Job Discussion Forums

[tom.sanger]

Has anyone applied for and obtained this Visa?? I have an appointment with the embassy in a couple of weeks, I have all my documents in order but wondered if there was anyone out there who give me some tips??

[HLJHLJ]

I'm trying to apply for one in the UK had haven't even managed to get my documents sorted yet. I posted this on another thread, but no replies yet.

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duder_1, how are you getting on with your visa? I'm trying to apply for 12IX in the UK, and also get the documents together to be able to apply for further visas once I am there and working. The Ecuadorian embassy here are not so much unhelpful, as completely silent, and as I don't have any lawyer friends I am struggling to get any useful information

I am hoping that the process here will be similar to the one in USA.

As I understand it I need to get copies of my degree certificates notarised and then legalised by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK. However, they will not translate nor legalise a translation. I am finding conflicting information on whether it is necessary to have them translated, or whether legalised copies in English are sufficient.

I will (hopefully) be getting my CELTA certificate in Ecuador, so presumably that will be acceptable as is.

Finally one of the requirements for a 12IX is a letter from the employer citing monthly income. Obviously with no employer yet, I can't provide that. Did you have any issue with that?

Thanks in advance

[tom.sanger]

I have spoken the consulate a couple of times, the embassy wont help cos they dont issue any of these visas's. They sent me a PDF file with all the information you need, (see below)

TOURISM, ACTS OF COMMERCE, and other activities
VISA CATEGORY 12�IX
Fee: �153
This visa may be granted for a maximum of 180 days and applies to tourists, athletes, students,
scientists, artists, merchants, business people, and people dealing with health issues. This visa includes
relatives in the first or second grade of consanguinity.
The requirements are as follows:
� Visa application Form
� A passport valid for at least 6 months and photocopy
� Two recent passport photographs with your name on the back
� A return ticket
� A Police Check up
� A medical certificate from the applicant�s GP, stating that the applicant does not have any
contagious diseases
� Overseas Travel Insurance Policy (with repatriation clause). Your travel insurance should
bear the words "certificate" and not be a simple quotation
� Proof of financial solvency, which can be one of the following:
o Account statements of the last three months, (we do not accept accounts with
overdrafts) or:
o Official Declaration of Support granted by a family member, relatives or close
friends living in the United Kingdom or Ecuador. This document needs to be signed
before a Public Notary in the United Kingdom or Ecuador. Attach statements of
account of the last three months and a photocopy of the passport of the sponsor.
� A letter from the employer that should contain the applicants� monthly income

I did hear anything about your degree certificate, where did you hear that?? And yes I found the whole thing about a letter from your employer a bit wierd, if you're going there for over 3 months, you probably wont have an employer when you return. hmm

[HLJHLJ]

Thanks for the info. Are you in the UK too? AIUI the embassy here does the consular services as well, am I getting my terms mixed up? http://www.consuladoecuador.org.uk/Embajada_del_Ecuador/Inicio.html

Document legalisation is standard here for anyone trying to emigrate and needing proof of qualifications
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-us/what-we-do/services-we-deliver/legal-services/legalisation/
It's not for the initial application (I think), it's because you need them to renew your visa once you are there. But I am not sure whether they also have to be authorised by the Ecuadorian consular services here, or if FCO stamps are sufficient.

Do you have a job lined up already to get that employers letter? Or are you applying without it?

Sorry for all the questions, but I've never done anything like this before and I am finding it incredibly confusing.

[tom.sanger]

Hey, yeah im in the UK, the consulate is in Trafalgar sqaure and the embassy is in Knightsbridge. Ive been to the embassy in person and they sent me to the consulate where they have so far been very helpfull.

No I havnt got a job over there yet, Im hoping to teach english in a School in Guayaquil but cant get a job without a visa that will allow me to work and you cant get a work visa without already having a job there. Annoying isnt it!

The 12 ix isnt primerily a work visa, its a tourist visa which allows you to stay long the standard 3 months and then want to renew it. This visa does also allow yo to work (ive checked this with the consulate.)

I just have no idea how strick they are when it comes to this application and interview. I do know thats its a same day reply so there is no waiting around to find out if you have been approved or not.

[HLJHLJ]

They told me I'd have to make an appointment and go down to get any extra info, but I don't have the leave spare at the moment. I need to save my remaining day for when I go down for the actual application.

It seems like we are in pretty much the same situation though. I am getting some more info soon about what happens when it comes to renewing in Ecuador, so hopefully I'll be able to fill in some of those blanks at least.

We aren't due to go till July so I still have some time to sort it. I've got an appointment with the doc tomorrow to see about the health tests. When are you hoping to go out?

[HLJHLJ]

Well I have a little more information, I am not sure it will be much use to you, but I will post it in case someone else finds this thread later on.

I have had confirmation from the Ecuadorian Consulate that the letter from an employer isn't necessary, unless you do actually have a job in place already. Otherwise, evidence of your qualifcations for the job (e.g. degree certificate, CELTA/TEFL if you have one, or in my case proof of place on a course) is sufficient.

Also, there is conflicting information about the bank statements, I have an older version of the requirements that state you must have �10k in a current account. The newest version doesn't seem to give a figure now. Anyway, the problem for me was that the money had to be in a current account, i.e. one that is used regularly, not just a savings account. The EC have confirmed that if you are going down that route you must show 3 months of statements from an active current account, but you can also take 3 months of statements from a savings account as well. So I don't have to empty my ISA into my current account just for the visa application.

Once you are there and have a job and want to apply for a work visa, you will need to submit your education documents. You can take your original degree certificate and CELTA/TESOL/TEFL certificate, and if the school or consulate require it, it can be notarised and legalised by the UK consulate over there.
http://ukinecuador.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/living-in-ecuador/how-legalise-doc-notarial

We've decided to get ours notarised here, because then we can have photocopies notarised and legalised, so the originals can stay here. It's going to cost us around �100 to get 2 copies each of 6 docs (12 altogether) notarised. (We don't particularly need 2 copies, but it was going to cost �80 for 1 copy of each, so we figured we may as well get the extras in case we need them eventually). The price varied massively, so I shopped around for that.

Then it will be �28 for each one we get legalised by FCO. We will probably just get 1 doc each legalised here, and pay the extra to have any others done in Ecuador if we need them.

I saw the nurse last week and she had no idea at all what I was talking about for the health check, so back to see a Dr next week. I'm told that all we need is a letter saying that as far as the Dr is aware I have no communicable disease, and I don't actually need to have an HIV test or anything to prove it.