Job Discussion Forums

bradford · Joined: 24 Jan 2005 Posts: 8 Location: St. Louis, MO

To teach in Ecuador do I need a visa of some kind? Also, when entering Ecuador, do I need a ticket that shows that I am leaving the country within three months?
Thanks!
Sara

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

The most common is a cultural exchange visa--which can be obtained where you are living now if you have a job lined upand they send you the paperwork. Otherwise you'll have to goto Peru or Colombia to doit after you have been hired.

They never checked my tickets.

matttheboy · Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Posts: 854 Location: Valparaiso, Chile

You don't need a visa and they won't check your tickets. If you really like ecuador and you're willing to stay your employer will most likely be able to sort you out with a student visa (meaning you'll have to go home to get everything organised) which will enable you to stay in the country long term without having to do a border run every 3 months.

BTW, if you were put off going to santiago after the thread on petty crime and mugging then you're not going to like ecuador...

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2005 10:52 pm Post subject:

In the past, you could sometimes upgrade a tourist visa to various other types of visa (student, intercultural exchange, or volunteer) without leaving the country. I'm not sure it was exactly legal, but widely done. Recently there's been a bit of a shake-up in the ministry, and it seems that this is no longer possible. If you have a job lined up beforehand, they'll probably want to line up a visa too, and can help with this.

If not, you'll have to turn up on a tourist visa, then see what you can do. (The rules are changing all the time.)

The law states that you must have an exit ticket, but so far I've never even been asked.
Justin

bradford · Joined: 24 Jan 2005 Posts: 8 Location: St. Louis, MO

It seems that I always get replies from the same to people...thanks. Anyways, I am applying to a couple places right now (CEDEI, Inlingua, KLS) but I am not finished with my TEFL course (I'm doing it online although I hear that's not the best way to go it is the most financially feasible for me currently).
So, from what I gather I can not buy an exit ticket and I should try and get a job before arriving (boy, that would be great) and petty crime is everywhere in South America? Actually, I think that I am just going to accept that as life in the big city.
But Mattheboy-Is crime any better anywhere in South America?
And, if I may, I would like to ask one last question:
Did you guys get any immunizations/vaccinations before arriving?

Thanks!
Sara

matttheboy · Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Posts: 854 Location: Valparaiso, Chile

The safest cities i've been to in south america are buenos aires and santiago and also any of the large argentine cities. Quito is the most dangerous i've spent time in, although Lima was pretty dodgy too.

Get ALL your vaccinations-this came up on the petty crime and mugging thread on the chile forum so i won't repeat what i wrote. Spending a bit of money to avoid very unpleasant diseases is well worth it. You should be able to get them all done in Quito though and for a lot less money i should imagine. And make sure you've got travel insurance. I never understand why people travel without insurance. If i hadn't had insurance when i was ill i would've either been left very out of pocket or would've had to spend a week in a cheap and nasty thai public hospital instead of the presidential suite at the best hospital in south east asia!!

And you always get replies from the same people because there are only a few nice members on this forum Very Happy

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2005 1:23 am Post subject:

And because only a few of us have been to Ecuador, of course. Love the new photo, Matt.

I found Lima, and everywhere in Colombia to be well dodgy, crime wise. Honestly, I haven't had any problems in Quito- although I know they're out there. You can reshape the odds a great deal depending on how careful, streetsmart, and lucky you happen to be. Don't let the crime stories scare you away.

If you can line up a job, that rocks. But if you can't, well, a lot of people find a way after they get here. If you keep trying, there's always a way. ($$ helps too, of course)

I would also apply to EF (English First) and the Experiment in International Living. (This last is shameless self promotion, but still...)

Justin

wheatifus · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2005 10:24 am Post subject:

Sara,

You seem to be at the same stage as me, and these guys helped me out too. I did my TEFL in Nov and am flying to Quito in 2 weeks time. I have a job with Inlingua but I dont think anything can be definate until I get there. I would say dont worry to much about it but certainly try and sort out as much as you can from home... get your name recognised in a few schools, at least.

Visa... well, I'm hoping it'll be okay! I dont have one! I'm going to arrive on a tourist visa and change it to a student visa when I get there... I've been reassured that this is OK. But if you do have time to sort that from home then do. Only thing is you'll need to have a definate job in order to do that from home, as you need a letter from the school. I'm just going to arrive with the documents I need (I've left myself no choice as I have done this all at the last minute); medical, proof of finances, AIDS test (apparently)... blah blah blah. Phone your nearest Ecuadorian Embassy to find out exactly what you need. A lot can be sorted in Ecuador.

Vaccinations... I've had vaccinations for Yellow fever, Heb B and Typhoid. Hep A, Polio and tetanus were still okay from when I went to South East Asia. It was also recommended that I get a Rabies jab but all this is putting me out of pocket so I've just decided that I'm gonna stay away from dogs with foaming mouths... bit of a risk but hey!

Anyway, hope that helps and good luck!

Jennie

wheatifus · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2005 10:34 am Post subject:

Should have said... when I say 'change the visa when I'm there', what I mean is change it at the Columbian Border. Its only a few hours away from Quito so no real drama to do that (as long as Quito, or nearby is where you'll be based.)

Cheers

Jennie

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 6:22 pm Post subject:

Hey there,
Just a note on wheatifus's post- it is QUITE a few hours to the Colombian border. It doesn't look like it on the map, but when you take Ecuadorian roads into account...wow. Can be as much as 10-15 hours, although it can be less.
I'm not saying don't do it, as it is a beautiful ride through some stunning country...and many people I know have gone with no hassles. But anybody considering it should know that it may be a long weekend, not just an afternoon in the country.
Justin

wheatifus · Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 6:56 pm Post subject:

My mistake... spot the person who's not there yet! If I'd known that then I definately would have sorted visa here. Too late now!!!

bradford · Joined: 24 Jan 2005 Posts: 8 Location: St. Louis, MO

So I am working on getting a job while I am still in the States...I know that KLS does not hire without a personal interview and I am working on my CEDEI and Inlingua applications at the moment. Justin, I pm'ed you about Experiment...
Hopefully this all works out before I am ready to board a plane...but I am not sure how long it will take to find a job from here. Mattheboy said something about getting a student visa but having to fly home for that and, wow, that sounds expensive.
Thanks for the input
Sara

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 7:40 pm Post subject:

FYI-

Generally, setting up a visa takes...an extremely flexible length of time. 4-8 weeks is standard, but also depends on how close your closest Ecuadorian consulate is in your home country. Sometimes we've been able to arrange one for an incoming teacher very quickly, but if you have less than a few weeks between job offer and departure date, it can be difficult. And stressful. Shocked

Justin

moonraven · Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 3094

Here in Mexico you take your documents to the consulate in Mexico City and pick up your passport with the visa in place the next day.

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 7:47 pm Post subject:

Sounds a lot more efficient than Ecuador, but then most places are. I wonder if that influences the teacher shortages down here.

Justin