Job Discussion Forums

[wdgeigle]

I will keep this brief in order to prevent from getting a bad rep. on this, my first ever posting. I am interested in an ESL job in Ecuador. I am looking to leave ASAP. I have two issues which concern me.
The first is the work visa issue. I have gathered from reading many postings over this topic that Ecuador is a little more strict on visas than, for instance, Chile. Is it imperative that I get a work visa for Ecuador before leaving the States or can I apply after arriving and have found a job? Is this a tedious process? I realize that I have 90 days with my travel visa that can be extended to 6 mos. But I want to stay for at least 1 yr. Do many Ecuadorian schools help in the visa process? Is there a �standard procedure� you ESL teachers in Ecuador practice (e.g. boarder runs, etc.)?
Lastly, does anybody know/heard of a good TEFL program in Ecuador? Is the online TEFL cert, (e.g. i to i) very widely recognized there or is it well worth it to go ahead and get the 120 hr. full cert.?
ALSO, I am very open to any other opinions anybody may have concerning living/working in Ecuador. Thanks people

[Justin Trullinger]

Feel free to PM me or write me directly for more details on any of this- my responses may not be the promptest, as I'm really swamped right now, but I should be able to respond within a few days...

Short answers-

About visas- you'll need to either A) arrange a job before you come, and get a visa in your country of origin, or B) Arrange a job once you're here, and then leave the country to have your visa issued in an Ecuadorian Consulate abroad. A lot of people do this by crossing the border into Peru or Colombia. In either case, you'll need the help of a school or place of employment to do this. (You can't get a visa to do anything in Ecuador without papers from the organisation you plan to do it with.) In any case, it's unlikely to be an actual work visa- most schools deal with intercultural exchange visas, volunteer visas, or student visas. (Easier and cheaper to get, also let you be stipended tax free, rather than paid wages, which would be taxed.)

Most good, reputable schools help in the visa process, though it's likely that you'll have to cover the costs of this yourself.

DO NOT try to do a border run in order to get a tourist visa extended past 6 months. THe law is that a tourist visa cannot be for more than 180 out of an 360 days. If you leave after 6 months, they probably just won't let you back in. Really not cool, especially if you've set up an apartment, etc. Border runs don't work in Ecuador.

Online certs are okay with some organisations, but generally viewed with suspicion in the places you'd most want to work for. I don't know your background- if you have an education related degree, and/or EFL experience, you'd probably be okay with an online cert. (or probably without any cert.) If this is your first time out, and you're degree isn't related, I'd get a good, 120 hour or more, onsite certificate with practice teaching. (If you're interested in doing said cert within Ecuador, get in touch- I'm involved with a SIT TESOL certificate program locally)

If you're interested in a list of "where to apply" in Quito, again, let me know...

Best,
Justin