Job Discussion Forums

dez · Joined: 02 Jul 2003 Posts: 52

I'm living in Korea now. I'm legally only allowed to work for the school that sponsored me for my visa. Is this the same in Vietnam or are you able to work for more than one employer if time allows?

Tiger Beer · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Posts: 778 Location: Hong Kong

Lee_Marrero · Joined: 07 Jul 2003 Posts: 66 Location: Saigon, Vietnam

Work visa unessential. 6 month business visa for Americans and Canadians renewable indefinitely for 150 USD

daily chai · Joined: 16 Nov 2003 Posts: 150 Location: Brussels

How does an American or Candadian citizen get a business visa to Vietnam? Through a travel agency inside VN or outside? Do you have to offer any documentation to get one? In Taiwan you have to have a letter of invitation from a company, any company (not neccessarily an English school). If you get the visa inside VN, do you have to make a visa run to validate it?

Thanks!

Nightwing · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 6

Yes yes, answer please.
I was on the embassy web site and the application asks for a vietnamese contact or something.
Can one obtain a tourist visa and then take care of the other type after a job is acquired, or is there a better way to do it?

freebeacher · Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 76

I emailed the Vietnam Embassy in Washington last week after reading through the Vietnam forum here and asked about the 6 month business visa. and asked the cost. I said I didn't have a sponsor but desired one. They emailed back and asked me how many entries I wanted, and for what purpose. I told them I was interested in meeting with Directors of language schools. I am waiting to hear back. I assume they are now trying to find a sponsor contact for me which might take a "while' or they assume I want to teach. They didn't ask that and I didn't say. Do you think they are actually working on it or won't act. Thanks.

tiggerpoo · Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Posts: 18 Location: Vietnam

Visa laws are always changing, so by the time you read this post the laws would have probably changed. I don�t believe at present you can simply ask a Vietnam Embassy for a business visa, but try as it has happened in the past. The most recent laws require you to enter on a tourist visa, secure a teaching job and then have your school sponsor you for a business visa, if you don�t have a sponsor prior to entering. I don�t know how difficult it is to get a sponsor prior to entering and I would not rely on the Vietnamese government for help. Your school will have to apply for your visa in Vietnam then fax the information to a country of your choice (most choose Cambodia or Thailand). Then you will have to make a visa run to that country to pick it up. It usually takes 1 � 2 days once all the information is submitted and can cost up to $100 (some schools will reimburse you for the visa cost). Once you have your business visa you will have to renew it twice a year, but can be renewed indefinitely.

If on a long term contract, you can apply for a residence permit which only needs to be renewed once a year, plus it gives you a few added bonuses, such as obtaining a drivers license and owning a motorbike (the driving test is in Vietnamese) and you must secure a work permit first. Some schools require you to obtain a work permit as the government has recently started pressuring them. It takes about 10 weeks to get, and requires a letter from your local Vietnamese government (or your landlord�s residence book), medical test, and original university diplomas.

If your school doesn�t require a business visa then you can renew your tourist visa at any travel agency. Expect to pay 30-100 USD for the renewal depending on the length.

freebeacher · Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 76

Thanks very much for the advice-much appreciated. I will let you know if the embassy gets back to me.