Brainstorm With Jason So He and His Girlfriend Can Stay in Ecuador

Jason:
You may want to avoid the Philippines on your way to Ecuador, since you are not married the hassles she could have at the airport are unknown, numerous and frustrating.  Check out the Philippines Expat.com for more info.  In addition you spoke of how nice it will be to get out of the tropics.  You may want to discuss that idea with your girlfriend, as the nighttime lows in the 40's with no heating systems in the mountains may not be too comfortable.  I say this with 20 years of being married to a Filipina from Ilocos Sur who thinks Baguio is cold.  I did extensive searches and only located one Filipina in all of Ecuador, living in Quito.  It was of great help for my wife when she came to the USA to meet Filipino families while blending in to a new culture.  Of course Filipinas are famous for being able to adapt to living conditions all over the world, as evidenced by over a million currently living and working in Saudi Arabia.
Good Luck in your search!!!

Thanks again for starting this thread. Just to recap and expand on some of our plans answers: we play to stay 90 days initially then transition to a student visa for another 6 months, taking us to 9 months. Beyond that, we'll either have to sign up for more classes (I'm told by the school 4 consecutive student visas up to 2 years can be issued), but ideal, we'd just do school 6 months, then improve our Spanish in day to day situations and have a visa that doesn't require school. More info:

I don't/won't qualify for a professional visa with any particular skills. I'm 43 and self-employed. I only have airline industry experience and don't wish to re-enter the corporate workforce, so we can take the kind of visa that relates to employment off the table.

I'm probably going to want to stay at least 12 months, perhaps 24 before deciding whether I want to spend $25k on real estate or CD. I don't have the cash for another year, though I could get the cash from my home equity on my condo if I really wanted to. But I'd rather avoid that. Investment won't be something I'll try first. It's a good question though, if I eventually go this route—will she qualify as a dependent.

We like to travel and want to spend at least 1-2 months in Asia anyway, so yes, in theory, we could arrive each year for 90 days then get the 180 day extension visa (if the rules don't change). But . . . what exactly is this extension? I wasn't even aware of it so now you've piqued my curiosity. Is there a name for it (other than 180 day visa extension)? Is it easy to obtain? What are the requirements? Hopefully not much more than just a fee.

When we get there, we'd have to find out what special rules might apply to Filipino visa holders. Any idea where we go to inquire once we're there? I mean an office not a web site (though I'll check out the web site as well)

mugtech: thanks for the heads up on that but she's been out of the Philippines for a while now. We were questioned my immigration, but while it was no big deal for us, as you said, the “unknown” can happen and we don't want to risk having a silly issue cost of thousands of dollars in lost tickets, etc. Your advice is sound and we're not going back there prior to Ecuador. So she's planning to visit family next Christmas instead. Good point about the weather, though we have talked about it and having spent December & January in Chiang Mai is great preparation, as it can get down to the uppers 40s at night. She loves it. And as you say, yes, Filipinos are adaptable and live all over the world. As long as there is heat in the apartment in Quito, we'll be fine. Probably won't be camping in the mountains if that's what you mean. Or are you saying most apartments don't have heat? And really, only one Filipino living in Ecuador? How long ago was that? I wasn't expecting a community of Filipinos but hopefully she can connect with a few

JasonDC wrote:

As long as there is heat in the apartment in Quito, we'll be fine. Probably won't be camping in the mountains if that's what you mean. Or are you saying most apartments don't have heat? And really, only one Filipino living in Ecuador? How long ago was that? I wasn't expecting a community of Filipinos but hopefully she can connect with a few

I am sure someone from Quito or Cuenca can give you a better idea of the home heating situation in rentals, since you will be renting for at least a year.  You could enjoy organic heat for sure.  I did my search 18 months ago and asked questions on many blogs, even got International Living Magazine involved, and they came up with the one.  Since Ecuador is 95% Catholic perhaps the Catholic churches would be a good place to start once you are there.  If you are familiar with the Catholic Mass you might want to attend so you can hear the Spanish version of words you already know in English.  Religion and politics are forbidden on here, so please realize I am only mentioning the church as a way to meet people and improve your language skills.

