General Information
Most immigrant visa applications begin when a family member who is a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident submit a petition on behalf of the intending immigrant at the U. S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) in the United States or at an Embassy/Consulate abroad.
If the petitioner resides in the U.S., the petition may be filed at the nearest USCIS office in the U.S. For more information on where to file a petition in the U.S., click here.
If the petitioner has resided in Ecuador for a minimum of six months (continuously), he or she may file a petition for an immediate relative at the U.S. Consulate General in Guayaquil or at the U.S. Embassy in Quito depending on the area where he or she resides. Petitioners residing in the provinces of Galapagos, Manabi, Guayas, Santa Elena, Los Rios, El Oro, Cañar, Azuay, Loja, Zamora Chinchipe, must file a petition at the U.S. Consulate General in Guayaquil. If the petitioner lives in any other province or region of Ecuador, he or she must file a petition at the U.S. Embassy in Quito. For more information on how to file a petition in Ecuador, click here.
It is also possible for a U.S. employer to file a petition for a foreign national that the employer wishes to hire. For more information, click here.