staying in Ecuador for 6 months or longer

rawfood yogi wrote:

1. Is it easy to extend my visa after 90 days and to meet all the formalities?
2.  Can I get an agent or someone to do it for me rather than going all the way to Quito?

Welcome back to the Ecuador forum, Yash.

1. Historically, U.S. citizens have been able to extend an additional 180 days for 270 total days, after arriving in Ecuador, by getting a non-immigrant tourist visa extension.

2. To avoid trip(s) into Quito, contact Gringo Visas (gringovisas.com) about how to do what you seek by way of Cuenca. You might be able to stop into their Cuenca office to initiate the process on your way through Ecuador to Vilcabamba.

cccmedia in Quito

rawfood yogi wrote:

If i am successful at extending it for 90 days then is there something else I can do to stay longer or will I have to leave the country for 6 months before I start this over again?

Other methods to stay in Ecuador for one year are to become a (language) student with an accredited school...or become a volunteer with an organization that is qualified to issue a non-immigrant visa.

Absent such a strategy, you would probably have to leave EC after the 270 days mentioned above for approximately 90 days, not six months, until the anniversary of your original tourist-stamp-on-arrival.

At that point you could re-enter Ecuador and repeat the process to stay another 270 days in Year 2.

cccmedia in Quito

rawfood yogi wrote:

So good to hear that...

1.  Is it correct though that I don't need to apply for a tourist visa before I arrive to Ecuador in order to get the "non immigrant tourist visa extension".? And I can do all of this when I am in Ecuador?

2. Could you just tell me what are some of the requirements in order to get the tourist visa extension?

1.  Correct.  The 90-day tourist stamp is awarded at the airport, and you later apply for the extension in Ecuador.

2.  It is simply an extension to remain in Ecuador based on your original tourist stamp.  You will need your passport, a completed application for the extension and you pay a fee (which amount is subject to change, likely a couple hundred dollars).  Documents required for a permanent residency visa (such as proof of marriage and divorce, criminal background checks and birth certificate) historically have not been required for the tourist visa extension.  Would not be a bad idea to email an EC attorney in advance to verify the latest requirements.  Sebastian Cordero, scordero (at) gcabogados.com ....

cccmedia in Quito

rawfood yogi wrote:

Could you elaborate more on how you got the 6 month extension. Did an attorney help you or did you just go to the immigration office yourself, and if so was the process fairly basic and straightforward? And how much did that cost you?

The extension I got in January 2014 was the rare 45-day extension through attorney Sebastian Cordero in Quito, scordero [at] gcabogados.com ...  I needed extra time, but not six months, when a State Department error caused a temporary delay in submitting my permanent-residency-visa application.

The Cancillería in Quito charged a fee of $60 as I recall.  Since you are interested in a six-month extension, the fee will be higher.

The process appeared easy and routine since I had a professional doing the work and it was a non-immigration visa process.

cccmedia in Quito

gringuito wrote:

i got my 6 month extension here in guayaquil.i´m waiting now for the FBI fingerprint card.i have until september 12 2015.how do i get the extra extension as you describe?

A non-immigrant-visa applicant is entitled to only one such visa extension per 365 days.

You might look into the student-visa scenario mentioned in the above post if you need to buy more time in Ecuador to complete your residency-visa application.

An alternative may be to spend September 12 until at least mid-December outside La República.  At the end of that absence you could re-enter EC on a tourist stamp good for 90 days and subsequently apply to the immigration department for another extension. 

You should plan on re-entering Ecuador in the latter scenario no earlier than the one-year anniversary of your most recent arrival into EC.  If you post again on this thread, you might include that most-recent-arrival date as there may be some present uncertainty about your itinerary as it relates to the arcane visa rules.

Another possible way to extend might be to volunteer with a qualified organization and obtain the relevant visa for that activity.

Don't make assumptions.  If you are planning any fancy stuff to stay on, run your ideas past the ministry or an experienced attorney before getting in too deep.

cccmedia in Quito

sreyes wrote:

What happens if you overstay in EC for months and months after your initial 90 days?

Probably nothing right away.

But at some point you may be stopped in a routine police check somewhere.  Even then there is a good chance you won't be hassled or deported.

Eventually you may try to leave Ecuador and will encounter the dogs of SENAE. 

You will likely be told that you cannot re-enter Ecuador for at least nine months.

In Ecuador, laws and their enforcement are subject to change at any time.  So consider this a rough guide, and if necessary, consult an attorney for professional advice and the latest information.

Keep in mind that if you are suspected of participating in any criminal activity, the fact that you have overstayed may seriously complicate your situation.

Better to get a visa extension, which, as the Yogi reported above, is easy enough for all but the indigent to obtain.

cccmedia in Quito