Phone Number: |
9/22/2011
Important Notice Regarding Visa Applications!
September 15, 2011
The U.S. Embassy in Quito and U.S. Consulate General in Guayaquil are pleased to announce important new changes in the process for applying for a non-immigrant U.S. visa. These changes, which go into effect on Monday, September 26, 2011, will offer applicants cost savings and convenient new services and options. The changes will not affect applicants who have already scheduled an appointment using the current system.
Among the changes that begin September 26:
• Applicants in Ecuador will no longer have to travel
to a bank to pay the $140 visa application fee.
They will now have the convenience of paying
online with a credit card on a secure website
at no additional charge.
• Those who must pay in cash after this change goes
into effect will still be able to pay at a bank if necessary,
but should watch our website for information on bank
locations.
• Applicants will be able to schedule their interview
appointments free of charge. They will be able to do so
online 24/7, or by contacting a call center during business
hours. There will no longer be a PIN or fee required for
this service.
• General visa application information will also be
available free of charge. This service will also be
available online 24/7, or through our call center
during business hours, in Spanish and in English.
• Delivery of the visa will be available free of charge
to any one of 29 DHL offices located throughout
Ecuador, or to the applicant’s home for an additional
fee.
• Recipients will be able to track delivery of their
visas online.
More details are coming soon, including the phone number
for our new call center and the link to our new appointment website.
Those wishing to apply before September 26 can continue to use our current, reliable process by paying for the application fee and a call center access code at any branch of Banco de Guayaquil, and requesting an appointment through our current call center at 1-800-010-145 in Ecuador or 1-800-919-5290 in the United States.
Current visa application procedures
Until September 26, applicants will continue to follow the same process to apply for an non-immigrant visa.
For information about how to make or schedule an appointment, please click here.
Individuals are still required to submit the DS-160 application form. We recommend that you complete the DS-160 application form at least 2 days prior to your appointment. All questions must be answered in English.
2/2011 The Consulate has a few general numbers.
Consulate Switchboard:
From abroad: 011-593-4-232-3570
From other Ecuadorian Provinces: (04) 232-3570
From Guayaquil and other cities within the Province of Guayas: 232-357
For American Citizen Emergencies call (04) 232-1152 (24 hours)
For information about immigrant or non-immigrant visa processes, and to schedule appointments (regardless of visa type), please contact the Visa Information Service:
1-800-010-145 in Ecuador
1-800-919-5290 in the U.S.
They require the purchase of a $12 PIN that is good for only one call. You will be on hold until an Ecuadorian employee answers. IF you need to speak in English, ask for an English speaker. The English may be fairly bad, please politely ask for someone whom can speak better English if you cannot understand. Also make sure to verify all information with the representative. This pin can be purchased via the phone line with a major credit card or at any Banco de Guayaquil.
Also for cases handled by the NVC (i.e. IR1/CR1 visas) you do not have to call to schedule, as the NVC will do all of that for you. If you are unable to attend your interview, then you must call to re schedule. Always have your case number, petitioners name and DOB and beneficiary's DOB ready.
You can also send an email and they generally respond relatively fast within a few hours, or within a few days if they are very busy. Same thing, include your case number, petitioners name and DOB and the beneficiary’s DOB and state whom you are.
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E-Mail: |
Useful E-mail Addresses:
American Citizen Services: , acsguayaquil@state.gov
Public Affairs: PAS_Guayaquil@state.gov
Federal Benefits and Social Security: fbuquito@state.gov
Nonimmigrant Visa Section: nivguayaquil@state.gov
Immigrant Visa Section: ivguayaquil@state.gov |
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Address: |
The Consulate General of the United States in Guayaquil, Ecuador, is located at the corner of avenues 9 de Octubre and Garcia Moreno. (Four blocks west of Centennial Park on 9 de Octubre, next to the Oro Verde Hotel) |
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Working Hours: |
Business Hours:
Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
( They tend to leave early! So figure 4:oopm close)
American Citizen Services:
Monday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the 2nd floor of the Consular Section. |
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Best Contact Method: |
You can phone them, and press option 0 and speak with some one who can direct you where ever. Or you can email them which will get a prompt response. With in a few hours or days. |
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Approx Waiting Time for Interview After Consulate Recieves
NVC Package: |
The time waiting varies. For IR1/CR1 visas, after the NVC finishes processing a case they will then wait for the number of visas the Consulate can handle. After that you get an email from the NVC stating the interview date. Keep in mind the Consulate's website displaying the interviews is not the fastest way. Once your interview is set you will get an email ASAP. They will direct you to the NVC's site and you will have to pick ur consulate and they will give you post specefic informations. For my case I had the interview date 4 days after approval. They make the interviews the 2nd week of every month for the following month. So keep that in mind.
