Job Discussion Forums

[email protected] · Joined: 27 Oct 2010 Posts: 30

Has anyone ever done this and was successful? I really want to know how to do this procedure as it states on the government website.

e. In case of not having documents listed at section (d), the following documents could be submitted:
- A guarantee from a Vietnamese citizen that the person applying for the 5 year extension is Vietnamese (in due form provided)
The said documents do not need require further certification or verification.

Are there any special forms to fill out? I know a lot of Vietnamese citizens that would vouch for me. I just want to know how to do it. I'm based in Hanoi by the way. Thanks for any help.

Lear · Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Posts: 6 Location: Saigon

There's some info. on www.saigoninacup.com

bludevil96 · Joined: 07 Aug 2006 Posts: 82

The first step you need to do is go to the department on Nguyen Du Street. It's the last building on the left and they handle all the Visa/immigration process. They can pin point you in the right direction.

Second, if you're using this forum then I'm assuming that you're probably trying to get work as an Eng. teacher. Don't take this the wrong way but brush up on your grammar. Pls do it for the sake of the people you're teaching.

haller_79 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 145

snollygoster · Joined: 04 Jun 2009 Posts: 478

My wife is Viet so she was able to get this "so called" 5 year visa for me at the local Immigration office in our country town.

It looks nice in my passport, but the rub is that I still have to get a "permission to remain" thingy placed in my passport every three months and it ios virtually a 3 month visa every time with the same fees.
So the whole thing is a farce.

Recently I left Vietnam for another location- the visa from my new location is for 3 YEARS- yes years-and includes my family, so I only have to give up ONE page in my passport to have that visa in there. (Nicer than Viertnams too-got my picture).

[email protected] · Joined: 27 Oct 2010 Posts: 30

@Snollygoster

So to have permission to stay in the country after 3 months would cost me the same as I would have to pay for a 3 month visa extension. The last one I paid for was $80 USD.
I agree with you that it is a farce, but would it be better for me to get that 5 year extension rather than always having to renew my visa and/or leave the country and come back? That's something I don't want to do nor do I have the time.
I also thought the 5 year visa extension was only for Viet Kieu's. You are Viet Kieu Snolly?

snollygoster · Joined: 04 Jun 2009 Posts: 478

No I'm not Viet Kieu- So for me at least, it made no practical difference- I still have to get an "extension" every 3 months- its just called something different. Alternatively I can leave Vietnam and come back every 3 months. Whatever way you do it, it will cost money.

Lear · Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Posts: 6 Location: Saigon

The 5 year visa waiver gives you 3 months in Vietnam. You can do a visa run to Cambodia every three months or alternately go to the Immigration Department and get a three month extension for $10. A travel agent will do it for more, but Viet Kieus and people married to Vietnamese are the only ones eligible for this,so you have someone to send along. It costs $40 a year for a multiple entry visa which costs $20 initially for 5 years if you do it yourself. Travel Agents will charge you about $90 for the 5 year visa.

toiyeuthitmeo · Joined: 21 May 2010 Posts: 213

Recently got a most-coveted 2 year residency permit, which also looks very neat and takes up no space in the passport, and at the very least, will retain value as a very nice keep-sake of my time here. Functionally, it has worked for airport travel, both domestic and international. Dysfunctionally, (is that a real adverb, grammar cops Wink

) a local police officer recently gave me some trouble over getting my blue house-renter book re-signed and stamped because I have no current visa, and even though the back of the card states in both English and Tieng Viet "The holder of this card does not require a Vietnamese visa- Nguoi mang the nay douc mien thi thuc Vietnam" the police officer told me I need a visa for the blue book. Translated, and then put back into VietnamEnglish for entertainment sake, his reasoning was "Card not same same Visa!"

Imagine that! I've yet to pursue this conundrum, as I can't be bothered with whatever business I'll encounter, and as of yet, feel no threat due to current blue book status.

BTW if anyone has had a similar experience or insight, please share.

[email protected] · Joined: 27 Oct 2010 Posts: 30

Sorry, but no one has really answered my question. How do I go about getting a Vietnamese citizen vouching for me for this 5 year visa exemption? Are there any forms the Vietnamese citizen has to fill out, or does the Vietnamese citizen has to write a special letter? Thanks for any help.

yogurtpooh · Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Posts: 85

http://mienthithucvk.mofa.gov.vn

or directly here for the voucher form
http://viet.vietnamembassy.us/pdf/Mau%20N20%20-%20Bao%20lanh%20mien%20thi%20thuc.doc

I just sent out my package today... hopefully with a 5 year visa I might be able to spark the interest of future employers since they possibly won't have to get me a work visa... since it seems like I'm already getting the cold shoulder through numerous online submissions...