Here it is almost November 2020, where has this year gone to?

Good morning everyone, I wanted to try to catch up on the ever evolving Visa processes here in Cuenca/ Azogues Ecuador. So during the Pandemic since April we have been submitting visa applications online which has worked perfectly and we have gotten over 20 visas during that time…So now of course it is time for a change. The computer system at the Ministerio was not able to keep up with all the Visa application emails so the emails just started being deleted by their system. When they finally realized it they were several hundred applications in the hole. So a new process is in place since Tuesday 20 October. Applicants must submit their visa application in person in Azogues. The Ministerio has appeared to have increased the number from 1 person taking applications to 4 so that really helps speed up the process when at the Ministerio. Documents are reviewed, payments are made and if all went well the electronic visa is issued within a few days. So that is the good news from this change. The bad news is all appointments thru 21 December have already been filled. Then with the Navidad holidays most likely the rest of the year will be very hard to get any open time. We have been assured that if you are here in Ecuador and awaiting your time to submit your application you are legal so that is a relief for our clients but the wait to actually apply is long.

For now that appears to be the visa issue, however the cedula process is having its own problems. We are still able to obtain the Order for the Cedula online and we with the powers of attorney can go out and receive that order. The challenge is trying to get an appointment to bring the client for the cedula appointment in Cuenca. One of our steadfast Angels has been standing in line outside for 2 hours to get inside the Registro and then another 2 hours inside to finally get to the office to make the actual appointment. After that is completed we show up with our clients for their appointments and we could be there up to 5 hours. The main problem was during the first 5 months of the Pandemic the Registro was not issuing cedulas so we are dealing with new cedulas, lost cedulas, renewing cedulas plus people trying to get passports (Ecuadorians) so it is insane . we are hoping this will ease up soon and the New Year will be a bit easier to navigate.

Also, since everyone wants to know YES, yes, and yes Expats are arriving daily to start their new lives here in Ecuador. We are so happy to finally meet so many we have been emailing with for months and look forward to the rest arriving before the end of 2020. Then we have the 2021 clients who are also eager to make that move and finally arrive here in our Beautiful Ecuador. We are here waiting for all of you..

We at Visa Angels Ecuador wish everyone a wonderful holiday season, if you are with family that is wonderful. For most of us we are far away from families so must wait for our uninvited guest Covid 19 to allow us the freedom to travel again.

As always for your Visa questions and needs contact us to help you make that huge transition from barely getting by in life to really enjoying a wonderful life here in Ecuador. Let us all hope 2021 is a much more active and joyful year.