Consulate General of Ecuador — Local services in Newark

I needed to renew my cedula... My first appt. in January was rescheduled last minute after I had requested a day off of work to make the 2-hour trip to Newark from my apartment. Second appt. was in February. Took another day off of work. Only other people who had been waiting for hours at the consulate were able to give me guidance as far as the process since no one else was available for questions and nothing is clear once you're there. Website says you can pay with CC, but they asked for cash only. I asked why this isn't accurately reflected on the website. No answer They told me my cedula would be ready in 5 weeks for pick-up only. That would have required another day off of work, and another 4-hour roundtrip... Except this never even happened because I never got notice that my cedula was ready (and still haven't) before leaving the country in late April. No one answered the phone when I called to inquire. Where do I request to get my $20 back since I'm not going back to the States anytime soon??? And the days taken off of work, who answers for that? This is an embarrassment as far as...

Not too bad. Perhaps a note at the door saying have a sit and you will be called would be nice. I made an online appointment in May and received a confirmation for August. I arrived around 11:10 and my appointment was scheduled for 11:30. I waited in the lobby and was called into the actual waiting area fairly quickly. My ID renewal process didn't take too long. I was out in less than 45 minutes. It would be nice if they could mail your document home or to the nearest consulate where you live, in my case MD. But, now I have to travel three and a half hours again back to New Jersey to pick it up .....that's stupid no one in the US wants to steal my ID... If I can receive my US passport that has far more value than a dumb foreign ID why don't they ask for an extra fee from the individual to send it via USPS to your home?? As usual Ecuador is always far behind in...

I was seriously considering renouncing my Ecuadorian citizenship after dealing with this place. They don't pick up the phone and website is a joke. Very unprofessional staff in the back offices. The only positive was it wasn't packed the day of my appointment so I was done in about 45 minutes. You have to make an appointment to renew a cedula and then return 4-6 weeks later to pick it up. I asked if it was absolutely necessary for me to renew my cedula and passport since I became a U.S citizen 14 years ago and was told yes because I'm considered a dual citizen. Then he tells me it's good to have my papers in order IN CASE they ask during immigration in Ecuador. I proceeded with renewal because I didn't want to go through this in Guayaquil. Of course, I was NOT asked for my cedula or Ecuadorian passport when I arrived or...