VivaBaños

Yes, he can keep his Ecua citizenship and get it in the US as well. My husband has both. 

Felicidades.

We got a replacement in Quito--very easy and fast same day service.

The fact that you've been living in Ecuador will speak volumes. And I'm assuming all those years in Ecuador means you speak Spanish. Our interview was quite pleasant as I too was in that situation--had been living in Ecuador and spoke Spanish. The man who interviewed us looked through our wedding photos (we'd sent copies in our original application and took a small album to the interview). I had notarized affidavits from folks who knew us as a couple including our landlord in Ecuador. What we weren't prepared for was that the Consulate wanted me to have a co-sponsor--when none of that came up while our case was at the NVC (I was a grad student then and was under the line one year and just over it the year we applied--I'd sent both sets of $ evidence). That slowed us down a bit but was manageable (DHL messed up here too, but don't want to derail now).

The DHL truck from Guayaquil delivering to the Ambato DHL office was robbed, the very truck with all of our documents and visa! DHL delayed telling us anything. I had gotten DHL texts and I knew that it was on its way to Ambato but then they never called to say it'd arrived. So I began calling the Ambato office. They gave me the run around 2-3 times and said call back later each time. Call back in 30 minutes, another 30 minutes, ridiculous stuff like that. They must have been waiting to learn what a manager somewhere wanted them to tell customers. This fiasco then resulted in our needing to resubmit all of our docs, police docs reporting the stolen passport, again in Guayaquil--meaning we had to go to Quito to get a new passport, etc. After amassing all of that again (see timeline) we went in person to the Guayaquil Consulate and they printed the visa right then and there. They warned us that we might be delayed in immigration at the airports in Ecuador & the US because of the missing/stolen passport. We didn't have any problem.

I think you're in good shape with your evidence. I hope you run into NONE of the problems we faced.

Good luck!

Nice reading this thread.

I think the OP is going to face some of the barriers my husband and I have faced. He and I met in Ecuador and our entire relationship ensued in Spanish. He'd taken English classes at the University, but as several of you have pointed out unless you are learning from a native speaker you tend to pick up more mispronunciations. Fast-forward to moving to the US and being forced to learn English. He attended free classes at the library, classes at local colleges, and community centers.

Anyhow, something that we continually face is the challenge to not revert back to Spanish. Sometimes it's me who slips up, because it's just easier to explain something in Spanish (for speed). Sometimes it's him who slips up and uses Spanish (especially if he's feeling down). It's hard to hold ourselves to it. We've gone for a couple of months just in English, but to be honest then I start to miss speaking Spanish. The problem with this, as if it's not already obvious, is that while he retains his grammar and vocab skills his pronunciation skills quickly deteriorate. This is really why speaking English everyday is so important here--you want to nail the pronunciation like a native speaker. So I have to hold myself to speaking only English with him.

We live in a area with a LOT of Latinos and this is great for the times when we are both missing Ecuador.

Language learning is hard. It's a never-ending process and one where each milestone should be celebrated.

Best of luck!

Rkk1 - so glad to see you've made this decision! He is a hot mess and your long term happiness is paramount. Just fair warning, I'm SURE he will bring on the drama shortly....

Yes on all points here.

I hope Rkk1 returns soon with an update!

Stay strong!

I'm so happy to hear that you are preparing to take this next step: contacting NVC + divorce.

You have put up with so much heartache for so so long and we've all been cheering for you to protect yourself and your future.

Yes, I expect that your husband will pull out more drama than you can imagine as you take this next step. Stay strong!

I imagine that you may mourn the future plans and dreams you had together. I wish you a speedy divorce and a very happy 2013!

Keep us updated.

We carried copies of all of our documents with us, including the interview info (CR-1), and passports.

When we showed the guards outside our letter they directed us to the correct line outside, we were processed through, and entered the Consulate.

When we were there we had to hand over cell phones and other items that the guards on the inside of the Consulate held for us.

Maybe someone who has been there more recently can chime in to see if my info is still up to date.

Best of luck at your interview.

