Visas to the United States: 1,000 are delivered daily in Ecuador and appointments are scheduled for more than a year later there are options to advance dates

From March 2020 to the present, the consular team of the United States diplomatic mission in Quito and Guayaquil has processed more than 200,000 visas for Ecuadorians . “This number is higher than the number of visas processed by almost all other US embassies and consulates around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic,” the diplomatic corps told EL UNIVERSO.

The current demand to obtain this document in the country is “extremely high” so the waiting time for a routine tourist visa interview (B1/B2) is more than a year.

Since routine visa processing resumed at the Embassy in Quito and the Consulate General in Guayaquil , more than 1,000 visas per day are being awarded in Ecuador .

However, the demand to obtain this document is “extremely high” so the waiting time for a routine tourist visa interview (B1/B2) is more than a year. “ It is likely that these times will continue to increase with the increase in demand ”, indicated the consular mission in Guayaquil.

Visa renewal appointments became mandatory. Before the pandemic, this procedure was done electronically and the passports were sent via courier to the consular offices of the United States for stamping and were returned by this same route. Currently both the US Embassy and Consulate General in the country are “evaluating” the most “effective” way to reinstate the interview waiver visa processing.

“We will provide more information on that option as it becomes available,” the diplomatic unit said.

Although appointment times can take more than a year, there are those who have managed to advance them. This newspaper knows of people whose appointments were initially scheduled for July 2023, but later, by going to the official website for visa assistance for non-immigrant citizens of the United States, they were able to reschedule it for the end of this month .

Others whose appointments were for November 2023 have managed to reschedule them for June or September of that same year. All of them agree that they check the website constantly to see if a date closer to the one assigned to them is released.

Although being able to reschedule an appointment will also depend on the demand in each diplomatic unit. For example, there are people who changed the place of the interview from Guayaquil to Quito because a closer date was released in the capital .

It is emphasized that scheduling an appointment does not mean that the visa has been approved. There are several reasons why you could be denied a visa to the United States; Even if you already have it, it could be revoked. The decision on whether or not to grant the visa rests with the consular officer who interviews the applicant at the embassy or consulate.

The consular officer will question the applicant about travel plans, but also reviews the personal, financial, and employment information provided on the DS-160 form. After comparing them, he will decide whether to grant or reject the request.

In the case of people who need to travel for an urgent humanitarian reason, be it for medical treatment, funerals or others, you must apply for the visa for the first time or renewal and after obtaining the appointment on the date assigned, you will write a email to NIVGuayaquil@state.gov (for the local diplomatic agency) explaining the reasons for the trip and attaching the documents that prove the urgency of the trip so that it can be considered an advance of the appointment. (I)