Job Discussion Forums

vietexpat2008 · Joined: 08 May 2010 Posts: 18

It is looking like the promised July crackdown has not materialized. In fact, I'm hearing now that people are getting 3 month single entry visas in country from their visa brokers for around 35 dollars with a one day turn around.

Doesn't get easier than that! Anyone have any reports or updates on this?

hot_rock · Joined: 16 Apr 2010 Posts: 107

Based on your current perusal of the egg-basket, exactly how many chickens do you have Wink

But yes, I have heard of no deportations or other new problems.

If that's true about the 35 dollar- visas then it is very strange indeed. TIV

Charvo · Joined: 02 Feb 2010 Posts: 37

Vietnam's economy is doing very well now. I would think that is the main reason for the more relaxed atmosphere. It was because of the global economic crisis and the effect on Vietnam that the visa crackdown even began. I am not a economist, but I think the global economy is going to get hit hard soon. This would affect Vietnam's export industries greatly which would impact employment. If this happens before the celebrations in Hanoi early next year, I would think the government will be cracking the whip again.

LettersAthruZ · Joined: 25 Apr 2010 Posts: 466 Location: North Viet Nam

I have got a residency permit/work permit......but just for a laugh, I'm going to ask a couple travel places up in Ha Noi how much to renew a visa for three months.

BEFORE I got the residency Permit/Work Permit, I had attempted to renew my visa IN-COUNTRY for three months in Ha Noi in March.......

.....I was quoted $237 US Dollars. From several different places.

IF, IF it's under a hundred US Dollars now today, I'm gonna kick myself in the a$$.........

londo · Joined: 27 Apr 2010 Posts: 107 Location: District 7

Sorry but $35 for a 3 month single, means they are doing it for free ($25 for the visa and $10 process fee and $50 plus $10 for a multiple are the stated 'legal' prices for NEW visas, not extensions).

Anything under $100 means the costs are back to how they were a year ago, and yes, this appears to be the case

mark_in_saigon · Joined: 20 Sep 2009 Posts: 837

and was also told that extensions will not be a problem.

One thing I recently read was that there is a shortage of dollars, and this may be a factor. Lots of the affluent store wealth in dollars, plus the govt needs them for some transactions. So this could have had an influence.

I would be very interested to know if this current direction in policy is only aimed at the affluent countries. We have all read that some foreign nationals were less welcome than others. Anyone know if that aspect of the enforcement is still in place?

tennisqt84 · Joined: 08 Nov 2009 Posts: 8 Location: San Francisco, CA

I just paid $65 for a single entry 3 month visa.

Dave_1 · Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 88

CThomas · Joined: 21 Oct 2009 Posts: 380 Location: HCMC, Vietnam

Yea, "wide open" doesn't express the subtleties here: Renew 2x then jet for a month and come back (or maybe find an agent that will officially get your passport out for a month, but take your chances with that).

It's a lot cheaper to do the actual paperwork at immigration if you have a translator/gf. Something like $5. I don't even remember. Cheap. But you need a business stamp to do get that 2nd visa regardless; agents typically won't even do it because they know of the limit.

londo · Joined: 27 Apr 2010 Posts: 107 Location: District 7

the usual BS, no decisions taken visas, No , I repeat, NO new decrees, decisions or laws,,,jeez where do you guys get your fantasies from.
We will know in a couple of months whether they enforce the tie in between MOLISA and immigration, doubt it... for sure they would like to limit of visas in ayear to 3x3, but believe me guys, they have screwed up their LOE/LOI amendments so much that the biz world would be up in arms, it is at the moment impossible to buy or buy participation in VN companies, everything is blocked and there are hundreds of Koreans;taiwanese, Chinese, Septics and Europeans kicking their heels waiting for the new PM decision/decree, all of them on 3 month B3s, I got 3 new visas (B3 multis) this morning as a sponsoring co., no hassle, very cheap and all these guys have been here 2-3 years....chill, they are NOT going to start throwing people out.

If however, MOLISA finds another 200-300 (honest) inspectors in the next few weeks then yes, some might have a problem if there are inspections in work places...but (and it's a biggy) they don't even know who is here or not..there is NO database, the PM yesterday suggested it might be a good idea to use computers at border crossings!!!

Company stamps are NOT used for visa requests....ever..they are tax authority tools.

calm down guys

CThomas · Joined: 21 Oct 2009 Posts: 380 Location: HCMC, Vietnam

My god.

londo · Joined: 27 Apr 2010 Posts: 107 Location: District 7

sorry, just 'tired and emotional' and fed up with untruths.

I repeat, there are no changes in VISA laws, and the idea of a month out between new visas would require at least a decree, there are NONE.
Any such change would seriously cause problems for investors and the VN are not that stupid...'specially concerning money.

not everyone in VN is an English teacher, and nobody is targetting TEFLers, not that important honestly.

fantasy, and worrying for those who are not so experienced in discarding BS on these boards

CThomas · Joined: 21 Oct 2009 Posts: 380 Location: HCMC, Vietnam

Actually, I believe that we used a copy of the business license rather than a stamp when I got my 2nd extension recently. I remember talking about this with our legal department and the paperwork says you need a company stamp OR a police stamp of some kind (which my gf got). In any case, as Londo so colorfully pointed out, it's easy enough to get a sponsor for such things, for sure.

As for the visa extension law, which is the point here, it hasn't changed. But from what I understand the law itself states that you can renew a 3-month biz visa twice. I'll try and get a .gov.vn pointer to it later today. Once you pass that point, legally, I don't know what actually happens. People say you have to leave for a month, in effect, but obviously there are other ways to deal with it.

londo · Joined: 27 Apr 2010 Posts: 107 Location: District 7

Copy of biz cert. for sure, but no police or company stamps.

there are presently no restrictions on renewals, i.e. new visas. There are restrictions on the number of extensions (just the rubber stamp)-

Having a visa does not mean you have to use it. Most countries (like Thailand) use the number of days 'in country' rule and the only way to enforce this effectively is to have a computerized system. The latest visas now have a bar code at the bottom, however the border crossings and 2 of the 3 international airports do not have readers or systems.

Until they do, visa runs (with Visa on arrival) are the obvious answer, unless they actually deny entry at airport by counting entry and exit stamps and calculating days in country then putting you in a detention 'hotel' then chucking you out.....not likely

Dave_1 · Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 88

I imagine Vietnam would never enforce the 30 day out of country thing after two 3 month business visas as foreign investors, experts who come in and out on business would be forced to stay out the country too, not only teachers. I liked Saigon and would maybe go back if I knew I could restart easily on 3 month visas while looking for employment.

Here is a legal updates website re changes by Vietnam's government

http://www.vietnamlaws.com/vietnam_legal_update.aspx