Yet another visa question

expat42451 wrote:

Hi All--

I have been living in Tena for the last 6 months, looking at various properties and have run out of time. My 12 IX expires the 20th of October.

I understand that it is 6 months until I can obtain another 12 IX. Here is the question-- Can I go to Colombia or Peru for a few days and return on a  90 day tourist visa??

I have several friends in Peru and Guatemala who do this but I have not heard of it being done in Ecuador. 

Advice ??


Thanks

Expat42451

Here in Cuenca immigration offered me an additional 3 month extension with a 12-X visa and I know someone who received the same offer.  That was over a year ago, but it still may be an option. While I didn't go that route, I thought to myself at the time if I got the 12-X, I might be eligible at the end of it for a new T3 entry stamp if I were to exit the country and re-enter.

Some Expatas extend their visas with student visas, attending Spanish schools. You usually have to pay upfront for the lessons, however.

I could be dead wrong, but I thought you only had to leave for 3 months before re-entering again on a T3 entry stamp, which is available every 12 months.

Nards Barley

Thanks for the interest and reply.

I talked to a supposed immigration attorney via e mail in Quito about this and she said that the visa could not be extended or renewed, that I had to leave and re enter in 6 months. My first inclination is that I should come to Cuenca and try there.

Also I am not conversant with the T 3  at all, never heard of that- there is a lot that I do not know. I came back to Ecuador from Peru and applied for and received the 12 IX in Guayaquil. Immigration there was very helpful  and I was able to do this without any assistance i.e. an attorney.

Any idea who might I talk to in Cuenca about this?


Again many thanks for the kind reply.

Expat42451

Question Answered

Hello all. Thought I would follow up on my own question.....

Just talked to a very nice attorney (English fluent as well) at Coloaustro Abogados in Cuenca. She explained  that it is not possible at this time to ask for and receive an extension to the 12 IX visa.

According to what she said, it is only possible  under the 12 IX visa to spend 6 months in the country in any fiscal year. I also asked her about the possibility of going outside of Ecuador and re entering again in a few weeks with a tourist visa. She says this also is not possible under current immigration law.

Given the courtesy and promptness of the response via telephone - and the fact that the people at this firm speak English I would be prone to recommend them to any newbies with questions.

I thought I might pass this on to anyone else here on the forum with immigration questions .

Warmest Regards. See you next year.

Expat42451

No, the border people will turn you right around unless they're hurried and just miss your prior entry stamp.
Don't worry they'll just shoot you as expeditiously as possible. Just kidding but your chances are slim and none.

timo

LOL. Yep just what I would expect ! Or tie me down in the jungle with honey and ants......

Thanks for the humor.

Back in 6 months

Expat

why  don't you just do it correctly without scamming your way into the country. Isn't that what most of  us who moved down with the proper visa's want to leave behind us? You know the scams, ,lies and cheating.
If this is harsh it's meat to be! Do it right and don't ask others how to circumvent Ecuadorian law.

I would appreciate it if you would be able to tell me the name of a good immigration lawyer in Quito.

Kevin

Sorry I do not know anyone in Quito- I obtained my 12 IX visa without an attorney when I re entered Ecuador in April. Depending on what you are trying to do , your Spanish and your patience, a person can do a lot without an attorney.

The only contact I had with immigration attorneys was the firm I noted in an  earlier post on this thread.  You might contact them and see if they have an office in Quito.

Barring that I am sure some of the other members here will volunteer  who they might recommend, this is an active forum and people are helpful.

One other idea is that you might contact Dominic Buonamici here
http://ecuadorrealestate.org/domenick-buonamici/
and ask him. Although I have had no dealing with him, I understand that he is helpful to expats. He might well have someone he would recommend.

Sorry I could not do more, hope this helps.
Regards

Expat

In my packing and getting ready to leave after almost  6 months in Ecuador (my visa expires the last of this month but I dont like to  stay until the last day)  I totally missed Timmo's reply- I obviously was mistaken when I thought  good natured  humor was humor .


"why  don't you just do it correctly without scamming your way into the country. Isn't that what most of  us who moved down with the proper visa's want to leave behind us? You know the scams, ,lies and cheating.
If this is harsh it's meat to be! Do it right and don't ask others how to circumvent Ecuadorian law."

I have no idea of what "you or most of you want to leave behind you" and dont give a damn.

As far as doing it right, that is why I asked- the reason for this thread- that is why I am leaving Ecuador. In other countries, leaving and re entering  are  accepted practice. I did not know about here.   If you took the time to read Nards Barley's comment you would see that as little as a year ago, an extension for a 12 IX was possible. Another three months would have probably been time I needed to complete purchase of a property here in the Oriente.  As I posted -the results of my conversation with the attorneys, it is not possible.   

I ve  treated everyone on this forum..in what little participation I have-  with respect and courtesy. I expect the same .Additionally I have  in my years of traveling abroad treated all cultures with respect and obeyed all laws - never been arrested, never detained, never had a problem. As far as the scamming  statement goes I will consider the source. It is rude and insinuative as well. I consider it discourteous at best.   I am here with the proper visa. I have not "moved down" yet.  You obviously think that "moving down" is some sort of an exceptional feat that makes you above all others and warrants your   discourtesy.  Dont know whether I will "move down"  or not but this isnt encouraging. You sound like the arrogant Americans and  Canadians (not all of them though, only a poorly educated arrogant few)  that populated  the Riviera Maya and Guadalajara in my 10 years as a resident in Mexico.

