Please follow the steps below before your immigrant visa interview at the U.S. Consulate General in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
You need to register your appointment online before attending your interview. Registering your appointment provides us with the information we need to return your passport to you after your interview. Registration is free. You must complete this requirement for all applicants applying for a visa. Failure to comply with this instruction prior to attending your interview will result in not being allowed to enter the consulate and will delay your process. Click the “Register” button below to register.
As soon as you receive your appointment date, you must schedule a medical exam in Ecuador. Click the “Medical Exam Instructions” button below for a list of designated doctors’ offices. Please schedule and attend a medical exam with one of these doctors before your interview.
It is important that you bring all required original documents to your interview. We’ve created a checklist that will tell you what to bring. Please print the checklist below and bring it to your interview along with the listed documents.
Read our interview guidelines to learn about any special actions that you need to take before your visa interview.
All immigrant visa applicants, regardless of age, require a medical examination prior to the issuance of a visa. Only a physician accredited by the U.S. Consulate can perform this exam. It is your responsibility to schedule a medical exam with one of the doctors listed below before your visa interview appointment at the U.S. Consulate. Medical examination results from other physicians will not be accepted.
QUITO
Dr. RODRIGO SOSA
Edificio Citimed
Avenida Mariana de Jesus OE 7-02 y
Nuño de Valerrama
Piso 8, Oficina 803
Telephone: 02-3801601 02-3801602
GUAYAQUIL
Dr. JORGE CHEHAB
Vélez 503 y Boyacá
2do Piso
Oficina 202
Telephone: 04-2532092 / 04-2513663 / 098-4944753 / 099-9874455
The doctor will need the following items to complete the medical exam forms:
Any medical examination fees, including x-ray and blood test fees, must be paid directly to the examining physician:
0-2 years old USD$ 80
2-14 years old USD$ 220
15-17 years old USD$ 420
18-24 years old USD$ 470
25-44 years old USD$ 435
45 years older and older: USD$ 420
Applicants must have their medical exam performed at least seven (7) days prior to their immigrant visa appointment. The medical examination will include a medical history review, physical examination, chest X-ray, and screening test for syphilis and gonorrhea (for applicants 18 years of age or older). The United States also requires tuberculosis (TB) testing for applicants from two to fourteen years of age. If the test is positive, applicants will be required to have a chest X-ray and in some cases need to go through a complementary treatment. Please be prepared to discuss your medical history, medications you are taking, and current treatments you are undergoing. More information on general medical requirements for U.S. immigrants is available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.
U.S. immigration law requires immigrant visa applicants to obtain certain vaccinations prior to the issuance of a visa. Current immigrant visa vaccination requirements are available on CDC.Gov. You can also read Frequently Asked Questions about our medical examination requirements on Travel.State.Gov.
When your examination is completed, the doctor will either provide you with exam results in a sealed envelope or send them directly to the U.S. Consulate. IF GIVEN AN ENVELOPE TO CARRY TO YOUR INTERVIEW, DO NOT OPEN THIS ENVELOPE. Instead, bring it to your visa interview. Any x-rays taken will be given to you. You DO NOT need to bring the x-rays to your visa interview unless you suffer from tuberculosis (TB). However, you must carry the x-rays with you when you travel to the United States for the first time. The medical report must be less than six months old when you enter the United States as an immigrant.
Please use the list below to determine the items that the applicant must bring to the immigrant visa interview. Any documents that are not in either English or Spanish must be accompanied by a certified English translation:
From your... |
If you... |
And resided there... |
---|---|---|
Country of nationality (if Ecuador) |
Are at least 18 years of age |
At least 6 months |
Country of nationality (if not Ecuador) |
Are at least 16 years of age |
At least 6 months |
Country of residency (if different from nationality) |
Were 16 years of age or older at that tiime |
At least 6 months |
Any previous country or countries of residence |
Were 16 years of age or older at that time |
At least 1 year |
Any country where arrested for any reason |
Applicable to all ages |
for any length of time |
Instructions for getting an Ecuadorian police certificate are online at www.ministeriodegobierno.gob.ec. Although the validity of the Ecuadorian police certificate is for ninety days, for U.S. immigrant visa process it is accepted for two years. Police certificates from the United States are not required.