If you are filing for a K visa, you will receive an email from NVC with your case number and the date your file was sent to Guayaquil. At that point you can go to this site --> http://guayaquil.usconsulate.gov/cases-ready-for-interview2/ and look under packet 4 appointments. Select the month you are in and look for K visas at the bottom. Once you find yourself on that list call to make an appointment. My fiance's name was on there 4 days after my email from NVC. When I called to make the appointment they wanted to schedule it for 2 to 3 weeks out.
UPDATE 6/8/11 IMPORTANT! For immigrant visas (including K1) when you call to make an appointment, they are scheduling for 2 days later! The man I talked to said that the petitioner NEEDS to be at the interview with the fiance/e so it is better to make your travel arrangements and call when you get there to schedule for 2 days later. Also, you must have the medical exams done to schedule anything (preivously advised). |
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Issues Packet 3? |
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Packet 3 Contains: |
N/A |
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Issues Packet 4? |
Yes |
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Packet 4 Contents (if known): |
All the forms you have to take with you to the interview. You can download it online here ---> http://guayaquil.usconsulate.gov/fiancee.html
June 22, 2010- Received "Packet" 4 after two months. It was a single letter that said to download Packet 4 from the consulate's website.
Jan 2011- I recommend emailing the consulate asking permission to download packet 4. Their response counts as the "interview letter" so you can get everything and don't have to wait 2 months to receive something in the mail.
JUNE 8, 2011 - They are processing fast now. My case number was posted and the letter recieved all in about 3-4 days. |
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Forms to Consulate? |
Nothing! Everything is taken with you to the interview.
It is urged to make sure the US Citizen is present with you to the inverview. I personally have seen a few people approved for fiancee visa's when they presented a work letter from the USC showing they couldn't get time off, and they had an ample amount of documentation attesting to the validity of their relationship.
As for the family based green cards, I did not see anyone get approved on the day of my interview that didn't have the USC spouse with them. If you go with out your spouse your case will more than likely be denied. So it is important to have everyone be there |
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Other Forms (if any)? |
( October 2010) If the NVC has processed your case (IR1/CR1), they will require all the civil documents, they would have already collected the payments and everything required, so you will need to only bring a few documents with you the rest will be sent from the NVC to the Consulate. Make sure you bring the interview letter with you, and any original documents that you submitted copies of. The I-130 requires the copy of marriage certificate. The consulate will require to see the original on the day of the interview.
The visa service fees have all gone up , for the most up to date information view their website.
As of October 2010 a few of the fees are:
Immigrant Visa Processing Fee for I-130 Family based petitions- $404.00 (Old price $400)
Non Immigrant Visa Processing Fee- $350.00 (Old Price $131)
http://guayaquil.usconsulate.gov/visa-services-fees.html
Also needed: DS 156, DS 156k, I-134 and supporting docs, Birth certificate (original), Marriage Certificate (if any), divorce or death certificates (if any). Police certificate for Ecuador and any country where the person has lived for a year or more since the age of 16. 2 photos 5cm x 5cm full face with white back, passport valid for at least 6 months, the visa fee payment certificate.
If your cases were handled by the NVC (IR1/CR1), make sure you bring all originals The I-130 Only requires a copy of the Marriage Certificate but the consulate will want the ORIGINAL!
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Direct Consular Filing Offered? |
Yes |
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If DCF Allowed: For all or only US citizen lawfully resident in country?
