Embassy of the United States

Non Immigrant Visas

What is a Visa?

A visa is a document that allows the bearer to travel to the United States and apply for admission with Customs & Border Protection (CBP).  Non-U.S. citizens who wish to travel to the United States must have a valid visa unless they are citizens of a country on the Visa Waiver Program (VWP).  To see which countries are part of the Visa Waiver Program click here. 
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                                             IMPORTANT!!!

1) NEW REGULATION FOR ECUADORIAN PASSPORTS VALIDITY WHEN ENTERING THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Ecuadorian citizens traveling to the United States are advised that their passport must be valid for six months beyond the date that they will EXIT the United States.

Ecuadorian citizens whose U.S. visa is in a passport that has expired or will expire within six months of the end of their U.S. visit but who have a new passport do not need to apply for a new visa. Travelers should present both the new passport and the old passport with the valid visa to the United States Customs and Border Patrol officer upon arrival in the U.S.   

2) Requirement for Travelers Under Visa Waiver Program

All international travelers traveling to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program will need to complete the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). ESTA applications may be completed FREE online at the official DHS website.  Please review the important DHS Advisory Warning about unauthorized third-party ESTA application related web sites. 

Please note that this requirement only applies to travelers under the Visa Waiver Program, which does not apply to Ecuadorians.  Travelers traveling on Ecuadorian passports are not eligible for the Visa Waiver Program and do not need to complete the electronic application. 

Having a valid visa does NOT guarantee entry into the United States. The Customs & Border Protection (CBP) has the authority to deny entry to the United States to any non-U.S. citizen.

There are new U.S. entry procedures required for foreign visitors. For more information about the US-VISIT program please visit the U.S. Department of Homeland Security website.
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There are two types of visas: Immigrant Visas and Non-Immigrant Visas.

Immigrant Visas:

An Immigrant visa allows the bearer to travel to the United States to become a legal permanent resident.  In order to receive this kind of visa you must qualify within an "Immigrant Category" and have a petition filed on your behalf.  To find if you qualify for an Immigrant Visa click here.

Non-Immigrant Visas:

A Non-Immigrant Visa allows the bearer to travel to the United States temporarily for business, tourism, studies, or  work.  In order to receive this kind of visa you must pay a visa fee, submit a visa application and come to the U.S. Consulate for an interview.  To find out more about how to get a Non-Immigrant Visa click here.

DHL PASSPORT DELIVERY
If the visa is approved, the passport will be ready between six or eight business days from the day of the interview.  DHL will send your passport to your home or office or an approved DHL express center near you.  A DHL representative serving visa recipients is located inside the MOVISTAR-INDUSUR office in the INDUAUTO building at the corner of Quito and 9 de Octubre Avenues, in Guayaquil (two blocks east of the Consulate).  The DHL representative in the INDUAUTO building will only accept cash payments.
DELIVERY FEES
HOME	DHL EXPRESS CENTER
One Passport: $8.00 Additional Passport: $2.00 each	One Passport: $6.00 Additional Passport: $2.00 each
For questions regarding delivery of the passports please contact DHL at 04-2598-600 in Guayaquil.