U.S. Embassy Comes to Cuenca: June 3–4 Open Talk & Consular Services

The U.S. Consulate General in Guayaquil is making its way to Cuenca — and this time, it's bringing both an informational session and hands-on consular services. If you're a U.S. citizen living in the Azuay province, this is your chance to handle official business without the 3-hour drive to Guayaquil or the flight to Quito.

Mark the dates. Then read this guide carefully, because showing up unprepared is the fastest way to waste a trip.

The Consulate is running two separate events at the Abraham Lincoln Cultural Center (Calle Borrero 5-18 y Honorato Vásquez, Cuenca):

An informational session where Consulate representatives walk you through what the Embassy can (and can't) do for you abroad.

Topics covered:

• Passports and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBA)

• Fraud prevention — what scams are targeting U.S. citizens in Ecuador right now

• Emergency preparedness — volcanic activity, earthquakes, flooding, and civil unrest

• Information and resources for U.S. citizens living in Ecuador

• When: Wednesday, June 3, 2026 — 16h30 to 17h30

• Where: Abraham Lincoln Cultural Center

• Cost: Free

• Appointment needed: No — this is an open session

This is the "sit and learn" event. Bring questions. Take notes. It's worth attending even if you don't need consular services, because the fraud prevention and emergency preparedness segments alone can save you real money and real trouble.

This is the "get things done" event. Consular officers will be on-site to provide:

• Passport services — New passports, renewals, and replacements

• Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA) — For children born in Ecuador to U.S. citizen parent(s)

• Notarial services — Document notarization for legal, real estate, and immigration matters

• When: Wednesday, June 3, 8:00 AM – 4:15 PM | Thursday, June 4, 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM

• Where: Abraham Lincoln Cultural Center

• Cost: Varies by service (details below)

• Appointment needed: Yes — mandatory. No walk-ins.

If you haven't been there yet, the Abraham Lincoln Center (Centro Cultural Abraham Lincoln) is one of Cuenca's American Spaces — cultural and educational venues supported by the U.S. Embassy throughout Ecuador. Located at Calle Borrero 5-18 y Honorato Vásquez in Cuenca's historic center, it regularly hosts educational advising sessions, English language workshops, tech classes, film screenings, and lectures.

It's also the go-to venue whenever the Embassy does outreach visits to Cuenca — the January 2026 consular services visit was held here too. Know the location. Show up early. Parking in el centro is always a challenge.

Passports

This is the big one — the reason most people show up. Here's what you need to understand before you book:

DS-82 (Renewal by mail-eligible adults):

• For adults who already have a U.S. passport that is expiring or expired within the last 5 years

• Fee: $130 for a passport book

• You must pay in advance via Pay.gov before your appointment

• Bring your current/expired passport, completed DS-82 form, one passport photo, and your Pay.gov confirmation

DS-11 (First-time applicants, children, and those not eligible for DS-82):

• For first-time passport applicants, children under 16, anyone whose previous passport was lost/stolen, or anyone who doesn't qualify for DS-82

• Fee: $130 for adults, $100 for children under 16

• You must pay in advance via Pay.gov before your appointment

• Both parents must appear for children under 16, or one parent appears with a notarized DS-3053 consent form from the absent parent

What to bring:

• Completed application form (DS-82 or DS-11) — fill it out before you arrive. Do not show up with a blank form.

• Original + photocopy of citizenship evidence (previous passport, birth certificate, etc.)

• One photocopy per document is sufficient

• For children under 16: age progression photos from birth to present, plus parents' IDs

• Passport photo on a white background

Processing time: 4–6 weeks for a regular passport. You will be without your passport during this time. If you need an emergency limited-validity passport while you wait, that can be arranged separately.

Get forms and step-by-step instructions: ec.usembassy.gov/passports

Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA)

If your child was born in Ecuador and you're a U.S. citizen, your child may have acquired U.S. citizenship at birth. The CRBA is the official document that proves it — it's functionally equivalent to a U.S. birth certificate and does not expire.

Who qualifies: A child born abroad to at least one U.S. citizen parent who meets the physical presence requirement — 5 years of physical presence in the U.S. before the child's birth, with at least 2 of those years after age 14.

What to bring:

• Completed DS-2029 application

• Child's local birth certificate (original + copy)

• Parents' marriage certificate (if applicable)

• Evidence of U.S. citizen parent's physical presence in the U.S. (school transcripts, tax returns, employment records, old passports with entry stamps)

• Passport photos of the child

• Both parents should appear in person

For applicants over 18: CRBA is only for children under 18. Adults who believe they acquired citizenship at birth should apply for a U.S. passport directly using DS-11.

Notarial Services

Need a document notarized for a U.S. legal matter, real estate transaction, or immigration filing? This is your window — the next one might not come for months.

Fee: $50 per consular signature — and some documents require more than one signature, so ask beforehand.

Payment method at the Cuenca outreach: Cashier's check only (cheque de gerencia / cheque de emergencia) from any Ecuadorian bank. The check must be made payable to "U.S. Disbursing Officer." If your bank needs the Embassy's RUC, it is: 1791845986001.

