Some information on Tourist and Investor visas from:
http://www.internationalliving.com/Countries/Ecuador/Visa
Staying on a Tourist Entry
When you enter Ecuador, you'll usually get a stamp that allows you to stay for 90 days. Lately, our immigration attorneys have been able to get this period routinely extended to 180 days for a nominal charge.
Why Get a Resident Visa?
While both non-resident and tourist visas can keep you in the country for a while, only the resident visa will allow importation of your goods duty free. Also, the tourist visas given upon entry have cumulative time limits per calendar year that cannot be reset by leaving and entering the country. Resident visas can be obtained while in Ecuador on a tourist visa, but the process can be much simpler at consulate back home if you're doing it yourself.
If you're using an attorney, the process is even easier, and they can deliver your visa to you here in Ecuador, or have it sent to you in your home country (via the consulate) before you depart.
9-II: Investor of Real Estate or Securities Visa
Proof of investment of at least $25,000 (plus $500 for each dependent) demonstrated by:
· Updated certificate of title clearance indicating that there are no liensaffecting the property
· Any kind of certificates or titles, including fiduciary documents grantedby the private sector, bonds, and certificates of deposits, stocks,and obligations
· The original and a copy of the relevant instrument, showing a term ofat least one year.
Note: This investment level is subject to change.
Absences From the Country
The resident visas outlined above will grant you permanent residency. That means you'll be allowed to come and go from Ecuador as you wish. However, you can't be absent from the country for more than 90 days per year during the first two years of your residency, nor more than 18 consecutive months after your second year of residency.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Sabbatical Goals
Ok, here goes:
Goal 1: Learn how to spell. I flubbed Sabbatical in the the blog set up (Sabbitical) and was able to correct it in the blog name, but not on the blog url, which was already taken. Other url ideas to be spellchecked: Andes Sabbatical, South America Sabbatical, Family South America Sabbatical, Atahualpa's Respite. (note: I successfully changed the url to http://southamericasabbatical.blogspot.com).
Goal 2: Slow down. A quote from Edward Abbey's Desert Solitaire haunts me: "Those were all good times, especially the first two seasons when the tourist business was poor and the time passed extremely slowly, as time should pass, with the days lingering and long, spacious and free as the summers of childhood." Time goes too fast now.
Goal 3: Spend more family time. Miguel is growing at an amazing rate. It would be great to spend more time together as a family to savour this time.
Goal 4: Learn something new. Bike repair and tour leading? Posada management? Spanish is a given and perhaps German. Brewing? Turning a blog into a book? Be careful that this goal doesn't overwhelm goals number 1 and 2.
Goal 5: Spend more time outside.
Goal 6: Don't abolish our nest egg. Let's figure a budget (perhaps separate spending and investment budgets) and see what opportunities are possible within these budgets.
Goal 7: Take a risk. I think a bold move like this will hope us summon courage for other future possible bold moves, such as grad school, career reassessment, moving our home, etc.
Goal 1: Learn how to spell. I flubbed Sabbatical in the the blog set up (Sabbitical) and was able to correct it in the blog name, but not on the blog url, which was already taken. Other url ideas to be spellchecked: Andes Sabbatical, South America Sabbatical, Family South America Sabbatical, Atahualpa's Respite. (note: I successfully changed the url to http://southamericasabbatical.blogspot.com).
Goal 2: Slow down. A quote from Edward Abbey's Desert Solitaire haunts me: "Those were all good times, especially the first two seasons when the tourist business was poor and the time passed extremely slowly, as time should pass, with the days lingering and long, spacious and free as the summers of childhood." Time goes too fast now.
Goal 3: Spend more family time. Miguel is growing at an amazing rate. It would be great to spend more time together as a family to savour this time.
Goal 4: Learn something new. Bike repair and tour leading? Posada management? Spanish is a given and perhaps German. Brewing? Turning a blog into a book? Be careful that this goal doesn't overwhelm goals number 1 and 2.
