Big move in July

There's many  people working on Visas in Cuenca:  Facilitators, helpers, lawyers.....
Usually you first pay a big amount of money to them, then YOU have to get all the documents and then wait for months to get your Visa.

An option is Visa Angels, don't cost a penny for the service, they just help expats to get the Visa.
You can contact  Jodie Mansfield
jodie47@gmail.com

Vinny

How do you get it Apostled?  not sure how to spell that?

Document apostilles can only be obtained from the government entity with the delegated responsibility.

US documents issued by a state government (like the state police report) must be apostilled by that state. Documents issued by a federal agency are apostilled by the US Department of State.

In other words any document you need to submit in Ecuador for a visa application, has to be apostilled in the USA. This can be quite a daunting process and all documents should be gathered and apostilled before going to Ecuador to apply for the visa.

You should be aware that the requisite FBI backround report is only valid  for 6 months from the date of issue for Ecuador visa application. Also note that the apostilling is a process that takes place AFTER the FBI report is issued, so the apostille processing time is ticking on that 6 month clock.

Does apostille = Notarized?  Also anyone have an actual list of the documents?  I asked the Ecuadorian consulate here in Minneapolis and they would not provide any support.

Notarization is the identification procedure for verifying that the signatory of the document is who they claim to be.

Apostilling is the verification that the document itself  is original and  un-tampered with.

Consider an apostille in earlier terms of a seal. In previous historical times the verity of a document was determined to be original and authentic if a wax seal with an impressed stamp was placed on the closure of the piece. The modern apostille is a newer form of the seal and stamp.

In fact in the late 1980's I need an apostilled copy of an educational record, it actually arrived in the mail with a wax seal.

The apostille is a notarization of the document itself.

Drmark wrote:

I expect to post a $25.5 k bond....

Best, safest way to post the bond?

Dear Dr. Mark,

What you call "posting a bond" is the purchase of a certificate of deposit or CD which would be held in an Ecuadorian bank or savings co-operative as security for the visa.  The co-ops historically have paid higher interest on such CD's, but the banks are usually more secure for depositors.

Most banks here require one to have the national ID (based off a residency visa) to open an account, although your attorney, if you get one, may be able to make the purchase in your behalf through an escrow-type fund.

cccmedia in Quito

Drmark wrote:

My wife and I are looking to move to Cuenca.... Love some help or full service with the VISA's....

Would love help with the VISA's.  What is a fair rate for each visa from start to finish for both of us?
I would expect it to cover fees, etc.

The EC government fees for residency visas just went up as of this month.  We've been trying to decipher the fees.  It apparently is $50 to apply and $500 for the primary visa applicant at the back end.  That's an increase of $200 as we understand it.  With no child-dependents involved in your case, the one visa should cover you and your wife unless the Cancillería is changing the rule for spouses.

In addition to the attorney or visa-facilitator fee, there could be a couple hundred dollars in ancillary fees, cédula fee (national ID card), translations, notarizations, etc.

A fair attorney fee here in Quito would be $700-1,000.  A non-attorney facilitator might charge at least $200 less than that while possibly providing fewer services.  If an attorney charges you less than the amounts I quoted, make sure he or she is well-referenced.  In my case, the lion's share of the $700 fee was collected by my attorney (around the end of 2013) when I obtained the investment visa.

The Cuenca-area office that handles visas has so many Expats applying that they have been providing bi-lingual representatives.  Many Expats have reported they can do the visa there without hiring a professional to assist them due to the English-language assistance.  YMMV.

cccmedia in Quito

The apostille is a notarization of the document itself.  Would this be something I would specify when I order the documents or would this be service a lawyer would provide?
I was estimating, get the FBI report ordered in February.  That should give them 4 months to get here and order the rest in April. 
Send all the documents to the Lawyer in June,
Fly out around July 1 get the CD deposited. 
July 15 have the container shipped
Wife in August.

Also thank you for all the information, it's appreciated.
For Documents, I think I need
Marriage
Birth for both
FBI and State criminal background check for last 7-years.
Passports up to date.
Something for the cat.

Yes, there are specific procedures and documents verifying immunizations to transport your cat. I don't live in Ecuador but have read some of the threads here and have transported pets to and from other foreign countries.   As you probably know, each airline has its own specifications as to crate type (e.g., no wheels) and size (beware of some mfr claiming their crate is airline-approved!),  documents to produce, costs and whether your pet can travel in cabin vs. cargo status. Many of the U.S. airlines, thanks to TSA, no longer allow pets to fly as "checked baggage" status which was a much cheaper option than "cargo" (even though pets fly in the same holding area regardless of the status you paid for which the airlines don't tell you).  Perhaps some ex-pats in Ecuador can provide more specific details. Best wishes on your new adventure, PS

The FBI report is the most important since it has the 180 day expiration. As far as I am aware, the state police backround check and the FBI clearance are the only two documents with an expiration timeline insofar as Ecuador visa applications go.

All of the other documents can be gathered in advance.

Get your documents in order first. Worry about about shipping the 'stuff' later. Or better yet, don't ship that stuff.

The world is full of stuff, an overabundance of stuff. Shipping crap internationally is just a giant problem. Get rid of it an replace it later on, you'll save money in the long run giving away your stuff at home and buying new stuff in Ecuador (electronics excepted).

Required documents for the visa are the most important thing. I'm not sure you completely grasp that point. If you fail to acquire a visa, your 'stuff' is immaterial.

Hence the reason why I am verifying all the requirements for the documents now and not the day before.  I do also grasp the point.  No visa, no container.  I don't intend to move with a suitcase.  I spent 10 plus years living overseas. Which is why I am trying to find out exactly which documents I need to hand over.  I have to date not found anyone with a specific list of the exact documents required.

It looks like their visa website has changed yet again....

Here is a link, we don't know what kind of immigrant visa you are applying for.

http://www.cancilleria.gob.ec/transfer- … mmigrants/

I would suggest working with a visa lawyer or facilitator in Ecuador who is up-to-snuff on the latest visa document requirements.

You are dealing with the bureaucracy of a [bankrupt] south American government here. You cannot expect us to provide you with perfect answers.

Dear Dmark,
If you exit out of this thread and click on "Ecuador" at the top left of the expat.com page, you will see the "Ecuador Guide" which contains a section on visas and other pertinent info to address your questions. It will look like this:
Ecuador guide
 Retirement in Ecuador 
 Visas in Ecuador 
 Discover Ecuador 
 Ecuadorian lifestyle: "Ama la vida" 
 Driving in Ecuador

Thank you again for all the help.  We are looking forward to a nice retirement.  I can't use a pension for several years so I need to post the $25k bond.