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Visa renewal blues

 
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clifton10



Joined: 21 Mar 2010
Posts: 71
Location: Jakarta

PostPosted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 11:35 am    Post subject: Visa renewal blues Reply with quote

Hi all, well my visa wasn't extended for ninety days as I've requested. Instead, immigration only gave one month, enough time to pack up and leave this country. I was working part-time at my second language school here in Hanoi, and in the end, the support and benefits weren't great. Tet, especially, really screwed things up.
What that means is that I have no choice but to fly home to the USA since I'm not able to work here legally now. The problem is: I am short by about one million VND to purchase the flight(I am due to fly out next Wednesday night) so I'm screwed. Cleverlearn took out money from my pay after seein g a doctor for a dog bite. so that's what screwed me big time!!! Does anybody have advice on my situation? I have accepted a position to teach English recently in Indonesia, but that doesn't start until June, so again I need to fly home to avoid going broke over here.
Hanoi lost its' appeal to me and I don't know whom to turn to as I'm still trying to schedule a phone call with a close friend back home. ANY advice would be greatly appreciated. Cheers.
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Oh My God



Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 273

PostPosted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 1:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm in Saigon so I can't really help you BUT if you're considering staying in Hanoi until June, I'd suggest looking for a post from snollygoster then click the PM and asking him for assistance as he was in Hanoi.

He seems to be a good hearted individual and has been known to help others with better jobs and Visa renewal contacts. I believe that you could renew that monthly Visa again and again.

Good Luck and I'll include you in my prayers!
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[email protected]



Joined: 27 Oct 2010
Posts: 30

PostPosted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 2:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Couldn't you do a visa run and fly to somewhere like Bangkok and return with a new visa? If your second part-time job stop hiring you, I'm pretty sure that you could find work elsewhere. Have you check out www.newhanoian.com site? There are always job posting and advice there if you need it. If it makes you feel better I have the same problem as you with only being able to renew my visa for only 1 month. I guess I'll have to deal with it when the time comes. Good luck with everything.
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Mushroom Druid



Joined: 19 Oct 2009
Posts: 91

PostPosted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 4:50 pm    Post subject: Re: Visa renewal blues Reply with quote

clifton10 wrote:
I was working part-time at my second language school here in Hanoi, and in the end, the support and benefits weren't great. Tet, especially, really screwed things up.


The Tet shut-down hurts a lot of teachers. It slows down before, shuts down completely during, and is slow for 6-8 weeks after Tet.

Savings slowly and steadily dwindle just to pay for the cost of living. It's hurt me a lot. Enough to consider leaving myself. I was in Korea. At least work was steady, there.


Quote:
What that means is that I have no choice but to fly home to the USA since I'm not able to work here legally now.


I don't understand. Why can't you work legally? You didn't say you had a work permit, so why should it matter if you don't have one.

I, and many others do not have a work permit (even though we have all of the documents to get one, the bureaucracy is too burdensome).

Quote:

The problem is: I am short by about one million VND to purchase the flight(I am due to fly out next Wednesday night) so I'm screwed. Cleverlearn took out money from my pay after seein g a doctor for a dog bite. so that's what screwed me big time!!! Does anybody have advice on my situation? I have accepted a position to teach English recently in Indonesia, but that doesn't start until June, so again I need to fly home to avoid going broke over here.
Hanoi lost its' appeal to me and I don't know whom to turn to as I'm still trying to schedule a phone call with a close friend back home. ANY advice would be greatly appreciated. Cheers.


This is another warning to all: have plenty of savings for any unexpected visa hassle, financial hiccup, or.......dog bite......

Yo are luck you have family to fall back on.

Many of us (including me) don't.

The longer we stay in VN teaching, the harder it is to return home.
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Mushroom Druid



Joined: 19 Oct 2009
Posts: 91

PostPosted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 4:53 pm    Post subject: Re: Visa renewal blues Reply with quote

clifton10 wrote:
Hi all, well my visa wasn't extended for ninety days as I've requested. Instead, immigration only gave one month


Why only 1 month?

Is this a new standard policy?

Does this apply to us all?