Goal 5: Spend more time outside.
Goal 6: Don't abolish our nest egg. Let's figure a budget (perhaps separate spending and investment budgets) and see what opportunities are possible within these budgets.
Goal 7: Take a risk. I think a bold move like this will hope us summon courage for other future possible bold moves, such as grad school, career reassessment, moving our home, etc.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Taking the Plunge?
"Let's just do it," said Gin as we were biking home with Miguel from his pre-schooler music class.
We had been talking about the possible Ecuadorian sabbatical while riding, but with her abruptness, I wasn't sure if she meant we should just go to South America or just remove the cover to Miguel's bike trailer so he could enjoy some sunshine on this surprisingly warm Chicago February afternoon.
She was referring to Ecuador.
Lately, Gin seems more willing to take the plunge of committing to a year away, while I 'm finding reasons to hold back. The apprehensions I've been dwelling on recently seem centered around my career path (or lack there of). How will the global recession and me returning to the workforce as a 45-year-old after the trip effect my prospects? I've never been strategic about career moves , so maybe I should do some more introspection and get some career counseling to see how this would all fit into taking a year off.
All of the sudden, I'm thinking about seven steps ahead and I've got lots of decisions to make instead of the one in front of me: Do you want to spend a year with your family in Ecuador? Without all the other background noise, I hear myself whoop, "Heck yes!"
Alright, since this is the first post to this blog, I'll try to use it to map out some focus for future posts, by drawing a list of important issues that need attention (a list that will undoubtedly generate more future lists).
Issues we need to resolve--all of which are more important than my career insecurities:
-- What are our goals for spending a year abroad
-- What's our budget (both investment and/or spending)
-- How would we deal with our building?
-- Miguel school and daycare issues
-- What projects should we prioritize (so far, some that have been mentioned: learning Spanish, helping J& M with hotel business, leading bike trips, investing in a place, launching a bar/ bakery, helping with Marshia's foundation)
-- Visa Issues (pay a visit to the Ecuadorian consulate)
At some, point we will either have to decide to take the plunge or not. While this whole process will be a good opportunity to become more self aware for dealing with issues like career planning, for now I think we have to focus on issues like those above.
We had been talking about the possible Ecuadorian sabbatical while riding, but with her abruptness, I wasn't sure if she meant we should just go to South America or just remove the cover to Miguel's bike trailer so he could enjoy some sunshine on this surprisingly warm Chicago February afternoon.
She was referring to Ecuador.
Lately, Gin seems more willing to take the plunge of committing to a year away, while I 'm finding reasons to hold back. The apprehensions I've been dwelling on recently seem centered around my career path (or lack there of). How will the global recession and me returning to the workforce as a 45-year-old after the trip effect my prospects? I've never been strategic about career moves , so maybe I should do some more introspection and get some career counseling to see how this would all fit into taking a year off.
All of the sudden, I'm thinking about seven steps ahead and I've got lots of decisions to make instead of the one in front of me: Do you want to spend a year with your family in Ecuador? Without all the other background noise, I hear myself whoop, "Heck yes!"
Alright, since this is the first post to this blog, I'll try to use it to map out some focus for future posts, by drawing a list of important issues that need attention (a list that will undoubtedly generate more future lists).
Issues we need to resolve--all of which are more important than my career insecurities:
-- What are our goals for spending a year abroad
-- What's our budget (both investment and/or spending)
-- How would we deal with our building?
-- Miguel school and daycare issues
-- What projects should we prioritize (so far, some that have been mentioned: learning Spanish, helping J& M with hotel business, leading bike trips, investing in a place, launching a bar/ bakery, helping with Marshia's foundation)
-- Visa Issues (pay a visit to the Ecuadorian consulate)
At some, point we will either have to decide to take the plunge or not. While this whole process will be a good opportunity to become more self aware for dealing with issues like career planning, for now I think we have to focus on issues like those above.
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