No cash. No credit cards. No personal checks. Only the cashier's check. Get this sorted before June 3 — banks in Ecuador don't print cashier's checks instantly.

Free notarials: DS-3053 consent forms and Social Security Administration certification documents are notarized free of charge.

What they CANNOT notarize:

• Apostilles (these go through a different process — see the Embassy website)

• Driver's licenses

• School degrees or diplomas

• Income letters

• Medallion signature guarantees

Appointments are mandatory for all consular services. No walk-ins will be accepted. Slots fill up fast for Cuenca visits — there's a limited window (roughly 1.5 days) and a lot of people who need services.

Book your appointment here:

outlook.office365.com/book/ACSServicesCuencaJune342026@state.gov

Book the appointment first, then prepare your documents. Don't do it the other way around — you might lose your slot while you're hunting for a bank that prints cheques de gerencia on the same day.

Here's what no one tells you: Ecuador does not have a Federal Benefits Unit (FBU). If you have questions about Social Security, you need to contact the Regional Federal Benefits Office (RFBO) in Costa Rica — not the Embassy in Quito or the Consulate in Guayaquil.

The Embassy's ACS section provides "limited assistance with Federal Benefits," which means they can help with:

• Applying for a Social Security Number (for people 12 or older)

• Trying to reach Veteran Affairs or the Office of Personnel Management

• Delivering federal correspondence (like tax refund checks)

But for substantive Social Security questions — benefit verification, payment issues, direct deposit changes, Medicare inquiries — you go through the FBU Costa Rica. You can email them at FBU.CostaRica@ssa.gov.

Veterans Affairs: If you're a veteran in Ecuador looking for healthcare coverage, check the Foreign Medical Program (FMP) before taking any action. The FMP covers treatment for service-connected conditions when you're living abroad.

Federal retirees (OPM): If you or a family member works or worked for a U.S. federal agency, the Office of Personnel Management handles all benefit inquiries. Learn more here.

1. Enroll in STEP — Right Now

The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is free, takes 5 minutes, and is the single most important thing you can do as a U.S. citizen in Ecuador. When there's an earthquake, volcanic eruption, civil unrest, or security incident, the Embassy uses STEP to send you real-time alerts and safety information.

Ecuador sits on active fault lines. Cotopaxi and Tungurahua are not dormant. Flooding is seasonal. Political protests (paros) can shut down the country on 24 hours' notice. STEP is how the Embassy finds you when something goes wrong.

Enroll here: step.state.gov

The Embassy features STEP prominently on every page of their website for a reason. Do it today.

2. Register to Vote from Abroad

You can vote in U.S. elections from Ecuador. The process goes through FVAP.gov (Federal Voting Assistance Program), not the Embassy directly.

How it works:

1. - Fill out the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) — this registers you to vote and requests an absentee ballot

2. - Submit it to your state's local election office

3. - Your state sends your ballot by email, fax, or mail

4. - Return your voted ballot by your state's deadline

Ballot drop-off: You can drop off your completed ballot at the Embassy in Quito or the Consulate in Guayaquil for delivery via diplomatic pouch. Allow 2–4 weeks for transit. You cannot physically vote at the Embassy — it's a drop-off point only.

The backup plan: If you don't receive your ballot 30 days before the election, fill out a Federal Write-in Absentee Ballot (FWAB) as a backup. Details at fvap.gov.

Midterm elections matter. Local elections matter. School board elections in your old district matter. Vote.

Book your appointment NOW. Cuenca visits happen maybe twice a year. Slots vanish fast.

• Pay on Pay.gov BEFORE your appointment. No payment, no service. This is non-negotiable.

• For notarials, get your cheque de gerencia early. Ecuadorian banks have their own timelines. Don't assume you can walk in and walk out with one the same morning. If your bank requires the Embassy's RUC, it's 1791845986001.

• Bring originals AND photocopies. One copy per document. The Consulate will keep the copies; you keep the originals.

• Fill out forms before you arrive. Blank forms + a crowded waiting room = a bad morning. All forms are at ec.usembassy.gov/passports.

• For children under 16: Both parents need to appear, or one parent appears with a notarized DS-3053 from the absent parent. Don't learn this at the door.

• You'll be without your passport for 4–6 weeks. If you have travel plans, plan around this. Emergency limited-validity passports are available but require a separate process.

• Attend the Open Talk even if you don't need services. The fraud prevention segment alone is worth the hour — scammers targeting U.S. citizens in Ecuador evolve their tactics constantly.

• Arrive early. The Abraham Lincoln Center is in el centro. Parking is tight. Security screening takes time. Late arrivals may lose their appointment.

Book appointments: outlook.office365.com/book/ACSServicesCuencaJune342026@state.gov

Forms and instructions: ec.usembassy.gov/passports

STEP enrollment: step.state.gov

Federal Benefits (SSA): FBU Costa Rica | FBU.CostaRica@ssa.gov

Voting from abroad: fvap.gov