Visa Application Successful!

Happy day!!!

My Visa application was accepted without question. That means all my paperwork was in order. Now, I have to wait (I was told) for 1.5 - 2 months after or during which I will receive an email letting me know that I can go and pick up my Visa.

Now that my application has been submitted my 90-day Visa (that was basically a stamp in my passport) is no longer in effect. The receipt I obtained from applying for my Visa acts like an indefinite extension. So, even if it takes Immigrations 5 months to process my application I am still legally allowed to stay in the country.

My paperwork was accepted on my first try. From what I have heard this is not common. There was a couple at Immigrations, today, that told me this was there third attempt. But this time it was successful for them. This is not the first time I had of this.

A few complications that people run into are:

1. Not having their documents Apostilled (required if you are US resident) or Authenticated (required if you are a Canadian).
2. Not having an Apostilled copy of your Social Security card (US citizen) or an Authenticated copy of your SIN card (Canadian citizen) . Required when applying for a Retirement Visa (9-I). You don't need this if you are applying for an Investment Visa (9-II).  UPDATE:  I was never asked to show this card. My passport was enough.
3. Having documents where your name is spelled differently on some documents. Your name must be exactly the same on all documents (no exceptions).

One of the documents I had to get once I had arrived in Ecuador was a Certificado de Movemiento. This documents is issued by a specific office here in Cuenca and is required for any Visa application. It basically states your movements based on your passport records.

The document was very easy to get and costs $5.00 US. However, when I got mine (the first time) they had my name as Michael Bluett on the document. Having previous knowledge about the names having to be the same on all documents, I questioned this and was told "No, it's OK. It will be accepted." Since my Spanish was not very good I was not in a position to argue the point. So, I took the document and left.

A few days later I returned to the office and told them Immigrations would not accept it. This was not true as I had not been to Immigrations yet, however, I was pretty sure Immigrations would not accept it. 

I had to fill out a form which basically stated my request for a change and the reason for the change. The attendant said I could write the explanation in English. Then I was told to come back in two days.

Two days later I returned to the office and they re-issued the Certifcado, this time with my full name: Michael George Bluett (which matched all my other documents). They charged me another $5.00. Since it was their mistake to begin with, I think they should have given me the replacement for free. Again, my poor Spanish was not up to making a case out of the situation. So, instead of costing me $5.00 (US) it cost me $10.00 (US).

I am adding this information so that it might be helpful to someone else who might experience the same problem.

Along with your application it is necessary to supply a letter stating that you wish to stay in Ecuador and that is why you are applying for a Visa. Basically it's an introductory letter. An example of the letter I used is here. This was written by Nieve (my Chonida (Ecuadorian) girlfriend) and was based on a document that Malcolm (the proprietor of Casa de Cuenca) has used. Nieve did not like the letter Malcolm was using.

An Elevation Anomaly & Cuy

I have been doing a lot of walking since I have been here. And one thing I have noticed is that my feet, my ankles and my calves hurt when I have been out walking.

Since I had not been getting much exercise before I left home I thought this was related. But now I am not sure. It was still noticeable after three weeks. I think what the problem is due to is elevation.

When you arrive at an elevation of 8400 feet above sea level it takes a while for your system to adapt. It has to do with your body producing more red blood cells so that enough oxygen reaches all parts of your body. This apparently takes roughly three weeks according to my vet in Canada. Possibly longer in humans (as my vet was talking about my cat Tiger).

Today marks the 32nd day that I have been in Ecuador and I think this elevation anomaly is now residing. The affects of elevation show up in some peculiar but understandable ways.

Onto my second topic for the day.

Last evening Neive took me to a restaurant on Calle Larga (Large Street in English) called the Cuy. The Cuy serves only Cuy as a meat. Cuy is regarded as a delicacy of Cuenca and maybe that is why it was so expensive:  $36.00 for the two of us (although we did have soup, soft drinks and various other side dishes).

Cuy, for those that do not know what it is, is guinea pig. And it's name comes from the sound it makes.

It is roasted on a spit and this causes the outer skin to become crusty. The crusty skin seems to be a preference to Cuencanos (as they also like it in conjunction with a roasted pig).

Cuy is quite fatty, does not have much meat on the bones and has a taste unlike anything I have had before. I cannot think of anything that it tastes close to.

Nieve picked up one of the paws and proceeded to eat it. Apparently the bones are consumed as well.

My stomach was a little upset that evening and that may have contributed to me not liking the taste that much. Nieve seemed a little put out by the fact that I did not care for one of their national dishes. I think she will get over it.

Comments on the Current Weather

The weather today is overcast. As a result it is a little cooler than I would like. But still not that bad.

The temperature is 18 degrees C with 67% humidity (according to my cellphone).

Outside (my cellphone) says it is 20 degrees C and 65% humidity.

Accuweather.com says it is 17 degrees C (63 F) but, feels like 15 degrees C (59 F).

I think Accuweather is a bit more accurate than my cellphone. The "feels-like" temperature feels more like what it really is.

I am sitting inside and I can feel the coolness on my hands. Previous to arriving in Ecuador I had read a Blog of an expat living here in which was stated the same thing.

I am wearing a fleece which makes it comfortable.

In May, I didn't wear my fleece at all (just a short sleeve shirt - even after the sun went down).

There is no central heating in this country. The only thing available is a space heater or a gas fireplace (if you happen to have one available).

According to local information, June, July and August are the coolest months. It also rains less during this period (not that it rains that much anytime throughout the year - not as much as it does back home in Vancouver in the spring, fall and winter).

So, if I decide to stay in Cuenca, I guess this coolness is something I will have to learn to deal with.

There are locations, in Ecuador, that have a lower elevation and that are apparently a bit warmer. One example of this is Loja (which is south of Cuenca). 

Loja is a much smaller city than Cuenca and requires that your spanish be pretty good. I may consider this location in future, but for now I will continue on, at least for one full year, before making any changes.