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All |
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Can fiance(e)/spouse attend interview? |
Yes |
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Visa fee payment "same day" or "in advance"? |
Advance |
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Did embassy schedule interview or could you walk-in? |
Embassy Scheduled |
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Visa issued same day? |
No |
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If not what's the waiting period? |
Go to DHL, If you exit the Consulate, Turn right go down to the corner and cross the street. The DHL office is painted yellow and red, clearly labeled. Pick a number from the red dispenser. Go to the desk and fill out the sheet with the address and stuff where you want the passport sent. I was told if I have it shipped to a local DHL agency I can pick it up faster. They will collect your fee ($7 to ship to an agency and $9 to ship to an address) and give you a piece of paper with a tracking number on it. There are 3 agencies in Guayaquil, listed on the back of the paper, as well as other offices spread around Ecuador. You can go online and track the shipping through www.dhl.com or call the number on your receipt. The consulate and DHL will tell you it takes 10 days for the visa to be ready but it generally takes half that time. If you're getting it shipped to you it could take longer. Bring cash to pay for the DHL delivery- $7 to a DHL office, $9 to an address.
(UPDATED 11 Feb 2009) Whatever promise the consulate makes regarding issuance can be considered faulty. If your visa is not in your hands on the day promised, call incessantly to 011-593-4-232-3570 (see above) and pester the employees. If the response is that the file is "on a consul's desk," insist that it be retrieved and processed. KEEP PHONING until you are given a DHL tracking number (have them repeat it to you) and the date on which the visa has been SENT OUT. Worst case is that you may have to e-mail IVGuayaquil@state.gov with "For Section Chief Linderman" in the subject line. Philip Linderman has been the most recent Immigrant Unit Section Chief at this infernal consulate. (End 11 Feb 2009 Update)
August 2011 Update: Phillip Linderman no longer works for the Guayaquil Consulate. |
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Is the Medical exam same day as interview? |
Prior to Interview |
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Cost of Medical Exam? |
Medical Exam costs $110 and results from Aurelio Andrade's office can be picked up in the afternoon. They told us to come back after 3pm the following day. And a sealed letter and Xrays were issued.
Medicentro in Quito will tell you to come back 2 days later so be prepared to wait. Also, They told us we needed 4 passport style photos, not 2. |
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List of doctors? |
Look at the current packet 4 for a current list of doctors.
QUITO
HECTOR AGUILAR, MD
MEDICENTRO
6 de Diciembre 4697 y Pasaje Turquma, 2do Piso
Tel: (02) 2453-530 or (02) 2448-315
Horario: 8:00 a mediodma and
15:00 a 18:30 (con previa cita)
JORGE PIZARRO, MD
Vasco de Contreras 116 y Rumipamba
Tel: (02) 2452-089 or (02) 2258-488
Horario: Mediodma a 13:00 y
15:30 a 19:00 p.m.
ANIBAL SOSA, MD
RODRIGO SOSA, MD
Alemania 144 y Eloy Alfaro
Edificio MEDICAL 5toPiso
Tel: (02) 2525-102 or
(02) 2909-777 or
(02) 2560-715
Horario: 08:30 a 12:30
15:00 a 19:00
Sabados: 8:00 a 12:00
GUAYAQUIL
AURELIO ANDRADE, MD
Antepara 921 y 9 de Octubre, 1er Piso
Tel: (04) 2320-342 or (04) 2320-343
Horario: 7:30 a 17:30
Clinica Panamericana
Panama 616 y Roca 2do piso, Oficina 206
Tel: (04) 2304-218 or (04) 2309-405
Horario: 8:30 a 17:30
TELMO FERNANDEZ, MD
L. Urdaneta 1401 y Garcia Moreno
Tel: (04) 2294-515 or (04) 2291-840 or (09) 9778-719
Horario: 7:30 a 19:30
Sabados: 7:00 a Mediodma
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How many Passport Photo's Required for the medical? |
2 |
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How many Passport Photo's Required at the interview? |
2 |
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Estimated waiting time at the consulate on the day of interview? |