Applicants who fall into any category below should bring these additional documents
For family-based visa applicants:
If you are married: Your marriage certificate. The acceptable documents are 1) “Inscripción de Matrimonio” issued by the National Civil Registry and 2) “Libro de Matrimonios” issued by the Corporación Registro Civil de Guayaquil. The “Inscripción de Matrimonio” shows “República del Ecuador” in the header and a barcode, electronic signature of Director of the Civil Registry and QR code in the footer. This document is not printed in security paper. The document must be legalized and stamped by the Civil Registry on the reverse side. The “Libro de Matrimonios” is printed in security paper, with water seals on the background and has a dry seal over the Delegate’s signature. Certification stamp and signature are placed on the left side of the document. The document does not need to be apostilled or notarized. The following document is not acceptable: “Certificado de Matrimonio”.
If you were previously married: Your divorce certificate or spouse’s death certificate. If the marriage took place in Ecuador, the acceptable documents are 1) “Inscripción de Matrimonio” issued by the National Civil Registry, with the appropriate divorce amendment and 2) “Libro de Matrimonios” issued by the Corporación Registro Civil de Guayaquil, with the appropriate divorce amendment. The “Inscripción de Matrimonio” shows “República del Ecuador” in the header and a barcode, electronic signature of Director of the Civil Registry and QR code in the footer. This document is not printed in security paper. The divorce amendment is registered on the left side or reverse of the document. The document must be legalized and stamped by the Civil Registry on the reverse side. The “Libro de Matrimonios” is printed in security paper, with water seals on the background and has a dry seal over the Delegate’s signature. The divorce amendment is registered on the left side or reverse of the document. Certification stamp and signature are placed on the left side of the document. The document does not need to be apostilled or notarized. The following document is not acceptable: “Acta de Divorcio”.
For employment-based visa applications: A letter from your U.S. employer dated less than one month ago.
If you have ever been convicted of a crime: Bring all documents related to previous encounters with law enforcement, regardless of the outcome of the case.
If you have served in any country’s military: Military records, English translation, and a photocopy.
If you are adopted: Adoption papers or custody documents, English translation, and a photocopy.
If you are the petitioner’s stepchild: The original marriage certificate of the petitioner and your biological parent along with divorce records for any previous marriages of either parent. Evidence of the relationship between the petitioner and biological parent (such as birth certificates of any children born of the marriage, photographs, utility bills or rent receipts, lease/mortgage and bank/credit accounts held jointly).
Rescheduling or cancelling your interview
If you are unable to attend your appointment, please go to ais.usvisa-info.com to select a new appointment date. There may be a significant wait before the next available appointment, so please attempt to attend the date already assigned. For some family-based and employment preference visa categories, a visa became available within the month you have been scheduled by NVC. DV applicants should be aware that visas are numerically limited and must be issued by September 30 of the program year. There is no guarantee that a visa will still be available on the date of your rescheduled interview. Please carefully consult the Visa Bulletin before you decide to reschedule your interview.
Please note: You need to register your original NVC/KCC appointment online before you can reschedule it (see Step 1). Rescheduling is only possible on a date after your assigned appointment.
Security screening procedures
All visitors to the U.S. Consulate General in Guayaquil must follow certain security procedures. Applicants may not enter the building with anything other than the documents needed for their visa application. Purses, backpacks, cell phones, electronic devices, cigarettes, food and beverages are prohibited. There is no storage at the consulate. Any visitor who declines to be screened by U.S. Consulate General security personnel will be unable to enter the consulate.
Accompanying persons
The following persons may accompany a visa applicant to their interview:
Petitioners are not required to attend the visa interview and will only be allowed to attend in the case of a minor who is noth otherwise accompanied by an adult.
Visa applicants under 14 years of age, who are not the principal beneficiary of an I-130 petition but a are listed as derivative applicants in F visa category cases, do not need to attend the interview.
Children not applying for an immigrant visa will not be allowed to access the consulate.
Attorneys are not permitted to accompany clients into the waiting room or to their interview.
Immigrant visa fees
Please note that if you are found ineligible to receive a visa, the application fee cannot be refunded. A complete list of fees can be found here.
Do not make travel plans outside of Ecuador
If your visa is approved, we will keep your passport at the embassy while we prepare your immigration packet and print a visa for your passport. We will return your passport in approximately 10 business days from your interview date at the courier location you previously selected at the time of appointment registration (see Step 1).
