Job Discussion Forums

[TIKITEMBO]

I have a Cultural Exchange Visa. At some point I would still like to stop working in Ecuador and just enjoy the country before I leave for good. However, my place of work told me that if I stop working with them then they will end their sponsership. Does that mean I then will not be in the country legally? I could still get some time in on a tourist visa, but only for a few months.

The cultural exchange visa is good for one year and will be good until fall 2011. However, if I stop working there will they ask for my passport and do something to invalidate my visa? Or, will they contact the goverment and say I am no longer able to reside in the country legally through them? Any help on this would be much appreciated.

[Justin Trullinger]

How much time are we talking about here? TAlk to your employer- if you're talking about sticking around for a few weeks or a month to travel after your contract ends, the very likely might leave the visa open for you.

Understand, though- if you're in Ecuador on a Cultural exchange visa sponsored by this organisation, they are responsible for you, legally. If, when you�re travelling, you incur expenses you aren�t insured for, make dumb choices, wind up being repatriated as a corpse or whatever...this can reflect on them, and cost them piles of money. So they won�t be willing to leave the visa open indefinitely.

If you want more time than they can give you, just coordinate with them to leave when your 12-8 is ending, maybe to peru or Colombia, and come back as a tourist.

After all- if tourism is what you want, there is a specific category for that.

Best,
Justin