I need to know, because if this is what I can expect, I am out of here.
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H5N1



Joined: 15 Feb 2005
Posts: 80

PostPosted: Wed Apr 06, 2011 3:09 am    Post subject: Re: Visa renewal blues Reply with quote

clifton10 wrote:
Hi all, well my visa wasn't extended for ninety days as I've requested. Instead, immigration only gave one month, enough time to pack up and leave this country.


OP,

We need more information.

You say, "extended."

Do you mean, you were on a 3 month business B3 visa, and asked for an extension? An extension of 90 more days?

As far as I know, this is still being done, one time. After the first 90 day extension, then you have to fly out & fly in with a letter to get another 3 months. And a month ago, people were still getting 6 month visas by flying out and in, with a letter.

Since you were denied a 3 month extension, does this mean that three-month extensions are now discontinued?

OP, I have not heard of anyone else having this problem anywhere in Vietnam. I assume you are in either HCMC or Hanoi

Quote:
Cleverlearn took out money from my pay after seein g a doctor for a dog bite.


There are many good hospitals here that would screen for a dog bite (rabies vaccine?) for an affordable price. I hope you didn't go to the "foreign hospitals" like S.O.S. and French Vietnamese.

Quote:
Hanoi lost its' appeal to me


OK, you're in Hanoi.

Quote:
and I don't know whom to turn to as I'm still trying to schedule a phone call with a close friend back home. ANY advice would be greatly appreciated. Cheers.


A friend or relative can send a Moneygram or money to you via Western Union.

Since you only need a million Dong I have one idea.

Tell people you situation, and ask everyone you can (colleagues, acquaintances, friends) to lend/give you 1 million.

I am still wondering why you did not just fly out & in with a letter to get a 6 month. (Unless of course....this has been cancelled, as things change constantly here).

Best of luck and keep us posted.
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toiyeuthitmeo



Joined: 21 May 2010
Posts: 213

PostPosted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 8:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

We do need some more information.

The thing that grabs me is that the OP plans to fly all the way to North America, then possibly back to SE Asia in June, which is, what, 50 days or so away?

Last time I checked, the price of those air tickets would be upwards of $1200USD (Here to N America to back to Indonesia).

$1200USD is certainly enough to live on for 50 days, whether in Vietnam, or if quite careful, in Thailand, where, as an American citizen, you can visit/live for up to 30 days without needing any visa. Mind me, you'd be living quite frugally.

I'm assuming that since you're 1M short on airfare, you currently don't have the full amount of cash to make the round trip from SE Asia and back for your Indo job, which leads me to believe you've got some financial help from someone back home? Or a job lined up? Or a free place to live? Or are you totally screwed with no one to fall back on?

Or is this the first time I've seen a Nigerian-style email fraud on Dave's? Wink

Don't want to make light of your situation. I've feared being down-and-out in VN before. Hope it turns out ok. 1M is $50USD, I'm sure there's someone in your life who can help out.
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Mattingly



Joined: 03 Jul 2008
Posts: 249

PostPosted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 2:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

toiyeuthitmeo wrote:
We do need some more information.

The thing that grabs me is that the OP plans to fly all the way to North America, then possibly back to SE Asia in June, which is, what, 50 days or so away?

Last time I checked, the price of those air tickets would be upwards of $1200USD (Here to N America to back to Indonesia).

$1200USD is certainly enough to live on for 50 days, whether in Vietnam, or if quite careful, in Thailand, where, as an American citizen, you can visit/live for up to 30 days without needing any visa. Mind me, you'd be living quite frugally.

I'm assuming that since you're 1M short on airfare, you currently don't have the full amount of cash to make the round trip from SE Asia and back for your Indo job, which leads me to believe you've got some financial help from someone back home? Or a job lined up? Or a free place to live? Or are you totally screwed with no one to fall back on?

Or is this the first time I've seen a Nigerian-style email fraud on Dave's? Wink

Don't want to make light of your situation. I've feared being down-and-out in VN before. Hope it turns out ok. 1M is $50USD, I'm sure there's someone in your life who can help out.


The OP said he 'could not legally work in Vietnam' because he was on a 30 day visa.

I don't understand this, as he was previously working.

Yes, we need more info.

Perhaps there is more to the story. I suspect there is. But it needs to confirmed by the OP.

As fo