A Consular officer can make a decision on a visa application only after reviewing the formal application and interviewing the applicant. There is no guarantee that you will receive a visa. Do not sell your house, car or property, resign from your job or make non-refundable flight or other travel arrangements until you have received your immigrant visa.
If more information is needed
Sometimes a Consular officer is unable to make a decision on a visa application because he/she needs to review additional documents or the case requires further administrative processing. When additional documents are requested, the Consular officer will give you a refusal letter that asks you to submit additional documents. The letter will include instructions on how to send those documents to the Embassy.
Administrative processing takes additional time after the interview. Most administrative processing is resolved within 60 days. However, the timing varies based on the circumstances of each case. Before inquiring about the status of administrative processing, please wait at least 60 days after your interview.
What happens after visa approval
Passport, Visa, and Sealed Immigrant Packet – We will place your immigrant visa on a page in your passport. Please review your visa to make sure there are no spelling errors. We will also give you a sealed envelope containing documents that you must give to U.S. immigration authorities when you arrive in the United States for the first time. Do not open this envelope. You must carry it with you; do not put it in your checked luggage. If you receive X-rays during your medical examination, carry those with you and give them to the U.S. immigration authorities.
USCIS Immigrant Fee – All individuals who are issued immigrant visas overseas must pay an Immigrant Fee to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) prior to traveling to the United States. This fee is for processing your residency status and printing your Permanent Resident Card. The only people exempt from paying this fee are: children entering the United States under the Hague Process, returning residents, and people traveling on a K visa.
When You Should Travel – You must enter the United States before the expiration date on your visa, which is usually six months from the date of medical exam. Your visa cannot be extended and all fees are nonrefundable. The principal applicant must enter before or at the same time as other family members with visas. Unless they are eligible for benefits under the Child Status Protection Act, children who are issued a visa before turning 21 years of age must enter the United States before their 21st birthday to avoid losing their immigrant status.
Getting a Green Card – Your Form I-551 Permanent Resident Card, also known as a green card, will be automatically mailed to the address in the United States that you write in your visa application form. This is a very important document that proves you have permission to reside in the United States. If you plan to travel outside the U.S. before your green card arrives: Please consult USCIS’s and CBP’s websites for rules about what documents you need to re-enter the country.Once your card is issued, you should not stay outside of the United States for more than one year. If you do, you will lose your status as a Lawful Permanent Resident.
Children’s Issues – In the United States, children are required to have certain vaccinations before they can enroll in school. We recommend that you bring your child’s complete vaccination records with you to the United States. If your child is adopted, you have full custody as a result of a divorce, or you share custody with another parent, you should bring a copy of all applicable adoption or custodial papers from the authoritative court in your home country. You will need these papers (translated into English) for issues such as school enrollment, medical care, and eventual citizenship.
Information for New Immigrants – Please visit the USCIS web page for helpful information on moving to the United States. You can read their publication “Welcome to the United States: A Guide for New Immigrants” online.
If you are interviewing for a Diversity Visa (DV), all of the above instructions apply to you. Please schedule and attend a medical examination prior to your visa interview; enroll in the required courier service; and gather the required documents.
Below are additional instructions that apply only to DV applicants.
Bring to your interview
In addition to the documents listed on the Pre-Interview Checklist in this package, DV applicants should also bring the following items to your visa interview:
Review your DV Lottery entry
Prior to your visa interview, we recommend that you review the data on your initial E-DV entry. On your initial E-DV application, you must have correctly entered your marital status. If you are legally married you must have listed your spouse, even if you are currently separated from him/her (unless your spouse is a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident).
Additionally, you must have listed ALL of your living children who are unmarried and under 21 years old. This includes your natural children, your spouse’s children, or children you have formally adopted in accordance with the laws of your country.
Failure to have listed an existing spouse or children at the time of your entry in the Diversity Visa lottery will result in the denial of your visa and visas for your family. Any fees paid to the U.S. government in support of your visa application(s) are nonrefundable. If you failed to include a child who had already been born, or a spouse to whom you were married when you entered the lottery, you should not proceed with the visa application. You can review the eligibility requirements online.
Last Updated: 10/1/2024
Santa Ana St. and Jose Rodriguez
Bonin Avenue
Guayaquil, Guayas