FBI Back Ground Check?

I moved to Quito in Oct of this year, I am retired Military and I already have my visa and cedula, things here do move slower than you are used to but I did it all with no attorney. The key is to have your papers in order before you come..... They will not tell you what you need in many cases. Having said that, I did it all with minimal frustration. I spoke to several attorneys in the US and here and decided an extra $3K - $5K was not worth it to do something I could do myself. Oh and by the way I do not speak Spanish... If anyone has any questions feel free to ask, contact Jim at hogdog5@yahoo.com.

I'm with Carl, I just went through all that last month and all I had was a police report and that was it... Sounds like bad dope to me, now if the US made that a rule to curb the mass exodus from the US I would get it, as for here in Ecuador I don't think it is mandatory. I have done some checking and cannot find a basis from here, now I could be mistaken but from what I have found it's not needed.

I mentioned this in another thread, but since this topic keeps coming up, I just got my 9-VI immigrant visa and I did not need the FBI background check. I used the state patrol background check, and I did not get fingerprinted. I ordered a notorized copy online and then sent it to be apostilled. I applied in Quito about a month ago. I had no problems and my state police report was not questioned.

I think the office in Quito might be a little easier to deal with than in Cuenca based on the stories I keep hearing.

Jesse,
I look back to when I had originally posted this query, and think of all that has transpired since. I now have my Visa and Cedula. I had them both with in 6 weeks of my arrival here. I did not < as you > have an FBI background check. My finger prints were never taken until I went through the Cedula process here in Cuenca.
My whole process was half an hour in the Visa office, and half an hour in the Cedula office. Cost: $ 1300.00 including all fees. Best money I have EVER spent in my life. I don't do well with getting jerked around, sent from office to office, only to be told..... No... you have to go here, to get that!
It all comes down to what circumstances you are in. I could afford the attorney's fees, and was more than happy to pay them for the ease and piece of mind I had through out the whole process.
But.... as they say, " That's just me " and how it worked out in my case. Totally painless and quick.  < 5 working days for Cedula >
Stay Well,
ZenSPIKE

*sigh* so much confusion to look forward to!   

I hate to add even more confusion but in Q1 of next year the FBI is changing the entire process. It will actually be a lot faster than it is now with less chance for error but more requirements are going to be added to get the report. Just make sure you keep checking to make sure you are using the correct process.