Job Discussion Forums

[Prof.Gringo]

[bobpen]

[bobpen]

[BenE]

[LettersAthruZ]

[BenE]

[vabeckele]

I know one guy who sits on the board of a major bank holds a PhD and has been given a 5 year residence for free. What they didn't tell him was the 150 dollar hourly fee charged by him, which added up to 5000 dollars at the end of the course, would not ever be paid back to him. Needless to say he hasn't really needed, or used that ever so precious 'ticket to paradise'.

For those of us who are not retirees and/or stepping off a plane into a waiting job the realities are all to plain to see - I guess for some of us getting visas for spouses (on the cheap, eh?) and digging deeper into what is Vietnam, is a great achievement over the rest of us who are trying to make an honest living.

I have more, but not teaching related and the sums are staggering - Of course, if I was the one with the red stamp charging thousands of dollars for non-existent licenses and fees, I would be smiling too. It is appalling.

[JSutt]

[LettersAthruZ]

My case on obtaining a Work Permit I'll admit is different ('cause I freelance - therefore explaining the high fee charged to me for obtaining my Work Permit), but I'm only going on what one accountant and one director at two of the larger schools (NOT mom-n-pop start-ups) have told me (this was a year ago, granted) the going rate was for a new instructor on staff: $300-$500USD WITH ALL quals and docs.....$800USD - $1000USD without.

I'm almost certain that it has to be a great deal less in The South, as (back when you could renew them - which some folks on here say that you STILL CAN - I don't know), a visa extension/renewal for three months was $45USD at almost any travel agent in District One, HCMC and $150+ in Hoan Kiem, Ha Noi.

But, still - each individual's experience may vary depending on the circumstances, if it's raining that day, and what The Ancestors say about it......

[Prof.Gringo]

[Prof.Gringo]

[Prof.Gringo]

[TRH]

Some amusing posts here but let me get back on topic (sort of.)

Although my own personal circumstances do not really require it, I have felt for a while, from combining opinion and fact from various sources, that most reputable employers, who value their employees sufficiently, can and will get them a work permit and the ensuing visas and residency cards. What that costs the employer and whether it can or should be passed on to the employee is another matter. Personally, I don't think it should. If you serve at the pleasure of the employer and the work permit is void if the employment is terminated then it belongs to the employer. Of course, if an employer goes that trouble and expense, it would seem rather unethical to voluntarily leave their employ in less than at least a year. I really have no idea how this can be managed.

On the subject of what it costs, A through Z tells us "$300-$500USD WITH ALL quals and docs.....$800USD - $1000USD without." and that the "sticker price" which we all know nobody pays is 400,000VND. I have no reason to doubt him on this.

Consider this by contrast. An H1B Visa for specially skilled and management workers to the US costs the following: I-129 application fee $325, Training Fee $1500, and a $500 fraud prevention fee. This totals $2325 for a one year visa and numbers are limited annually and given out by lottery. That's if all goes smoothly and only the basic processes are required. The "Training Fee" is based on the assumption that employers bringing in immigrant skilled labor need to ultimately replace them with trained US workers. This would be like taking a portion of your work permit fees to buy English lessons for Vietnamese English teachers. Also note that a Bachelor's degree or equivalent is absolutely required for an H1B and the number of visas per year is presently capped at 65,000 which is a pretty small number in a country the size of the US.

Additionally consider what it costs to "juice" either the VN work permit or the US H1B. The US collects $1000 for "Premium processing." There is also the cost of agents. When I worked in corporate America, I moved into a position in which I inherited a lower level manager from South Africa. His bottom line budget cost to me , in addition to regular salary, was over $10,000 for the bill from a law firm each year. This was about 20% of his salary cost. Although our wages may be lower than many H1B workers in the US, our visa and permitting fees may be even lower in relative terms.

[kurtz]

[Oh My God]