we read about here. My advice to anyone who will be dealing with them is to read all the Guayaquil Posts here on this site, make sure both of you are at the interview, and give them everything they ask for and then about a ton of extra things. We swamped them with letters of recommendation, affidavits, letters, pictures, accounts in both of our names, bills in both of our names, contracts, even a book I wrote which mentions my girlfriend in it. They looked at EVERYTHING! Oh, and have your wife bring a jacket, they keep the waiting area nice and cool.

Thanks again to everyone for all your advice! We never could have done it ourselves without this website!

[TBoneTX 45,598]

VISA APPROVED!!!!!

Si, man!!!!!!!!! Thanks for your detailed review. It does sound as though the situation has risen from the absolute depths, but a couple of key points stand out: (1) they denied that they accept DCF (which you accurately say is exactly what you did), and (2) they said that you could not accompany your wife to the interview (lying, devious, deceptive bastards).

This is key:

My advice to anyone who will be dealing with them is to read all the Guayaquil Posts here on this site, make sure both of you are at the interview, and give them everything they ask for and then about a ton of extra things. We swamped them with letters of recommendation, affidavits, letters, pictures, accounts in both of our names, bills in both of our names, contracts, even a book I wrote which mentions my girlfriend in it. They looked at EVERYTHING! Oh, and have your wife bring a jacket, they keep the waiting area nice and cool.

I hope that someone who's imminently interviewing (seananda?) will flat-out ask (and not stop asking, until a definite answer is learned) whether Phil Linderman is still the Section Chief of the Immigrant Visa unit. If he is NOT, then it is possible that the situation for future couples will improve... but I still highly recommend not counting our pollos! Edited December 3, 2009 by TBoneTX

[seananda 1]

Thanks for the update Wildbill. CONGRATS! It's promising to hear a positive story, but I worry since maybe DCF is considered less likely to be fraudulent since you have to live together outside of the states. I'm wondering why the consulate says there is no DCF when their website basically explains how to do it. http://guayaquil.usconsulate.gov/how_to_fi...a_petition.html. Sounds like misinformation is still a problem, although it's encouraging they treat some folks decently. We're sticking with the advice to bring a ton of evidence and letters of support and to be prepared for anything.

[TBoneTX 45,598]

Sounds like misinformation is still a problem

Probably attributable 10% to disorganization and 90% to outright ####### lies. Even in the face of this, your plan is good, si man.

[seananda 1]

The Guayaquil consulate WARNINGS are still valid. We just got taken for a ride. I want to wait until our case is hopefully approved before providing all the details of our case and the interview, but I will say that applicants in Guayaquil should not assume that anything has changed for the better.

Our case has not been approved yet, to say the least. I started getting worried when they wouldn't let me help my wife submit our documents, even though I had obtained most of them. They were taking our documents at the caja/cashier and told me to sit in the waiting area and that I could participate in the actual interview later. I kept checking back with my wife, making sure she had the right papers, but I found out later that they were doing a lengthy, in-depth interview without me there. We had ridiculous amounts of evidence, so in the end they did say that our evidence of a relationship was sufficient, but this was very sneaky behaviour by those liars.

The consulate was stuck on a couple unique, complicating details of our application in the actual interview. I prefer to give details after our case is approved. Let's just suffice it to say that the misinformation campaign is still on from the consulate. An issue that the consulate had confirmed with us that we had adequate documentation via email, and even a phone call with our lawyer, turned into a huge interrogation and further review of our case. Our future is in the hands of a young, blond, female, American consular officer with an annoyingly bad accent. We know we have a valid case and valid documents, but I'm pretty frustrated right now. At the end of the interview, the consular officer said they would have to review our case further, but to leave my wife's passport and pay DHL. She said our case would be approved and the visa sent, or we would receive further instructions in the mail. When we got back to my wife's house and the shock of the experience wore off, we realized this useless consulate forgot to ask for the I-134 affidavit of support, so now we are trying to arrange to drop it off.

We've documented the whole experience while it is fresh, in case the consulate has done anything illegal, and to use in a formal complaint in the future.

I didn't ask about the section leader, as I didn't want to do anything out of the ordinary since our interview went so poorly. Perhaps someone that gets approved easily can ask who the current section leader is in the visa unit.

I highly recommend that everyone going to this consulate is extremely well prepared with documentation. We wouldn't have had a chance if we hadn't have brought extra documentation for every possible item of contention.

