Roseros’ trip to the US delayed for a year at least
While we’re so excited to have Quito’s Project Directors, the Chicaizas, come to the US, we’re very disappointed that the Roseros will not be coming. The reason is very simple yet frustrating. The US would not give them Visas. Since the Chicaizas in Quito had no problem getting their Visas, we weren’t too worried about the Roseros getting theirs. It seems we should have been more worried and been a lot smarter about how we applied for their Visas.
 
When we found out that they were denied, Rex called Matt, someone we know that works in the US Embassy in Quito. He’s a friend of Angel Chicaiza, our director in Quito. Matt used to work in the Visa Section in the Embassy and in fact worked there when the Chicaizas applied for their Visas. Matt said that first off it is much harder to get a Visa if you live in Cuenca. Half of the illegal Ecuadorians in the US come from Cuenca, and so the US makes it harder for people from Cuenca to get Visas.
 
After talking to Matt it appears we could have been smarter about how we applied for the Roseros’ Visas. He said that even though they could apply again as soon as they wanted, if they apply too soon after being rejected it increases their chances of being rejected again. He recommended that we not try again for at least a year.
 
So we will try again next year.