Hi all,
I'm currently in the UK as I was unable to do my volunteer visa over in Ecuador as it was really difficult and I've had my 90 days. Does anyone have any useful tips for me? Has anyone ever done a visa in London before? ANY advice would be great! I'm so worried I won't be able to sort it and will be stuck in England indefinitely...
Thank you!

Hi,

It all depends what kind of visa you're after. There are different types but the 12-IX visa (business via that also allows you to do volunteer work) is pretty easy to get. It is valid for 180 non-consecutive days in a calendar year.

You have to contact the Ecuador embassy in the UK for this and they will be able to help you out. It is also possible to get this visa when you are on a standard tourist visa of 90 days in Ecuador itself but does include a lot of bureaucracy over there (as I'm sure you know having been there already).

Cost for this visa are ¤200,- for the visa itself and I believe ¤10,- for processing (but I can be wrong in this).

Where have you been working in Ecuador? 

Good luck!

Marieke

From what my friends in Ecuador tell me, that is the admin at the school I worked at, your tourist visa can be renewed on Jnauary the first and you can have another 90 days.  You can change it in Ecuador or you can go to Peru and extend it somehow.  I think it's much easier to get visas from that end than it is from the Ecuadorian embassy in London.

Also, if you're prepared to get around a bit, you can spend some time in Peru where they should give you a six month visa, then you can continue your 90 days when you return to Ecuador.

I have many friends who have been around Ecuador/Columbia/Peru for well over a year, and the last of their worries is usually the visa! There's always an answer if you ask around.  Get ajob with a school with the slightest bit of suss and you'll sort something out.