Rkk1,

I've read your posts in the past and it seems like very little has changed. Your frustration has increased but you feel like this situation and this spouse is the best that you can hope to get so you want to keep waiting and 'working' before throwing in the towel. A handsome man holding a bouquet of roses won't fix the underlying issues that keep reappearing in your posts when you discuss your concerns about the marriage. I think you know what you want to do you just feel scared about taking that step. By waiting and hoping you are making a decision to accept this.

You are an intelligent and motivated person.

We are all noting the red flags and hope that you find a way to make YOUR situation better.

EDIT: after posting this I see that Maria and av8or have posted good advice this morning too!

If you are sending something valuable, your best bet is a service like fed-ex. However if its just a regular letter or card you can send it from the states via usps for around $1. It takes 2-3 weeks to arrive. When I was living in the US everything I sent made it, and now that I am living in Ecuador everything sent to me via usps has made it as well. However some places are notorious for having problems with receiving mail here. Is there someone she knows with a better address that could receive it for her? Also check with the consulate and see if they will receive mail for someone there.

Or maybe your fiance can open a P.O. box a a local post office. That might be a better bet.

I sent all letters and a few small packages (soft envelopes) via USPS and everything arrived when I was mailing a lot there a few years ago. I did once try to send a beautiful autumn leaf and they took the leaf out but the colors and outline had transferred to the paper, so no big deal. I know of others who have sent money in a card via USPS and it all arrived as well.

When I lived there I received numerous cards and packages via USPS direct to my little P.O. Box.

I've never had a problem with using USPS and sending to Ecuador (Tungurahua and Pastaza region), but I've never sent anything terribly valuable either. It was when my parents sent me a few books and such when I was there that we had a problem with DHL--and don't get me started on the problems we had with DHL's non-delivery of our documents and terrible service post Consulate interview for the CR-1 visa.

This will be helpful info for future Ecuador filers and way more convenient to collect!

Just wondering if the OP has any updates for us today?

I just read the entire thread and it's such a difficult situation to be in, but it sounded like a gut concern was heard with enough time to stop the process if the OP chooses.

We're all here hoping for the very best for you and your baby and wishing you clarity of mind as you make this decision.

Let us know how you proceed.

Hello,

We are looking for other people in Guayaquil who are going through the fiancee visa process or spousal visa process. Looking to connect and share information with others so we can help each other through this process. We are new to this and looking for a little guidance initially.

Thank you,

Wade & Caro

The best guidance I can offer initially is to read the Guides for the K-1 Visa Process and to read the Embassy reviews. Although all the paperwork is the same, each embassy has its "quirks" and things to prepare for. We went through the CR-1 process and I'd be happy to comment on that process if you have questions. I found VisaJourney after we were halfway done with the CR-1 process, but the help from folks since then has been wonderful. Welcome!

I've not gone through AOS so I'm not speaking from experience. But getting a couple of notarized affidavits from folks who know you as a couple can't hurt. We did this throughout the immigration process--quick, easy, and cheap (cost of notarization is SO cheap in the US compared to Ecuador)!

Suerte!

You don't need to pre-apply for visas to travel to some countries in Central America or the Dominican Republic if traveling on an Ecuadorian passport--this I can tell you from experience.

The previous responders have answered your question.

If you're not interested in living in the US, then at least you save money on US paperwork. Apply for the visas you'll need for the global travel and buen viaje!

Chile allows the US Citizen to go into the interview with the Chilean fiance. Maybe its different depending on the country but I would double check that you cannot be in the interview. In Chile the US Citizen sits down and waits while the fiance hands in the paperwork then the fiance sits down with the US Citizen and then they get called together for the interview. If the US Citizen goes to the interview she or he is also asked some questions. I was told this by both the US Embassy in Chile and from ppl who have attended their fiance's visa interview in Chile.

Just double check you cannot go. Good luck!

What Lalo & Susana report for Chile is what we experienced with our CR-1 interview in Ecuador. We were interviewed together.

Indeed many have been denied visas (or decision postponed) in Ecuador if the spouse/fiance is NOT at the interview.

Check your Consulate for information.

When/where would they ask for such a thing?!

I have 5 Tattoos. Including a sleeve. Nobody ever asked for anything Tattoo related. Or is it because I was an inconspicuous 23 year old white female european at the time of immigration?

