Cedulas

Today, my husband, Randy (64), our son, Kobe (12), and I (50) received our Cedulas here in Cuenca, Azuay, Ecuador where we live.  We celebrated by having brunch at Cafe Austria in Cuenca.

We received our Visas December 2014.  Our Visas have the date, December 4, 2014.

The Visas we have are Pensioners Visas thanks to Gringo Visas in Cuenca and Randy qualifying as a Pensioner because he is retired from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) as an Electric Station Operator In Charge (McCullough Switching Station in Boulder City, Nevada) since June 1, 2013.

We can apply for Ecuadorian Citizenship on January 29, 2018 because our Cedulas have the date:  January 29, 2015.  I would love to apply for Ecuadorian Citizenship three years from now.  Randy is undecided.  Luckily, we have three years to decide.  Three years from the date on our Cedulas is when we can apply for Ecuadorian citizenship...if we choose to do so.

If we do apply for Ecuadorian citizenship, we will renounce our US citizenship.  Why?  We don't want to have to deal with two governments.  Yes, we will still have to pay US taxes as long as we receive income from the US even if we decide we no longer want to be citizens of the US.  Renouncing our US citizenship will still be worth it to us.  Kobe will still be a US citizen no matter what because he's under eighteen year of age.

We could be dual citizens of the US and Ecuador but dual citizenship is not for us.  It's either be a citizen of the US and a Permanent Resident of Ecuador or be a citizen of only Ecuador.

I am leaning towards Ecuadorian citizenship.  Randy is undecided.

If we become citizens of Ecuador, it will definitely be proof the we really appreciate living in Ecuador.

This is where we received our Cedulas which lasts ten years (Cuenca office):  Cedula Office.

As citizens of Ecuador will we definitely have Ecuadorian passports.   We will be required to vote as long as we are under seventy years of age.  Even though we have no plans to do so, run for office (or so I think).

Ecuadorian citizens can travel to seventy-four countries without a Visa.  The US, 172 countries without a Visa.  We understand that we would have to apply for a Visa to travel to many countries in the world, including the US.  One of the risks we may be willing to take.

How many countries people can travel to with their passport:  http://awesome.good.is/infographics/how-powerful-is-your-passport/516.

One thing is for sure.  We are enjoying life in Ecuador as Permanent Residents.  If we become citizens of Ecuador, we will also enjoy life as Ecuadorian citizens.








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