[Wildbill 0]

Wow, Que Juevada!!!!

I'm very sorry to hear your interview didnt go as smooth as ours. I'm very surprised that they said "maybe" and wouldnt give you any reasons. That seems very strange to me. Also, they didnt ask for the the I-864 affidavit of support during the interview?.....(you say I-134)? Hopefully you meant the I-864????????? Did they take the evidence of support such as your taxes, paystubs, letters from employers etc?

The good thing is that they kept your passport and had you fill out the DHL paperwork, I hope that means that they will send it back with an approved visa inside.

Keep us posted, we will keep our dedos crossed that you will get it back next week approved! And yes that angry blonde woman needs to get out and have a beer with the locals to hear how everyone else speaks...She dosent even try..........I heard her yelling at people who couldent understand her spanish and felt sorry for them.

Saludos,

[TBoneTX 45,598]

Damn. I figured that no news was bad news, si man. If this is the same female consul whom everyone else (on & off VJ) is complaining about, we remain in trouble. I wonder if the "blonde b1tch in Casablanca" got transferred to GYQ?

Keep us thoroughly posted regarding the fight, si man. Also, if you're seeking legal help, look at www.fosterquan.com and consider their e-mail consultation. One of their attorneys was a former CO in Venezuela (not so long ago), and he and one of the junior associates is thoroughly familiar with the GYQ monkeyshines. I have no connection with the firm except as a satisfied customer who got far, far more from the e-mail consultation fee than I ever could have asked.

Note: I'm on the road this week till Friday morn and may not have access to VJ or to the Internet at all, no man. Tonight was lucky (if "lucky" was hearing of another GYQ brother getting hosed, si man).

[seananda 1]

Thanks for the support. For our K-3 visa the packet 4 says we can bring the I-134. They didn't ask for any of the documentation regarding financial support for my wife. My wife submitted documents alone because the consulate wouldn't let me be there with her, and then we were so disoriented and bamboozled I forgot to ask about the affidavit of support, employment letter, tax transcripts, until I got home.

Yeah, the DHL paperwork should be a positive sign. Our lawyer who used to work in the consulate says they are probably just reviewing the validity of our documents and extra evidence.

Yeah, that consular officer needs more than a beer, but I don't want to be too crude on this forum! I'm glad we got the advice beforehand to keep everything simple and have all the documentation as accurate as possible. She wasn't very comprensivo or understanding of Ecuadorian life to say the least. When I heard her calling other people to the booth, I was just thinking, oh man, she does not sound happy, I really hope we don't get her...but that's life, no?

My wife and I are trying to at least be calm and enjoy our time together.

Thanks for the support!

Wow, Que Juevada!!!!

I'm very sorry to hear your interview didnt go as smooth as ours. I'm very surprised that they said "maybe" and wouldnt give you any reasons. That seems very strange to me. Also, they didnt ask for the the I-864 affidavit of support during the interview?.....(you say I-134)? Hopefully you meant the I-864????????? Did they take the evidence of support such as your taxes, paystubs, letters from employers etc?

The good thing is that they kept your passport and had you fill out the DHL paperwork, I hope that means that they will send it back with an approved visa inside.

Keep us posted, we will keep our dedos crossed that you will get it back next week approved! And yes that angry blonde woman needs to get out and have a beer with the locals to hear how everyone else speaks...She dosent even try..........I heard her yelling at people who couldent understand her spanish and felt sorry for them.

Saludos,

Edited December 21, 2009 by seananda

[seananda 1]

Tbone,

Thanks for the reference. We may look into further legal counsel, depending on what happens.

All,

I will keep everyone posted on the process, but if you have specific questions or a pending interview, just shoot me your personal email address and we can talk. There are a couple of unique details to our case that I don't want to post publicly until this gets resolved. To repeat what everyone's harped on before, the bottom line is to be prepared for the interview, and don't trust the information that the consulate gives you. If we hadn't been extra prepared due to the advice in these forums, we would have walked out of this bamboozlement of an interview in a lot worse shape. The consulate will assume the worst, treat you like a criminal, and not necessarily even perform it's basic function of collecting all the required documents.

much positive energy to all,

-Sean

[TBoneTX 45,598]

Yeah, that consular officer needs more than a beer

It's rather funny -- the local Mexicans (both where I live and here on the Tex-Mex border, where C. & I are currently) call it a "chicharron," si man. Seriously, I'm surely not the only one who admires your perspective & determination, no man.

