How to file an Immigrant Visa Petition
The American Consulate General in Guayaquil will accept petitions for immediate relative immigrant classification from American citizens who have been residing 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.
All lawful permanent residents and American Citizens with a permanent address in the United States must file I-130 petitions at the U. S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) in the United States. For more information on where to file a petition in the U.S., click here.
A citizen of the United States can file the I-130 form to start an immigrant visa petition for a spouse, child (any age or civil state), parent, sibling, step-child (if the marriage took place before the step-child was 18 years old) and step-parent (if the marriage took place before the petitioner was 18 years old). The processing time varies depending on the category.
Forms:
The petitioner must fill out one I-130 form for each beneficiary and a G-325 form for each spouse.
Documents needed from the Petitioner:
U.S. citizen by birth: Current and expired passport, certificate of birth, CRBA.
U.S. citizen by Naturalization: U.S. passport showing Ecuadorian entry stamps demonstrating dual nationality (DN), naturalization certificate. If the U.S. citizen has not traveled recently, enclose a Certificate of Migratory Movement with the last entrance and the nationality used when entering Ecuador.
Proof of residence: The petitioner will have to present a valid residence visa for Ecuador (visa, job letter, tax returns).
Documents needed from the Beneficiary:
Identity documents: Birth certificate, a passport or an Ecuadorian national ID.
If you are filing for parents: The petitioner’s birth certificate showing the name of both parents.
If you are filing for step-parents: The marriage certificate of step-parent to biological parent, divorce or death decrees of the parents (if applicable).
If you are filing for spouses: The marriage certificate, any divorce or death decrees for prior marriages.
If you are filing for children: First you must contact the American Citizens Services Unit (ACS) at 232-3570 ext. 227 or 228, and confirm if the child derives U.S. citizenship. ACS will issue a letter that needs to be attached to the petition stating that the child cannot derivate a U.S. citizenship.
If you are filing for married children: Besides the documents mentioned in the previous paragraph, enclose the birth certificates of the spouse and children of your child, your child’s and his/her spouse’s divorce or death certificates for previous marriages.
If you are filing for siblings: The petitioner and beneficiary’s birth certificates and your parents’ marriage certificate if they were married.
Proof of relationship (for all cases): You must present suitable documentation to establish the bona-fides of your relationship, i.e. photos from you and your spouse taken before, during and after the marriage, correspondence exchanged between you and your spouse (letters, e-mails), baptismal certificates, school records, etc.
Pictures: You must bring one picture for the petitioner and for each of the beneficiaries. The pictures must have been recently taken, 5x5 cm. The photographs must show the applicant's entire face on a white background. Applicants should not wear glasses or hats for the photographs.
Fee: The fee for each petition is $355 (Three hundred and fifty five US dollars). This fee must be paid at the American Consulate on your appointment date. You may pay with cash or with credit card VISA, Mastercard, Discover, Diners International, or American Express. We do not accept $100 bills, nor exceedingly worn or ripped currency.
Appointment: Once you have all the required documents you may contact the Visa Information Service (VIS) at 1-800-010-145 in Ecuador, or 1-800-919-5290 in the United States, to schedule an appointment. For more information on the Visa Information Service, click here.
IMPORTANT:
The petitioner and the beneficiary/ies must be present on the appointment date.
Every copy of birth, marriage, death or divorce certificates must be a direct copy from the hand written records book of the Civil Registry. Typed or computerized forms are not accepted.
Every document not in English must be translated into the English language.