It is best to arrive early. Around 7:00am a Consulate Employee will get everyone in to 2 rows. 1.for Non Immigrant Visa's, 2. For Immigrant Visa's. They will permit the Non Immigrant Visa applicants to enter first while the Immigrant visas wait. At 7:30am they will put everyone through the security process. The advantage of being early, is you get to be seated downstairs with in earshot of the interviews that are taking place (and it's warmer!). If you are last you will be seated upstairs in ACS. It is verry cold there and the AC is on all day. Bring a sweater. The Non Immigrant visa applicants appear to be processing first, after a few hours they called some people who were the Immigrant Visas. The consul came in made everyone raise their hands and swear they were giving true information (this didn't happen for us!). After he spoke with everyone and told them the way things work and the way to deal with the employees. Asked people to be nice and respectful and a lot of helpful information (this also did not happen for us). My advice is listen to that guy. After a while you will be called up, most cases I heard so and so and su esposa or esposo, so go up with your spouse. If the spouses were called up again go with them, in the case you are asked to sit down do as instructed. But listen to your spouses voice and listen what she is saying. It may be helpful for you. It took me 7 hours in the consulate before I got approved. Be polite, always yes sir yes ma'am. Trust me a little politeness will go a long way with these people. (This must have been written by someone with a IR1/CR1 visa because our K-1 interview didn't go like this. We waited a total of 2.5 hours, 2 before being called, and then another 30 min after they had our documents. Every time my fiance was called I went with him to the window- I was told to sit down only while he was taking fingerprints.) |
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Vaccination requirements? |
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO IMMIGRANT VISA APPLICANTS CONCERNING VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS
United States immigration law requires immigrant visa applicants to obtain certain vaccinations (listed below) prior to the issuance of an immigrant visa. Panel physicians who conduct medical examinations of immigrant visa applicants are required to verify that immigrant visa applicants have met the vaccination requirements, or that it is medically inappropriate for the visa applicant to receive one or more of the listed vaccinations:
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Influenza
Influenza type b (Hib)
Measles
Meningococcal
Mumps
Pneumococcal
Pertussis
Polio
Rotavirus
Rubella
Tetanus and diphtheria toxoids
Varicella
In order to assist the panel physican, and to avoid delays in the processing of an immigrant visa, all immigrant visa applicants should have their vaccination records available for the panel physician's review at the time of the immigrant medical examination. Visa applicants should consult with their regular health care provider to obtain a copy of their immunization record, if one is available. If you do not have a vaccination record, the panel physician will work with you to determine which vaccinations you may need to meet the requirement. Certain waivers of the vaccination requirement are available upon the recommendation of the panel physician.
Only a physician can determine which of the listed vaccinations are medically appropriate for you, given your age, medical history and current medical condition.
Copied from the State Departments website: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/info/info_1331.html
K VISAS ARE CONSIDERED NON-IMMIGRANT AND YOU WILL NOT NEED VACCINES FOR YOUR INTERVIEW |
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Cheap and good hotels near the Consulate? |
We stayed at Hotel Alexander- $30 a night, but much cheaper than the Oro Verde which is the closest to the Embassy. ---
Hotel Rizzo, downtown, is pretty good (mid-$30s/night). Hotel Ramada is very nice (high $80s or so per night).
June 8, 2009: for those of us who live in Ecuador or who don´t have a lot of money to throw around, Hotel Chile on Portete and Avenida Chile (right in front of Plaza España) was clean and very cheap: just $7 a night per room! No AC but the fan cools you off fine. (Feb 2011- DO NOT GO HERE!!! This hotel may have changed since June '09 but it is now a hotel for PROSTITUTES. The beds are leather covered boards and you are supplied with one leather covered pillow (for 2 people) and no sheets or blankets. The women at the reception refuse to speak to the female member of the couple and will only accept information from the "gentleman". The windows have bars on the INSIDE and it must be close to the water because there were tons of mosquitos everywhere. Also, it's only $7 for "repeat" customers, for the first time the "gentleman" comes in it's $8. I repeat, DO NOT GO TO HOTEL CHILE!!)
June 22, 2010: Hotel Velez is clean and cheap; Calle Velez and Avenida Quito, one block from Parque Centenario. You can ring them at 2530 292 or 2520 311. Rooms range from $10 w/fan - $12 w/AC.
