The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently revealed its plans to establish a new international office in Quito, Ecuador. This office, which will be the first of its kind in South America, will mark the sixth USCIS international office in Latin America. The other five offices are located in Guatemala City, Mexico City, Havana, San Salvador, and Tegucigalpa. Scheduled to open on September 10, the Quito International Office will facilitate immigration processes and services in the region.
The office is dedicated to increasing the processing capacity for Ecuadorian refugees, as part of USCIS’s commitments under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). It will also play a vital role in helping to reunite individuals with their family members who are already living in the United States.
Ecuador has emerged as a major destination for immigrants heading to the United States from the region. In 2023, a staggering 57,250 Ecuadorians successfully crossed the treacherous Darien Gap, marking a significant 95% increase from the previous year.
USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou highlighted the significance of the Quito office opening, emphasizing that it strengthens USCIS’s global outreach and knowledge in a strategically important location.
“It is part of our commitment to the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to facilitate safe and orderly legal pathways and fulfill our humanitarian mission. USCIS is dedicated to equity, integrity, and respect for all those we serve, and our presence in Ecuador is part of an effort to expand USCIS’s presence outside the United States to support that mission more effectively.”
The Quito International Office will be situated at the U.S. Embassy in Ecuador and will offer immigration expertise to local and regional partners in support of the Safe Mobility Offices in Ecuador. The main objective of the Safe Mobility initiative is to streamline the process of refugee applications under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. Additionally, it will provide valuable information and referrals for alternative legal migration options to both the United States and other countries.
USCIS staff in Quito will prioritize family reunification efforts and resume other critical tasks at the embassy, alongside their work on refugee processing in Ecuador and the broader region.
Appointments will be required for services at the Quito office. USCIS will provide information about the office, its services, and how to schedule appointments on its International Immigration Offices webpage.