JasonDC wrote:

Is there a name for it (other than 180 day visa extension)? Is it easy to obtain? What are the requirements? Hopefully not much more than just a fee.

It's the 12-IX tourist visa.  As a tourist visa, the requirements are less than for a permanent visa, but any encounter with the EC bureaucracy can be a challenge*.  Anecdotal reports on the Internet indicate that it has usually been granted upon proper application.  Expect a fee of several hundred dollars.

This visa extension is discussed in an Expat.com online guide  reachable via a link that Top Cat provided in her earlier post #504 responding to you at New Members.  This guide may answer some of your other questions, as well.

cccmedia in Quito

*Using an experienced immigration attorney in EC for complex visa matters is recommended for those whose Spanish is limited, who prefer to avoid massive bureaucratic headaches and who can afford it.  The basic fee I paid to my attorney to obtain my residency visa and cedula (EC ID) last year was $700.  Non-attorney visa specialists, with lower fees, are also available but may require you to do more of the work on your own.

JasonDC wrote:

When we get there, we'd have to find out what special rules might apply to Filipino visa holders. Any idea where we go to inquire once we're there? I mean an office not a web site.

Two building addresses in Quito -- one for handling immigrant visas, one for non-immigrant visas -- are listed at the U.S. Embassy website link below:

ecuador.usembassy.gov(forward-slash)service(forward-slash)living-in-ecuador(forward-slash)visas-for-ecuador.html

Based on the link mugcat posted, it looks like my girlfriend won't get the 12-IX without leaving the country but I could, so it means we'd have to leave the country. No big deal, but if this is the case, since we don't speak Spanish, seems like we'd be better off making our first visa (after our 90 days entry) the school related one since we need to learn the language anyway. And after that, we could travel to a nearby country to get a 12-IX visa, which, according to that post, is a visa we'd both need to have in order to get the “immigrant visa.”

Good advice on lawyers and non-attorney visa specialists. I think we'd try to go with one or the other to assist with the residency.

Thanks for the addresses and the responses cccmedia.

JasonDC wrote:

Based on the link mugcat posted, it looks like my girlfriend won't get the 12-IX without leaving the country but I could, so it means we'd have to leave the country. No big deal....Good advice on lawyers and non-attorney visa specialists. I think we'd try to go with one or the other to assist with the residency.

Thanks for the addresses and the responses cccmedia.

That's a wise move in your case to get an expert to assist you going forward, Jason.

Thank you for the acknowledgment, I appreciate it. 

However, please stop torturing mugtech and Top Cat* by unintentionally combining their names.

*aka gardener1

cccmedia in Quito

haha, oops, sorry about that . . .

So it really seems like it's going to be difficult to stay permanently (unless I'm willing to drop $25k). I don't see--yet--a better option than going to a student visa for the first 6 months, then we will have to try our luck with the 12-IX visa, but with my girlfriend we'll have to exit to have a chance. We don't seem to have much choice but hope for the best, and perhaps pay a lawyer to try to help make it happen, with fingers crossed.

cccmedia wrote:

However, please stop torturing mugtech and Top Cat* by unintentionally combining their names.

*aka gardener1

cccmedia in Quito

Mugcat is the name of our child, don't know how he found out, it was our secret.

Regarding heat -- there are few apartments with central heating in Quito. None that I came across, but no doubt you could find something if you're willing to pay enough. However space heaters (both gas and electric) are found in most hardware stores. I never needed one, but I have no doubt my Filipina wife would have.

I bought two electric space heaters -- total price about $90 -- when I furnished my Quito condo in 2013.

I hardly ever use them, although the one in the dining area is great during the occasional cold snap.  Warms the place up in a few minutes and then automatically cuts off.