Jan 26, 2011: I also recommend Hotel Velez. After staying the night at Hotel Chile, Hotel Velez was upscale niceness. It is clean, has private bathrooms and comfortable beds. The hotel is shaped like a 6 story tall doughnut- I recommend asking for a room on the outside because on the inside the noise from all of the rooms (and the kitchen at the bottom and the rain at the top) all echo around inside the doughnut hole and make A LOT of noise. $10 a night for a room with a fan was good for me.
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Additional Info? |
January 2013
We were able to schedule our appointment as soon as we were able to get our "GYQ" number from the NVC. Lucia paid the $240 bucks at the bank, received the receipt number and we made our appointment on line. We never did receive a letter or package from the consulate. We made our appointment on line, did all the paperwork and showed up.
Another member mentioned problems adding a person to the interview appointment so we did not try that. I wrote to the consulate and was told I only had to show up for the appointment with my fiance and my American passport.
We went together. The people at the gate let Lucia in at 7:30 but for some reason I had to wait until 8 before I could go in. Lucia couldn't carry anything but the visa documents but I was able to process through with "my" purse. Security sorted through my stuff, I had to put lipstick on my hand to show it wasn't some kind of dangerous chemical and they held some items but I was able to enter with my purse.
Here is something that becomes kind of important after sitting in the consulate for 4 or 5 hours. I had read that the temperature was kind of chilly in the consulate but wrote that off to some people being more sensitive to different temperatures than others. Trust me, BRING A SNUGGIE! It has to be 60 degrees or less in there and after a few hours, it gets pretty damn uncomfortable.
We stayed at the DreamKapture in another part of town because we had stayed there before. They use a reliable taxi service and we didn't have any problem being on time for our interview. You can find DreamKapture on Tripadvisor.
We had our interview on the 9th of January, 2013 and Lucia received her visa at the DHL in Quito today, 18 January 2013!
*November 2011
My fiancee and I had a HUGE problem trying to schedule the appointment through the new computer system. I hope that the glitches have been fixed, but in case not, here was our issue: When scheduling a fiancée visa appointment, the online scheduling system gives the user the possibility of adding an accompanying person to the interview to be scheduled. However, when this person is added, the system freaks out and WILL NEVER SHOW ANY AVAILABLE APPOINTMENTS. The same is true for the phone system: no operator was able to tell us this was the problem in booking our appointment. They simply informed us that there were no dates available, and to call back. I logged into the system every day for over one month, multiple times per day and was given the same exact message, every day. I wrote many emails to the Consulate in Guayaquil, asking why I was unable to make an appointments and if there was a problem with my account. No one answered my emails personally or looked into my account, and instead told me to keep checking with the website. No one informed me that I shouldn't have put in an extra person to accompany my fiancee, and no one told me about the flaw in the system. I read of this flaw on Visa Journey--had I not logged onto the forum, I would have been trying FOREVER to get an appointment, with no support or assistance from my own Consulate which repeatedly refused to answer personally to my queries. If you have this issue, IMMEDIATELY CALL THEM BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT REACH OUT TO YOU!
* October 2010)
When you are in the consulate, be sure to be polite, Bring every original document you submitted copies of. Also keep in mind there is limited seating, so be early. It is very cold, bring a sweater. Also THEY ARE WATCHING YOU in the waiting area. They will know right away when you walk up to the window if you are a real deal or not. Do not lie, they can smell a line of b.s a mile away. These people deal with 500 interviews a week! Be honest, and bring every single shred of evidence you have. You guys bought dinner together 1 night save the receipt. You guys went to the movies, save the receipts. They look for proof of an ongoing relationship. If married, get joint taxes, you do not need a SSN to apply. Google IRS form W-7 you can get an ITIN number but that requires the original passport and license of the spouse to prove foreign status. The itin number u can use to file taxes. Joint bank accounts are helpful. Most banks if you go to the local branch will allow you to add your spouse using the passport and itin number letter and you will just to have to have him or her sign the signature card. There is so many things you could have to prove a real relationship. Think of the small things, trips to the beach and stuff like that. Statements help also. Especially in my case, my sister came down 2 times from NY to Ecuador to visit me any my wife. * end of october 2010 update*
LT&GH info:
there is a trick to make things go faster:
I emailed the consulate in Guayaquil after finding out from the NVC that the packet was sent to the consulate. the consulate in Quayaquil told me that if the packet 4 is not received in an acceptable amount of time...I can download the packet 4 from there website (http://usembassy.state.gov/guayaquil/wwwfivk1p4.pdf) fill out and complete all instructions, purchase pin and call to make my appointment when all is ready.
