Job Discussion Forums

[hollys825]

Hi,

I heard that most people teaching in Ecuador are working on a tourist visa, and the visa can be extended for $2. Is this still true?
Also, how many times can this be done? Can one also do a visa run to a nearby country?

I would really like to settle somewhere for one to two years. Is it possible to get a job and then become legal? I'd be willing to return to the States for a spell if that would help.

What country in South America is it easiest to get legal work in once one is there?

Thanks for your help in advance,
Holly

[just_a_mirage]

No, and no. There are some people working on tourist visas, but most reputable schools will not hire anyone on a tourist visa, as that is illegal. If you work on one, you will not be paid fairly and you have no recourse if they decide not to pay you at all.
You CANNOT do border runs, and with few exceptions, Ecuador will not extend a tourist visa. You can get the 12-IX visa which will let you work legally, but is only good for six months and cannot be renewed.

[hollys825]

That's interesting because I read:

"The Visa. You will probably be told at the Ecuadorian embassy that a work visa is required for teaching English and this can only be obtained with a work contract sent to you from Ecuador before leaving. I tried this in vain for three months before giving up. I have not met any foreigner who has a work visa, and I have not been asked about it by any potential employer in the many schools I�ve visited. The 90-day visitor�s visa is more than adequate and it�s free. A three-month extension costs $2."

http://www.transitionsabroad.com/listings/work/articles/worksep1.shtml

So are you telling me no one (no American teacher) works in Ecuador more than 6 months?!

Thanks for your quick reply,
Holly

[just_a_mirage]

I'm saying that no foreign teacher works for more than 6 months on a TOURIST visa. You must have a WORK visa to work long term. This involves obtaining a work contract from an employer and several other documents. The info that you have about the two dollar renewal is obsolete and is no longer available except to citizens of just a few countries, not the US, Canada, the UK etc. The rules change here constantly so check with the Ecuadorian Consulate nearest you for the most up to date rules and regs.

[bexarwithme]

Ecudaor is a lot of work if you want to stay more than 6 months. Check out Peru right next door. There is much more flexibility there with staying and working long term as a tourist. You can border hop every six months and keep a tourist visa or you can stay as long as you want and pay a $1 per day overstay fine when you leave. It seems to be the norm there that most people work on a tourist visa and the employers don't want to be bothered with getting a more appropriate visa. I wonder how many people opt for Peru over Ecuador because of the 6 month limit in Ec? Too bad, Quito is one of my most favorite places on earth.

[hollys825]

Mirage, thank you. But can you clarify? You said: "You can get the 12-IX visa which will let you work legally, but is only good for six months and cannot be renewed." So how can anyone stay long-term?

So my question: how / where can I work longterm in South America?

Bexar, thanks, I'll think about Peru. Can you get legal once you're there?

Thanks so much for your input.

[bexarwithme]

Holly, Being on a tourist visa is legal wherever you are. There are some things that might not be technically allowed on a tourist visa but are done in a widespread manner. Check out the Peru forum. I suspect most people that go down there and work and live, do so on a tourist visa and are at no great risk for adverse consequences. Peru seems to be the easiest place to go and make a living on a tourist visa. Mexico seems to be the easiest place to go and make a living and get a legal, working visa. All of the other markets are very small or have difficult visa laws.

[hollys825]

Thanks, Bexar. So how long can you keep hopping the border to extend the tourist visa? I'm looking to stay somewhere for 2 or more years.

[just_a_mirage]

Hi Holly. What most people do is come down on a 12_IX Visa which lets you work legally during the six months that it is valid. Then after you find work, you ask your employer to give you a contract which you then use to change to a work visa. The good thing about the 12-IX is that you can change it to another visa while you are in Ecuador. With the 90 day tourist visa, you cannot change it while in the country. You must either go to a consulate in Peru or Colombia and change it, but sometimes they wont do it and you have to return to your home country.
Once you have a work visa, or the 12_IX, you must go to SRI which is the Ecuadorian version of the IRS. You show copies of your passport, your visa, the rental contract for the place you live (this must be notorized and registered with the government), and a utility bill. You must present copies of all of these at SRI. You then get a RUC number which is similar to a Social Security number. With the forms you receive at SRI, you then go to a government authorized printer, and have them make you a receipt book or facturas as they call them with your name, and RUC number, and your line of work. For teachers it will specify which level you teach...from primary to superior, which is university. Then you bill your employer, usually once a month, using these invoices. No reputable employer will hire you without you having a RUC number, because to balance their books and file their taxes they must be able to show that each paycheck they have written has been given to someone with a valid RUC.
Some shady operators will pay you in cash, or by check for a few months, but it is illegal for them to do this, and they will pay a hefty fine if they are caught. Thats why its not a good idea to work for someone paying you cash. If you dont have a RUC, you cannot work legally, and if you do, you can face being deported (although that doesnt seem to happen often). Or, the employer can come up with any number of excuses, and not pay you at all, or pay you an amount lower than you agreed on. If you are working illegally, without a RUC you have absolutely no recourse, and believe me, there are schools here that do that. They hire people, dont pay them, then when the person complains, boot them out the door. In the meantime, theyve had free labor for however long youve stayed working there. Thats why it is not a good idea to work on a tourist visa other than the 12-IX at least in Ecuador. You can also pm IDIGGS. He can relate his experience to you.

[latif]

I might be wrong, but it was my understanding that it is possible to get the 12 IX visa while in Ecuador, if you apply for it before the tourist visa time runs out?

It appears that each consulate has their own requirements for the 12 IX visa:

from the D.C. consulate:

"Doctor's certificate and HIV test, indicating that the person does not have any communicable diseases.

Police certificate indicating that there is no record"

The San Francisco consulate, however, does not list the above two requirements, but includes the following:

2.2 Letter from the company, business or entrepreneur sponsoring the trip

Also the forms are different for the two consulates:

San Francisco includes the following two questions:

ENTIDAD AUSPICIANTE Y RESPONSABLE / Sponsoring Organization and Name of legal representative

ACTIVIDAD A DESARROLLAR / Activity to be developed

The D.C. consulate form is much more straight forward ... and does not include the above two questions.

Since I live near San Francisco, I'll be applying at that consulate. If I could get some advice on how to answer the two questions? I obviously have no sponsoring organization - and "activity to be developed" - I was going to put down "teacher training" and tourism ?

I'll be giving the consulate (s) a call next week, and see if I can get some clarification.

Although, I'm also trying to come up with a back up plan, in case the 12 IX visa process gets too complicated ...

[idiggs]

[naturegirl321]

[latif]

[idiggs]

[latif]