Interesting.....

I promised to post any developments. So here goes -

1. Had an encouraging talk with an immigration attorney in Quito. The next step is to visit and I'm working on getting time off in June or July when it's slower. We picked Ecuador as Cuenca is quite safe and sexual orientation is a non-issue unlike in Colombia.

2. Mom may have to leave the US. She is on more than one med for anxiety/depression and needs these meds - which Kennedy aims to ban - in order to function. She has no choice other than to flee the US should these meds be banned - interesting timing, no? I'm grateful in the sense that my Mother deserves better than the United States, a country that has no problem cold bloodedly cutting off access to these meds. There is no excuse nor justification - only plans in place to flee.

3. I hope you'all - even the ones I've clashed with - can find a way permanently out of the United States.
'Taint going to be getting any better from here on out.

Rob

I look forward to your continuing reports of fleeing.

Are the meds your mom needs available outside the US?

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Originally Posted by Tradd

Are the meds your mom needs available outside the US?

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Yes, very easily. Problem is that that they are likely to be banned from entering the US, too. Fleeing is the only realistic option under this scenario. I always suspected such a day would come.....Rob

So what are the requirements for US citizens to move to Ecuador? How much money do you have to have in the bank? How soon are you able to work?

Rob I think you should choose this thread as your ongoing place to report activities in the art of moving to Ecuador. Don’t start a new thread, put everything here. I can change the title anytime you want me to do that.

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Originally Posted by iris lilies

Rob I think you should choose this thread as your ongoing place to report activities in the art of moving to Ecuador. Don’t start a new thread, put everything here. I can change the title anytime you want me to do that.

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Agreed.

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Originally Posted by Tradd

So what are the requirements for US citizens to move to Ecuador? How much money do you have to have in the bank? How soon are you able to work?

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We meet the financial requirement by selling off my interest in the Phoenix property. First you get a temporary visa, at which point Ecuador vets you. 21 months later Permanent Residency, three years later citizenship/passport. It seems such a saner immigration process than the broken US system. And Ecuador - unlike Uruguay, to be honest is not stingy in granting citizenship. Rob

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Originally Posted by iris lilies

Rob I think you should choose this thread as your ongoing place to report activities in the art of moving to Ecuador. Don’t start a new thread, put everything here. I can change the title anytime you want me to do that.

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Fair enough, IL. I will also use this thread for any updates regarding my Mom's medication situation. As I posted above regarding Ecuador - next step is to visit. Rob

From people I know who moved there … the health care was good. However, they did come back to the US after a few years. Did not keep in touch to find out why.

my quick Google search gives a figure of $46,000 to invest in Ecuador, and that could include just putting it in a bank. That seems like a modest requirement.

How do you plan to earn a living for the next few years? I mean, what do you have to do to get work papers?

Will you pull Social Security from the corrupt government of the United States of America when the time comes?

what about your mother, is she pulling Social Security as income? Will she continue to do that if you flee this country?

so many questions…

it seems good that you’re going to a Spanish-speaking country because I know your household speak Spanish. Though no doubt Ecuadorian Spanish is different, it’s still the same base language so you can pick it up.

Why would anyone not take social security. We had no choice but to contribute to it.

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Originally Posted by frugal-one

From people I know who moved there … the health care was good. However, they did come back to the US after a few years. Did not keep in touch to find out why.

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Yes, this was one of the factors in deciding upon Ecuador - health care. In the cities (to be fair, NOT the small towns) health care is both good AND scandalously inexpensive - scandalous in the sense of why can't the United States get this right if Ecuador can? Certainly, Ecuador is a developing country with its own set of issues, but immigration law and health care are NOT on the list of issues. Also - once you acquire permanent residency you are able to get on Ecuador's public plan (Ecuador's socialized medicine).

That all said, I'd love to know these folk's reasons for leaving Ecuador. I do know in Guayaquil it's gotten very dangerous. Quito is not as bad but is no poster child of urban safety, either. Cuenca and a number of smaller cities are much safer -comparable to US safety standards. Rob

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Originally Posted by iris lilies

my quick Google search gives a figure of $46,000 to invest in Ecuador, and that could include just putting it in a bank. That seems like a modest requirement.

How do you plan to earn a living for the next few years? I mean, what do you have to do to get work papers?

Will you pull Social Security from the corrupt government of the United States of America when the time comes?

what about your mother, is she pulling Social Security as income? Will she continue to do that if you flee this country?

so many questions…

it seems good that you’re going to a Spanish-speaking country because I know your household speak Spanish. Though no doubt Ecuadorian Spanish is different, it’s still the same base language so you can pick it up.

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With permanent residency, I can work in Ecuador if I wish. To start, before I have permanent residency, most likely I will work online doing editing - something I did the old school way in college before the Internet. With the internet it won't matter that I am not in the US, and I don't need to make anywhere near as much as life is much less expensive in Ecuador. Yes, if it still exists I will draw SS at 62 - if it still exists. Mom is already collecting SS and will continue to do so even if she is forced into living in Mexico or with us in Ecuador - you don't have to live in the US to collect NOR DO YOU EVEN HAVE TO BE A CITIZEN, SERIOUSLY! (What I mean by this is that if you voluntarily give up your US citizenship, you can still collect your SS - bet DOGE changes that, no?)

Thank You for your well wishes, IL. Rob

The unemployment rate in Ecuador is quite low, 3 to 4%, so you can get a job. It may not be editing though because that world has changed in the decade since you’ve been doing it. Tons of competition.


With such a low unemployment rate I’m sure you can get a job, and as an English speaker, you might even be in demand in certain service and tourist areas.

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Originally Posted by flowerseverywhere

Why would anyone not take social security. We had no choice but to contribute to it.

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Well, for one, my friend isn’t taking it so that’s one person I know who’s not. maybe she will change her mind, but she qualified three years ago for full retirement age and chose not to take it.

add: I don’t mean to say my friend is waiting for bigger retirement benefits to age 70. She just doesn’t like getting involved with “the systems.” But she did sell her company in December 2 024 so she might have more of a need for income than she’s had in recent years.

Iris, I think differently. You can take your SS and donate it to something you believe in. Schools, animal rescues, local spay and neuter organizations and so on. Even a club that brings people joy.

for some reason my insurance company gives me $50 a month to spend on healthy groceries. I do have a chronic condition but am in no way disabled. I use the $50 on groceries and give $50 to nature conservatory or Shriners children hospital.

if I don’t take the money I in no way believe it will be used wisely helping others by the government or insurance company.