With Enough Red Tape, You Can Make a Bow

Are you tired of listening to me whine about the idiosyncrasies of Ecuadorian bureaucracy? Sometimes, I am, too. I realise that it's completely unfair to complain about something as complicated as governmental process. We are privileged that they allow us to be here, make no mistake, no matter how nonsensical things seem to us. It's all about perception. 

Let's be honest, Canada isn't all that different, depending on what you want to achieve. Sure, the technology seems a bit more advanced, but aside from that, you'll experience a full range of different answers depending on the agent with whom you talk. We've experienced this a couple of times in Canada and I'm quite certain that they weren't isolated incidents.

Yup, Canadian red tape

So, what's new in Ecuador?

The process for becoming a resident has definitely changed. When we arrived, you could immediately apply for permanent residency, but now you have to wait two years. You start as a temporary resident for one year, renew for a second and then can apply for permanent residency after that. There are, of course, rules about how long you can be out of the country during your temporary status. Once a permanent resident, the new law states you can be out of country for 5 years. YAY! Oh, wait that may not apply to people who were approved under the old system. BOO! Or maybe it does. Boo-yay?

Another change is the requirement of medical coverage for residents, and visitors that are staying more than 90 days. The government is requiring all residents to provide proof of coverage within 90 days of the new legislation, which was passed in early August. This requires an appointment with our favourite ministry out in Azogues. But wait, people have been showing up to adhere to the new legislation and are being turned away, because there is no process for the verification. Most "fixer" and/or legal advice: just wait and see what happens.

This sentiment also applies to the transfer of our visas: wait and see. To be clear, our visas do not expire and yet they require us to (re)provide most of the documentation that we gave them for the application, minus the criminal record checks and birth certificates. This is under the "easier" legislation aimed at stream lining everything.

A local immigration lawyer held a meeting to explain all the changes and give people up to date information. Good on him/her, wouldn't you say? Having been here for a while, I could see the writing on the wall for this particular exercise and didn't attend. (We spoke with 3 different lawyers about our visa transfer and received 3 different answers.) Sadly, my premonition was proven right and chaos and confusion ensued at the meeting.

What's our strategy? Do what we want until someone tells us differently. Better to ask forgiveness than permission, right?