Expat Community > Ecuador

withoutego
Joined 2010
Posts: 2276

Time out of Ecuador allowed

10 years ago

It seems at times pointless to post "information" regarding the visa process....because the experience of different people on the same day is different....and then, the law changes. But having reduced the following to useless blather (thru this disclaimer), I will proceed.

I am back in the USA. I went thru immigration at the new Quito airport late Sunday evening (the 17th of May 14). I made it a point to ask the official at the little desk a question that's been on my mind of late.

How long can a resident on a retirement visa be out of the country in the first five years? This man said, "No more than six months per year" then I ask, testing his first response...."then I can be out five months a year every year?" he said, "yes". He didn't volunteer anything about the five year period, five times six is thirty months, much more than the 18 month limit I have heard of.

This is a new story. Different from what I understand of the law and different too from practice. Experience shows (I've had the visa three and a half years) that practice differs from the law. I believe this is what HE raises a flag for, that is, someone who is away more than they are resident. It may be that these guys are just creative in what they do vs slavishly adhering to the written law. I do think that must be the reality, just short of chaos.

But this may be academic anyhow, the snow bird idea is loosing its appeal. The flying experience is horrible, like twenty four hours in the dentist chair, no, its worse than that. Then when not flying, the airports expose you to the intense in your face mercantile culture we escaped by moving to Ecuador.

So, for what its worth, and its worth nothing, add this to your store of "facts" about the process.

sinego

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