How about treating others with the respect  and courtesy that in your hubris and arrogance, you seem to want to  demand rather than earn. Oops I missed it I am truly sorry-- you are obviously "important".  At least in your own mind. You might try that effort at  harsh on someone who gives a damn. Sad thing is, you could have said pretty much the same thing in a completely different way. Instead arrogance got the best of you didnt it?

This  type of grade school mentality exhibited by his post is one of the reasons I no longer live in the US ---nor do I as a general rule,associate with other  expats from the US when outside of the country.

Finally- if this is the type of conduct thats tolerated- and the normal manner of communications  acceptable  on this forum, I dont need it. Good luck.

Expat.

Expat 42451:

Well said. I think most who read your post understood that, far from scamming, you were asking for advice on how to comply with Ecuadorian law.

As you say, in many countries (Guatemala, Mexico, Philippines being three cases I'm familiar with) leaving/returning is legal and widely-practiced. Apparently not in Ecuador, but that's why you asked, right?

Finally- if this is the type of conduct thats tolerated- and the normal manner of communications  acceptable  on this forum, I dont need it. Good luck.

I haven't seen much of that sort of thing here (it's more like what I saw on visiting Expat Exchange, which I why I don't go there anymore). Hope you continue to hang around.

Bob

BobH

Kind thanks for the comment. I dont want to cause anyone any discomfort- after all it is easy to be courteous  while making a point.  I am not much of a participant on most forums because of the foolishness- what are called flame wars, sniping, disparaging comments and so forth.  I would say nothing here to someone I would not say to them in the same manner face to face. Many people for whatever reasons treat others in forums in a manner that would land them on their backsides with a bloody nose in the real world- I have no patience with incivility, its bad breeding, bad education and many times either cowardice or insecurity. I choose not to participate in their anger.

Question for you- Cebu City-- the Philippines?

Warmest Regards

Expat

I'm sorry that was said to you Expat. I too thought it was out of line with the spirit of this forum.

I've lived in countries where the "norm" was to go out for a weekend and come back in when your visa expired so I too do not see that as a scam.

I must say this forum is not usually like that.

I respect the way you handled your self. Many would have simply responded in kind. I do hope you continue to participate.

Judy

Juggling temporary visas through various legal means is not scamming.

Nards and Judy

Thanks. Maybe he simply had a bad day and the neighbors dogs barking all night (as they will do here in Tena) were the reason for such a post.  Time to move past it - although again thanks for your comments.

Tomorrow to Quito. After than I have no idea where. Trying to decide whether to go up into Central America for a while- Panama or Costa Rica- or the other direction, somewhere like Chile or Argentina  or the Philippines or..........


I ve been in the jungle for almost 6 months but its time to get back to the water. I am an ex merchant navy captain (many years ago) , grew up on the water and the ocean is  more home than terra firma ever has been.  I still- at 62 years old- surf but I dont chase big waves the way I used to when I was younger. I never  followed the drugs and alcohol lifestyle some surfers do either but I enjoy the sport and the exercise.

I remember reading in one of W.A. Robinsons' books (To the Great Southern Sea I think was the title) about his trip right after WW2 in Varua and his attempt to explore some of the fjiord like coastal area of Argentina. I  would prefer to do it by water but at my age and with finances the way they are I cant be too choosy......

Regards to all and many thanks for the kindness. Something we all have the possibility of using every  minute of every day of our lives. We always have a choice of how we say things to others, whether face to face (which I much prefer) or in a medium like this.

Expat

Bob H.

Did you get the e mail I sent you here on the forum?  Questions about Cebu

Regards
Expat

It has been my experience from traveling and living in various countries around the world that in developing countries the visa-run situation is very common.  And it almost always depends on the immigration officer you are dealing with. 
  For example, I just spent one year in Thailand and had to do only 2 visa runs.  They never had an issue renewing the visa at all (even though officially" according to their rules they should not have.)
  In Taiwan they spent much more time inspecting my papers but still ended up renewing it. 
  Japan was also pretty easy.
  My point is that if one needs to spend more than 9 months in Ecuador it is likely that u will just need to exit the country and then reenter and that it will be likely(but not guaranteed) that u will get it.
  Listen, u will be spending money there and not taking a local's job.  They will need a good reason to not allow you to reenter. 
It would be different if you were Peruvian and trying to work there. 
*    In Thailand they just rubber-stamped 50 visas one after the other in 10 minutes for groups of tourists from western countries at the Burma visa office.

Mackbutter

Been my experience as  well but primarily in South America.  Have to go out the 28th of this month. I asked immigration if it would be any problem for me to re enter Ecuador they said  nope.  So we shall see.

Other than that not much from this end. Hope you are well and happy.

Regards

Expat

Expat32451 and Mackbutter

Tend to agree with what you are saying. For that matter have personally border hopped, and overstayed my allowed time in various countries many of times, and have only had to pay a small fine. Returning to any country was never a problem. Don't live outside of the U.S. for such long periods anymore, so this situation doesn't really have an impact on my life. However, have had several friends that still border hop in South American, and Central American countries, and they have all said that these countries are starting to crack down a bit. Think heading forward in the future overextending a stay, and or border hopping is going to start becoming more difficult in Latin American countries.

hello,
my husband and I are retired teachers ,our pensioners is 1000$ per month both.we are planning to come together.
can we get retirerment visa?