Job Discussion Forums

[clayrview]

If you are qualified, and you are deadset on teaching in Vietnam, how does one go about it?

Schools seem to not respond to emails.
I am moving to Vietnam in August with a job that provides a work permit, and my boyfriend will be joining me, without a job.

What does he need to enter the country? Tourist visa?

How does he go about finding a job to get a legitmate work permit?

He will have all his documentation notarized and in order, and has CELTA, degree plus 3 years experience.

What's the best way to go about this? Is it really as simple as going round to all the schools in a suit and dropping off resumes?

Stressed a little that for some reason there will be a hang up and he'll have to leave the country, which means I'll have to give up my job which I'm pretty happy with.

Not so sure we want to get married for a visa at the moment either.

[Bold As Love]

Clayr,

Here's my 2 dong on this one. I feel that you guys are in a good position. He has (or soon will have) his apostilled degree and police report. I would have him apply for a multiple-entry business visa in your home country for the longest term that they will grant (3,6 or 12 months). This gives him plenty of time to get oriented and find a job.

My experience in Thailand is that it is much easier to get a nice long visa back in the west than it is in a neighboring country like Cambodia or Laos, and I suspect that this would hold true for VN as well. Even though he doesn't have a firm job offer, the very fact that he has the apostilled documents demonstrates he is not a tourist. I just applied for visa at VN embassy in Bangkok. They will not grant multiple-entry for tourist, but when I said I had a job offer they readily granted multiple-entry, but only gave me a 3-month. The embassy guidelines will definitely be a bit more lax back in the Great White North.

As for job searching, given all the WP issues and the fact that international schools are starting in August, I think he will be a golden boy. How could language schools not be interested in someone like that with all his paperwork ready to go? And this time of year, there is lots of fluidity in staffing needs for schools. Just have a little cash reserve to tide you over until your new job pays out in late August.

[Andy123]

Come on! You better do a little more research than this. Why not try the Green Zone or Pattini?

I'd say it is a bad idea.

[Andy123]

Sorry, I meant to say "Then" not "Than".

[Andy123]

Boy, I'm having a bad grammar day. "Than" is correct.

"Than" is used to indicate comparison or degree.

Proves the point that if you don't use it or teach it, you loose it.

[clayrview]

Please explain the Pattini, greenzone reference. Call me daft, but I don't get it.

Coming from Canada teaching jobs in public schools are extremely difficult to come by, but luckily I've found work at an international school that will give me similar experience and give me a leg up once I decide to go home. So I'd really not like to give up the job. I'd also not like to give up my relationship.

Constructive posts only please (Thanks bold as love for yours glad to hear your paperwork is coming along)

[londo]

I'm sorry Clayrview, I'm old, ok, but please what constructive posts do you want? - come with the notarized documents and the little man will find a job! - do you want someone to meet you at the airport and hold your hand? Several people have told you what you need, I have told you how to get a visa... come... try it...be bold....be brave-

[londo]

OK clayrview, Companies very often do not reply to emails, it's a new medium and they culturaly prefer face to face meetings. prep all documents, belts and braces, all notarized and a well produced CV, with Photo, unless you are spectularly ugly. Print 20 -30 copies, arrive in HCMC, get your visas on arrival, Vinasun or other large taxi company to District 1, usual cost no more than 100,000 Dong but they will ask for any fare upto 1,000,000 - be strong insist on meter. In District 1 go to any Guest House around Bui Vien or pham Ngu Lao and get a room with Ac, private bathroom and cable for around $15-$30, next day buy a map and check on the net the addresses of the major schools. Go to the end of Bui Vien, take a Moto taxi and schlep around the schools, ask to see the DOS and leave the CV. Wait for week and then follow up aggressively...he will find a job. Ask for a contract and a WP within 3 months..make sure you have everything..health check, police check et al. if they prevaricate and it's close to 3 months ending...move on.
If your BF has resolved the problem of the missing Diploma, he will have no problem finding a job or a WP at the better schools..we can't tell you which schools to avoid... you have to try this yourself.

[clayrview]

You're totally right I am a bit of a stresser when It comes to things like this.
The boyfriend can write, however he's not really into virtual internet communities.
I've been abroad teaching for 3 years, however neither of us have ever left for a country without having a job in place already. I guess we're not used to having no safety net.

When you've been living abroad for as long as you probably have, it's easy to be patronizing (and rightly so-you've probably heard this all before), but these are economically tough times especially for those starting out.

Cheers on the visa info, will be very helpful. If anyone has an agency they recommend, or have processed through that would also be helpful.

[londo]

yeh, you're right, i'm an old moaner, 25 years doing this and a week in Saigon traffic gets ya going! ....and Canucks are my favourite colonials. Don't worry---If you both have the documents necessary you'll have no problems (well a few, but let's not ruin the love-in). If you need a hand from an old hand PM when you get here, I'll try and point the boyfriend in the direction of a friendly school owner. My wife just pointed out how I was when I started out ...sorry kids.

[londo]

Clayrview, we use 'visaforvietnam.org' for company visas, they have been extremely efficient up till now, all done on line -3 month multiple entry business visa, $40 US, 24 hours to get visa acceptance letter, download, print along with form to fill out, arrive in HCMC, go to immigration office on the left, I think, in arrivals hall pass form and letter over along with 2 passport photos and passport. After 5-10 mins get passport back with visa in passport - pay $50 dollars - cash and you're on your way...and what's wrong with marriage????

[vietexpat2008]

That advice sounded pretty good to me. And remember, in Vietnamese traffic, the golden rule: Do unto others before they do unto you. Good luck!

[clayrview]

I don't think many men would buy the "Honey, we're going to have to get married to keep you in the country".

Definitely all sound advice, which I will take. Many thanks. Sounds like Vietnam will keep me on my toes.