[seananda 1]

It's rather funny -- the local Mexicans (both where I live and here on the Tex-Mex border, where C. & I are currently) call it a "chicharron," si man.

too funny... you gotta have a sense of humor, right?

[seananda 1]

Approved!!!!!!! :) Thanks to everyone for your help and support. I can't imagine the nightmare without your help.

I will post my full consular review soon. Let's just say this wasn't a pleasurable experience. After coming back from Ecuador without my wife, the repair shop working on my car tried to charge me for work they didn't do. Somebody picked the wrong person at the wrong time.

A few additional pointers that I picked up:

1. Do not assume the consulate will ask for everything they need. Ask/try to submit every item you think is pertinent. It can be difficult to remember what has been submitted if they separate the couple like they did to us, and if they interrogate you harshly.

2. If all of the required documents have not been submitted, they must be sent by DHL to the consulate. You can not drop documents off personally after you have left the consulate for your interview. The consulate said they typically reviews cases like these in about a week's time after receipt of all materials, so it pays to not waste time in getting those documents in. They did re-review our case in a timely manner. That was about the only positive experience we had with this consulate.

3. Our case was further complicated because my wife had a tourist visa stolen a DECADE ago, and also because she doesn't have fingerprints due to a a skin allergy. If the Ecuadorian spouse has had a visa stolen, they are required to report it to the police (save the paper), AND the American consulate. If a past visa was stolen, at the interview they will probably ask for something called the "movimiento migratorio." It is best to get this ahead of time so you can see if someone has been using the stolen visa to enter various countries (likely). The consulate asked us for hard evidence of my wife's presence in Ecuador after the visa was stolen. She was prepared with her social security card filled out with the dates of employment, and records from her school. The consulate verified, at a minimum, her school attendance.

4. Remain calm and try not to get upset or lose focus when the consulate acts like you are criminals, acting like they assume the worst. The young, blond American woman who interviewed us was constantly grimacing and not being very compassionate to say the least.

5. Be sure to wear your wedding rings. They also asked us where we bought the rings, which was in Ecuador. That received a grimace for some reason.

Best of luck to all~ Wishing everyone gets approvals and can be united soon.

-Sean

[TBoneTX 45,598]

Approved!!!!!!! :) Thanks to everyone for your help and support. I can't imagine the nightmare without your help.

Congratulations, si man!!!!!

I will post my full consular review soon. Let's just say this wasn't a pleasurable experience. After coming back from Ecuador without my wife, the repair shop working on my car tried to charge me for work they didn't do. Somebody picked the wrong person at the wrong time.

That must've been a sight to behold, si man. All else being equal, be sure to trash the consulate in numerical rating, too (such as with a Zero) -- the current ratings are artificially inflated, in part because many of the "hosed" (self included) haven't posted ratings.

Do not assume the consulate will ask for everything they need. Ask/try to submit every item you think is pertinent. It can be difficult to remember what has been submitted if they separate the couple like they did to us, and if they interrogate you harshly.

Do not assume that anyone at the consulate can find his or her butt with either hand, and DO assume that you will be treated like criminals.

They did re-review our case in a timely manner. That was about the only positive experience we had with this consulate.

Cool, si man... but no one here should count on the same.

Remain calm and try not to get upset or lose focus when the consulate acts like you are criminals, acting like they assume the worst. The young, blond American woman who interviewed us was constantly grimacing and not being very compassionate to say the least.

VERY hard to do, si man... someone noted to me that those people are lucky to be behind Plexiglass. I wonder if the blonde was transferred from Casablanca? The blonde there was described as a b*tch.

Be sure to wear your wedding rings. They also asked us where we bought the rings, which was in Ecuador. That received a grimace for some reason.

Good idea if you're married, si man. The blonde was probably hoping that you had overspent for less in the U.S.

Was really pulling for you, dude. Did you learn whether Philip Linderman is still the section chief?

[seananda 1]

Was really pulling for you, dude. Did you learn whether Philip Linderman is still the section chief?

Thanks man! Definitely felt the love.

We didn't have a second interview to ask about the section chief, and I didn't want to push my luck in the first one. Maybe someone who gets approved cleanly can ask non-chalantly after the consulate says they're approved?

[Wildbill 0]

Guayaquil Consulate in the news.......T-bone will like this one

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/12/nyregion/12family.html