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Ecuador and 12-IX visa help needed!

 
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Gary-Korea



Joined: 25 Apr 2011
Posts: 8

PostPosted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 2:20 am    Post subject: Ecuador and 12-IX visa help needed! Reply with quote

Hi guys,

After a couple of years teaching English in South Korea my girlfriend and I are looking for a change of pace and scenery.

We will be travelling through Central America in August 2011 and hope to spend some time in Ecuador. I am hoping to take the CELTA course with Southern Cross and then find teaching work. However, my girlfriend would prefer to find paid work with an NGO.

Can anyone let me know, from their experience, if these sort of jobs are available to native English speakers?

To further this, I can see the requirements for the 12-IX visa state you need a "return ticket". We will be flying from Panama City to Quito to enter Ecuador. Does anyone know if it's possible to get this visa by showing a cheap ongoing ticket to a different South American country?

Any help and guidance would be much appreciated!
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naturegirl321



Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home

PostPosted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 5:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Paid work with NGOs will be low. Normal pay is about 700 dollars a month. It's nothing like Korea.

If you want to work for an NGO and know no Spanish, then you will probably be teaching English.

volunteerlatinamerica.net has a fantastic list of NGOs all over Latin America. And they're either low cost or free.

Return tickets and on going tickets would both probably work.

How long are you planning on staying?
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Gary-Korea



Joined: 25 Apr 2011
Posts: 8

PostPosted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 6:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the information naturegirl. I will check out the website.

My girlfriend has a good level of Spanish so she might have a shot at doing something other than teaching English.

Do you know what a decent paid salary for teaching English in Quito is?

I was thinking the same about the ongoing tickets but I am hoping to hear from someone who has been in a similar situation. A return ticket could prove to be a lot more expensive, especially if we never use it!

If everything works out and we like our setup then we could stick around for a while. Hopefully, we can use Ecuador as a base to explore the rest of South America.
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naturegirl321



Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home

PostPosted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 6:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I PMed you with more info and contacts.

DECENT? That depends. For most of Latin America, I'd say expect between 600 and 800 dollars a month. Whether you think that's decent or not depends on you Smile I didn't, hence the reason I'm in the Land of the Morning Calm

There are lots of Ecuador visa threads, try posting there for more info
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just_a_mirage



Joined: 11 Nov 2008
Posts: 169
Location: ecuador

PostPosted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 5:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Again, the biggest issue will be what kind of visa you have. If you are planning on six months or less, then the 12-IX will do. It will allow you to work legally, but it is very difficult to get a visa that will keep you here longer than that and that pay decently. Many people want to come here to Ecuador and find NGO jobs, but in reality, most do not. Many of these NGOS use volunteers from other countries in their volunteer programs so they dont have to pay them, and others us Ecuadorian volunteers. There just isnt a big job base in NGOs in Ecuador. Not impossible, but I dont know anyone who has been able to find a decent job in non profits here.
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naturegirl321



Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home

PostPosted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 3:14 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

just_a_mirage wrote:
you have. If you are planning on six months or less, then the 12-IX will do. It will allow you to work legally, but it is very difficult to get a visa that will keep you here longer than that and that pay decently.


Legally is always good! I agree though, working in NGOs isn't for peopel who are in it for the money. They usually have other reasons, so that might work for the OP.
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Gary-Korea



Joined: 25 Apr 2011
Posts: 8

PostPosted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 6:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes, my girlfriend and I thought as much about the NGO's. She would like to do something a bit more purposeful so we will see if it is possible when we are on the ground.

Like I said before, our plan is to arrive on a 12-IX visa. I would then like to complete a CELTA.

Just_a_mirage do you know what sort of monthly salary I could command with a BSc, two years previous English teaching experience and the CELTA qualification? Also, is it really that difficult to find an employer who would be willing to sponsor a work visa for me?
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just_a_mirage



Joined: 11 Nov 2008
Posts: 169
Location: ecuador

PostPosted: Fri Apr 29, 2011 4:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It is pretty difficult to find someone to sponsor you, but it can be done. I believe that CEDEI in Cuenca sponsors cultural exchange visas as does EIL in Quito. Many people want to live on the coast, but even universities there only pay $5 an hour.
With your qualifications, you could easily get university work, but usually that isnt full time...its just one class or a couple of classes. Its hard to say what your salary would be...some of it depends on what part of the country you would be in. My personal example is that I have a Bachelor of Science in Communications, I have 20 years experience as a journalist in network news in the states, including time teaching, supervising and evaluating students from the University of Michigan. I have a TEFL, Advanced TEFL and Celta. I have been teaching here in Ecuador at the high school, and university levels for seven years. I make $650 a month at the high school and average about $600-$700 at the university. I could probably make more, but to be honest, although the university job seems a bit more prestigious, and I have worked at several good ones, but I like the high school best. I work at a great one with a wonderful owner and great English coordinator. The good thing is that you get paid the same rate all year, even during the vacations in August and at Christmas. We get decimo tercera, which is an extra payday in December, so we get two full months pay. Our summer vacation is in February and March, and we don't work, but we get paid anyway. They also pay social security, so we are eligible for free medical care through IESS. So there is definately something to be said for high school work.
If your girlfriend wants to work in something with something that has meaning and she doesnt mind teaching, there are many fundacion schools that teach the poor who would love to have a native speaker work with them. But again, any pay would be extremely low.
It is very important to be legal when you are working. If you are not, you can be taken advantage of by your employer. If they are hiring you illegally, they are already breaking the law and probably dont have many scruples. If they should decide not to pay you, then you have absolutely no recourse because you were not legally able to be employed. There are some employers who take advantage of this to receive free labor from native speakers. Also, the government is cracking down on people working illegally. If you are discovered, you can face hefty fines and deportation.
I dont mean to be negative, but just want to make sure you arent taken advantage of and that you have a positive experience here. No one ever gets rich working as a teacher in Ecuador. I make a decent amount of money for Ecuador, but I am supporting a family, and I still have no real savings. Teaching here can be incredibly rewarding. Students are respectful, and truly care about their educations. There are also a lot of opportunities for professional development. Ecuador has many Ecuadorian English teachers who are fabulous, and my experience has been wonderful. I wouldnt trade it for the world. It hasnt been easy, but I am very glad I did it.
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naturegirl321



Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home

PostPosted: Sat Apr 30, 2011 11:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

PM Justin Trullinger. EIL Ecuador will also get you the cultural exchange visa.
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just_a_mirage



Joined: 11 Nov 2008
Posts: 169
Location: ecuador

PostPosted: Sat Apr 30, 2011 2:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I mentioned EIL earlier. I think you said you wanted to take the Celta. But another option is to take the SIT instead throgh EIL, then they can help you get. Job with a cultural exchange visa. I don't know what they pay, but usually its not a lot with the cultural exchange visa. You can also try CEN in Guayaquil. They also sometimes will do cultural exchange visas
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