can USC get dual citizenship in hubby's country?

[Chamy and Gatita 3]

I married an Ecuadorian citizen, who is now a US permanent resident. We married in the US. On a recent trip back to Ecuador, a lawyer told us we need to legalize our marriage in Ecuador, so that my husband's legal status can be changed to married on his cedula, etc. (He also has a bank account and two properties there). The lawyer said that after we do that, I can get Ecuadorian citizenship and an Ecuadorian passport. This is relevant because currently I travel as a USC and am limited to a stay of 90 days unless I apply for a visa. We don't have plans to live in Ecuador any time soon but it seems like it would be a good idea to have that option.

I'm looking for information on this issue: is dual citizenship a possibility for me and is it a good idea?

Thanks !!

[Indy90 21]

I married an Ecuadorian citizen, who is now a US permanent resident. We married in the US. On a recent trip back to Ecuador, a lawyer told us we need to legalize our marriage in Ecuador, so that my husband's legal status can be changed to married on his cedula, etc. (He also has a bank account and two properties there). The lawyer said that after we do that, I can get Ecuadorian citizenship and an Ecuadorian passport. This is relevant because currently I travel as a USC and am limited to a stay of 90 days unless I apply for a visa. We don't have plans to live in Ecuador any time soon but it seems like it would be a good idea to have that option.

I'm looking for information on this issue: is dual citizenship a possibility for me and is it a good idea?

Thanks !!

Yes you can get Ecuadorian citizenship. I recently went to the ministry in Quito that handles everything and they explained everything that I needed to do as the spouse of an Ecuadorian citizen. Unfortunately I cannot remember the exact details, but I believe that it costs several hundred dollars (plus lawyers fees, everybody said that it was best to get a lawyer rather than deal directly with the government). The average wait is about 180 days, I think and I do not know if you have to be in the country or not.

As far as being a good idea, in most cases I do not see why it would cause a problem. If you ever need a security clearance because you want a job with the US government, it would be very difficult to get approved if you ever use your Ecuadorian passport, according to manuals published by the State Department. However, I don't think getting jobs that don't require a security clearance would be a problem. Also, if you enter Ecuador not with an American passport, you would lose a lot of your rights to representation from the embassy if you got in trouble. Finally, other considerations like the potential to get drafted into the military (depending on gender and age) and what effect it would have on taxes need to be considered. If you obtain Ecuadorian citizenship I don't think you would have to pay taxes on your income to the Ecuadorian government as a citizen while working in the U.S., but you would have to pay taxes to the U.S. government (which I don't agree with) if you work in Ecuador.

For now, I have decided to put off getting Ecuadorian citizenship unless I find that I actually need it. Its something that could be done fairly easily in the future so there is no rush for me.

Edited April 19, 2010 by Indy90

[esperanza Ecuador 0]

I married an Ecuadorian citizen, who is now a US permanent resident. We married in the US. On a recent trip back to Ecuador, a lawyer told us we need to legalize our marriage in Ecuador, so that my husband's legal status can be changed to married on his cedula, etc. (He also has a bank account and two properties there). The lawyer said that after we do that, I can get Ecuadorian citizenship and an Ecuadorian passport. This is relevant because currently I travel as a USC and am limited to a stay of 90 days unless I apply for a visa. We don't have plans to live in Ecuador any time soon but it seems like it would be a good idea to have that option.

I'm looking for information on this issue: is dual citizenship a possibility for me and is it a good idea?

Thanks !!

My fiance recently inquired about dual citizenship on my behalf. He spent two days waiting in line at federal govt. buildings and asking policy questions, no small feat if you know Ecuador govt. dealings. He was told that the new 180 say legal residency requirement in Ecuador could be waived if the American Citizen received special documents from a local Ecuatorian consulate in the US before heading down. The lawyer´s card they give you at the federal building sends you to a man who puts you in Visa category of Worker (and other) even though the govt. forms say you need to qualify as an incoming Worker Visa. Shady business. The Ecuador Consulate (Chicago for me), of course, wants their money to "authenticate" American Documents, the lawyers in Ecuador for the footwork there, then lots of run around after the actual marriage. It seems to me a money making adventure in Ecuador, how every Cuban and Colombian is being made to pay not hundreds, but rather thousands for citizenship start to end with the govt. encouraging they contact "these" lawyers and handing out business cards. In the end, my fiance and I have decided to stick it out on the K-1, as the American govt. has a rigid and sometimes slow, but systematic and fair routine.

If you leave me a personal message, I can have Ivan forward what he found out about the process last week and it´s costs.

On a side note, Ecuador (this month) joining the new requirements for the Hague Convention apostille of documents made getting your American birth certificates, marriage certificates, and divorce certificates validated in your state possible, and now streamlines the process and costs.

[Indy90 21]

My fiance recently inquired about dual citizenship on my behalf. He spent two days waiting in line at federal govt. buildings and asking policy questions, no small feat if you know Ecuador govt. dealings. He was told that the new 180 say legal residency requirement in Ecuador could be waived if the American Citizen received special documents from a local Ecuatorian consulate in the US before heading down. The lawyer´s card they give you at the federal building sends you to a man who puts you in Visa category of Worker (and other) even though the govt. forms say you need to qualify as an incoming Worker Visa. Shady business. The Ecuador Consulate (Chicago for me), of course, wants their money to "authenticate" American Documents, the lawyers in Ecuador for the footwork there, then lots of run around after the actual marriage.

I know what you mean about having to wait forever. My wife called to find out and was told that they could not give an answer on the phone and that she had to go to the ministry. Well we went and were told that they do not answer questions like that on that particular day, but thankfully we were able to find someone to help us despite it not being the right day.

As a side note, I would recommend not dealing with the Chicago consulate if at all possible. I have only been once (several years ago) and they required a number of documents that the website does not ask for; additionally, they had nobody that was available who could speak English. If at all possible, I recommend dealing with the consulate in DC through mail. They answer the phone in Spanish but you can ask to speak in English. They always are quite helpful and whenever I have needed a visa for a greater length of time than a tourist one, I have sent them the paperwork through the mail system and they have gotten it back to me quite fast.

[ChrisAndAnnie 0]

You should seriously consider the fact that the world turns around and one day your husband might want to apply for job that requires security clearance. I applied for one not long ago, and was denied for the simple reason that as an american citizen born in Ecuador, the ecuadorian goverment had handed me automatically the favor of dual citizenship. Sounded great on paper, but in real life, it basically was grounds for denial of my application.

Thanks

ChrisAndAnnie