So when the file was sent from NVC to the consulate I then had the GYQ case number. with that we were able to do the medical the same day :-D . got the medical results 3 days later, in these 3 days got the birth certificate (photocopy from registry book with seal on it) and the police record. when we received the medical report I called the consulate number from the packet 4 using the pin I bought for $12 via visa over the phone. they asked if we had received the packet 4 yet...I told them no but had received an email stating I could download it from their website and that we had everything ready now...we had everything done and got our interview date for 2 weeks later without yet receiving the packet 4 (which showed up 2 days later LOL ). So from NVC sending out the case to the consulate till our interview date was just 2 weeks. lot's faster than the usual 3 - 4 months :-)).
Also you will notice the packet 4 says to do the medical 2 weeks before the interview date...it's wrong!!! they will not give you the interview date until you have already done the medical exam, so as soon as you have everything ready and the case no. from the NVC do the medical, pay the $12 at BofG and you can make your appointment over the phone!!
EP-KO Info:
I tried the trick that LT&GS described above, and it didn't work for me. Once our NOA2 was approved and I knew that the NVC had sent out paperwork to Guayaquil, I called the Embassy in Guayaquil to make an appointment for the interview. However, they didn't let me do that because although I had my case number, the case number hadn't been received by the Embassy, so they told me I had to wait. I checked the Guayaquil Embassy website constantly to see if our case number had been sent packet4 yet, and soon (2 weeks from the NVC send date) our case number appeared on that website. Once our case number (GYQ2007...) was on that website, I called again to make the interview (I had to buy a second PIN number)and there were no problems. K1 visa interviews cannot be done on Fridays. The earliest possible interview date was 2 weeks later. When I called for the interview date, we hadn't yet received packet 4, I only knew that the Embassy had sent it to us (based on the website). She asked "what is the last thing you've heard about your case", and I told her that we had received packet4 in the mail, otherwise she would not have let us make the appointment yet.
Anyway, while we were waiting for our interview date to come, the Packet4 arrived and it included older versions of the forms that we had already filled out. We filled out all versions just to be sure.
June 8, 2009:
Don´t CALL the Consulate using a PIN to see if your I-129F has arrived. You should EMAIL them instead, it seems the best way to get a good response. About 2 weeks after you know your I129F left the NVC, you can email them and ask about your petition. They should then send an email saying you can download Packet 4 and call to make the appointment as soon as you have everything ready. Another number to call: (from Ecuador:) 042323570... they answer the phone but always seem underinformed and annoyed so it´s generally better to send an email.
I recommend you get documents like certificates while you're waiting for NOA2, the police certificate is only good for 3 months so if you've already been waiting for your NOA2 for several months, get the police cert done too. My fiance said the officer at the local jefatura didn't want to give him the police cert, that he was supposed to go to the Provincial office but he told the officer that he needed it for a job and he got it that same day. He did NOT have to go to the provincial office (nor did he pay $10 for an additional stamp as some people here have recommended).
Regarding the visa fee payment for K visas at Banco de Guayaquil. In packet 4 it says you can go to ANY BofG branch but if you go to any branch in the northern part of Ecuador (north of Quevedo) they will try and tell you that you can't pay your visa fee because it will go to the Quito consulate, not Guayaquil. THAT IS NOT TRUE!! Do not stress about getting to a southern branch before your interview- tell them it doesn't matter, that your visa interview is in Guayaquil, and that you want to pay now. When they give you the receipt verify that they wrote Guayaquil and not Quito. You will not have any problems at the interview. |
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