Good call. That would certainly be my guess as to why you weren't asked anything about your tattoos.

I agree, thanks for the info Darren and Crissy!

No, I don't believe so. It just updates something in their system and they send you a new card.

I would love for a thorough explanation of what actually changes...anyone know?

Finally got around to filing the new paperwork (one sheet) at the SSA office today. Quick and easy!

So registering to vote and SSA change have been made. I think that means we are ALL DONE!

Well, it goes to show that anyone contemplating a tattoo should consider "is this, or could this be remotely identifiable as, any gang's symbol, huh man?"

Exactly. One of the many things I'm wondering is how Consular's Offices learn of the tattoos. Unless you can see them, do you think they ask: do you have any tattoos?

I wonder if this same logic applies to neo-nazi tattoos and other groups which could affect "national security."

Interesting stuff.

Just read this article:

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/tattoo-checks-trip-up-visas.html

Who knew?

Hi.

My esposo ecuatoriano (Baneño) thinks that before any divorce proceedings, that if it's at all possible your husband should return to Ecuador for a few weeks. He thinks your husband is probably very depressed (like he was), and everything looks dark.

"Ecuadorians have to be in Ecuador at least once a year. We need to remind ourselves who we are (culture, family, food) because the US is different and nothing here is yours, especially if you live in an area with few Latinos. The only thing that you want, no matter how long you're here, is to return to Ecuador. The things that can help you are:

1) Return to Ecuador for a couple of weeks

2) Move to an area where there are more Latinos (CT/NY/NJ area is great)

3) Think about how you both can return to Ecuador if he foresees that he can't make it work in the US after steps 1 & 2 (By the way, many things are improving in Ecuador and perhaps you both could make a life together there.)"

Mucha suerte.

I feel like I've written this so many times, but what have you all done to find work here in the US coming from another country? If you didn't speak English what did you do? Did you find work without a degree? I don't know what to do anymore with my husband. He came here and doesn't speak English, he is ready to divorce me and go back to his country because he can't find decent work. I have tried to help doing anything I can but I don't even know what to do. He's been here almost a year and works for a moving company that does not treat him fairly. It has been one horrible year!

I guess I didn't directly answer your questions.

1. Husband began volunteering when nothing was happening on the job front.

2. He took English classes at the local college/university, community center, and library. Some we paid for, some were free.

3. He began volunteering in an area that drew upon his educational and professional background and was ultimately employed at this same place on the basis of his degree + professional experience and what they learned about his work ethic as a volunteer. (And even with his skills, he feels some negativity at work because of his accent, or inability to express himself as well in English the rest, and because he's the only Latino + recent immigrant in this area of the workplace.)

I posted on a thread when you wrote earlier, but I think that it's worth reiterating how hard this whole process is. It gets easier to some extent, but it's never not hard if that makes any sense. My husband is much more comfortable today in the US than he was years ago, but there is a certain sense of control that you lose when you are not in your home country--even if that control is simply based on understanding how things work or why you do X the way you do.

So since your husband's job in Ecuador has now been filled and the current job he has is not working out as well as one would hope, I bet he feels like he's stuck between a rock and a hard place. And you're the closest one to him (physically and emotionally I assume) to know what his life was like there and what it's like now. So I'm not surprised he's frustrated and you're the one on the receiving end. (This doesn't make it any easier for you of course.) And I bet he's feeling a lot of responsibility to "make it here" for you, his family, even friends, and most certainly to himself.

So beyond stressing about the job right now (which is so tricky to find as a recent immigrant, without a sure handle on the language)--I wonder if you two might be able to do some "new" things together to create fun new experiences and thus memories to reinforce your connection. This might give you both the boost in small ways to remind yourselves that "you're in this together" and boost his confidence to try again (either with another job search, or english lessons/classes, or making new friends). Sometimes this can be as simple (and cheap) as both of you in the kitchen making ecua-recipes together, or playing cuarenta, or discovering new nearby towns or festivals.

For us, there are some things my husband misses down to his core and those aspects are usually related to some of the basic cultural differences between here and there. I'm sure you understand this because you lived in Ecuador for a while and you got to know him on "his own turf."

I wish you well and hope you both can weather this storm.