Job Discussion Forums

[Coloradita]

Hello

When I came to Ecuador I purchased the 12-ix visa based on my then-employer�s offer to sponsor me for a work visa. Unfortunately, that offer went unfulfilled and I no longer work for the same school. I traveled to Peru, obtained a tourist visa, and was told by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on two occaisions that I am perfectly legal to work here until I get my visa.

My current employer has some of the necessary paperwork in order, but claims his lawyer has only just submitted a request for the following two documents: "certificado vigente del cumplimiento de obligaciones y existencia legal de la compa�ia, otorgada por la Superintendencia de Compa�ias" and "certificado actualizado de no tener obligaciones pendientes con el IESS." The problem is, that the deadline to apply for the work visa is one month prior to my current visa�s expiration. That said, time is running really short and I was told at the consulate that I can�t obtain another tourist visa at the border.

Does anyone out there know of a way of speeding things up? I have heard that you can pay for a service through the Ministry of Work. How about a good immigration lawyer in Guayaquil? I don�t want to leave, because I have started a life here, but I am afraid of the consequences if I don�t get the right visa.

Also, my current employer is now being really shady with regard to my pay. He�s claiming that although I�m legal to work, he can�t give me the salary or hours he originally offered me and is paying me basically nothing to do an awful lot of work. I don�t want to quit though because I�m hoping he�ll come through with the work visa.

Are there any schools that might be able to help me out with the work visa, or at least hire me for a few hours? Every school I�ve been to here is unwilling to sponsor me for the visa and it�s pretty rare that anyone is even aware of what the requirements are. I understand that the visa laws are in place to protect Ecuadorians� jobs, but I think the students benefit from having teachers from a wide array of backgrounds and nationalities as well.

[just_a_mirage]

I am confused. Did you change your 12-!X for a tourist visa? Do you still have the 12-IX? If you do, you can work legally on that anywhere. It does not have to be sponsored by a school. I am here in Guayaquil. If you want, PM me and I can suggest some schools and some alternatives for you. It sounds like you are getting taken advantage of, big time.

[Atlan Training]

The validity of the 12 IX is six months from the registration. I'd say find an employer who will sponsor your visa quickly. Try the CEN. I know you already went to Southern Cross, but you'd need to try at Southern Cross school, not the British Language Centre. You should contact your consulate for help with a visa expeditor or attorney. You are being exploited.

[Coloradita]

Thanks for the support. I wish I could PM, but I haven�t posted enough yet....

My 12-ix expired, that�s why I crossed the border to Peru. While I was in Peru, I paid a fee to have my passport stamped so that I can stay here another 90 days. I just flew to Colombia, and nearly got detained trying to re-enter Ecuador, because it turns out that the stamp I got in Peru is just a stamp, it�s not in their computer system, so it�s fake. Luckily, the man at the airport put another stamp on it so I can stay here for another 60 days, which was all the time I had left anyway. My boyfriend took my passport to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and they said it�s ok for me to stay here for the 60 days, but I definately won�t be leaving the country.

I contacted CEN, the man I met with in their HR department was really nice but he had no idea what to do about visas and said they wouldn�t help me.

I�ll definately look into a visa expiditing service, I think I know someone who can help me, but I�ll contact the consulate as well.

[Big Poppa Pump]

and I thought the visa process for china was confusing.

[idiggs]