I can't remember the last time I needed the one in the bedroom.  Between the heavy drapes and double-pane glass (which I put in to reduce street noise, which it did) the MBR is supremely insulated.

Electric bills are a joke.
Wintertime electricity at the house I owned in Connecticut, USA, cost hundreds per month.  Here it's usually under ten dollars.

cccmedia in Quito

Wow, unbelievable! $10 per month for electricity? I did expect it to be a lot less than here in Thailand because I know we won't need to run the aircon all summer, $10? I assume this means you cook with gas, not electricity, which is something I look forward to as well.

I have to imagine space heaters would boost the electric bill quite a lot though if used daily. But I guess as long as we can keep electric under $50 I'll be happy.

JasonDC wrote:

Wow, unbelievable! $10 per month for electricity?...
I assume this means you cook with gas, not electricity, which is something I look forward to as well.

I have to imagine space heaters would boost the electric bill quite a lot though if used daily. But I guess as long as we can keep electric under $50 I'll be happy.

Then you should be more than happy, Jason.

Actually, all my cooking is with electricity...no gas.  There's no oven:  I use a two-burner countertop unit for my "sartenes" plus a George Foreman-style grill (tho' not George's brand, a local brand instead and it works great.)  I also use a microwave oven and occasionally a juicer.
I run the automatic dishwasher about once every five or six days.

I use the space heater in the "comedor" so infrequently -- and the one in the bedroom virtually never -- so they don't much impact the bill.  YMMV, due to insulation, usage time of equipment, how much sun and heat enter your place during the day and are retained, as examples.

Of course, there's no air conditioning needed here, which I am aware can be a major part of the electric bill during most of the year in northern Thailand.

cccmedia in Quito  --  yes, under ten bucks a month for electricity

Thanks again cccmedia, that's very encouraging. Yes, aircon is a huge expense in all of SE Asia, which I'll be glad to avoid. And even when electricity appears to be used a lot for long periods of time, perhaps with space heaters, it seems the per unit rate is low. And I plan to get a place with gas if I can.

Not paying much for electric is going to leave more money for fast internet, which I'm eager to make sure I get and am willing to pay for. Anyone have any experience with CNT? I was thinking of getting their 10/3mbps (download/upload) package for $36 per month and maybe getting something with roughly comparable speed for backup. Any thoughts?

JasonDC wrote:

I plan to get a place with gas if I can.

Relatively few apartments in Quito have central gas, most use propane for hot water and stove/oven. I think the gas heaters sold in hardware stores are also propane. You will have to arrange (your landlord can help) for delivery of new canisters.

My second apartment, in north Quito, had central gas service for the whole complex, and my landlady emphasized this when I was looking at the place, as a major advantage over other buildings.

Thanks Bob, good to know in advance, and I guess while I will look for a place with central gas, I really don't mind using propane and dealing with the propane delivery. Thanks for the heads up.

JasonDC wrote:

Not paying much for electric is going to leave more money for fast Internet, which I'm eager to make sure I get....Anyone have any experience with CNT? I was thinking of getting their 10/3mbps (download/upload) package for $36 per month and maybe getting something with roughly comparable speed for backup.

Arranging for good Internet:  a natural subject of interest for arriving Expats.

In fact, this topic is potentially so juicy that we're setting up a new thread to discuss it amidst a wider audience, titled "Internet for Expats:  2015 Updates."

For those leading a geek-free existence, the best way to navigate over there is to type the first words of the new thread into the Search Expat.com box at the top of this page, and then click on the search icon to the right of said box.

cccmedia in Quito

Well my appetite for internet is, I would wager, much more insatiable than the average expat!  I'll look for that thread.

My wife used the space heater in our old apartment in Quito all the time. Our bill was always between 10 and 14. At our beach house, where we don't need heat but run a water pump, a recent over due electric bill was 20 for 3 months.