Job Discussion Forums

yogurtpooh · Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Posts: 85

Is it possible to extend my 3 month visa while I am in Vietnam? I will not not receive my university diploma 3-4 months after my scheduled arrival in Vietnam and plus at least another month or two for the diploma to go through the chain of authentication before it reaches my hands. And I'm guessing the work visa will take a while to complete as well. Is this going to be a deterring factor for my employers? I will have the criminal background check and my TESOL certificate completely authenticated before I leave for Vietnam.

Jbhughes · Joined: 01 Jul 2010 Posts: 254

You're Viet Kieu aren't you? I think the rules are different for you guys - hopefully a bit more lax/easier?

Don't know if anyone else can confirm?

toiyeuthitmeo · Joined: 21 May 2010 Posts: 213

Sorry, no insights on how being Viet kieu might offer different possibilities with visas, you probably should look into that though, as I frequently read about laws being changed and relaxed in order to draw more Viet Kieu back to work, visit, and live.

The answer to your question, for now, is yes, you can indefinitely get visa extensions whilst in the country, but you'll need "a guy." I know "a guy" who does magic with visas. Lots of people know "a guy" like this Wink

yogurtpooh · Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Posts: 85

Hey thanks, I don't think viet kieu laws apply to me because I am an American citizen. I think there is an exemption for Vietnamese nationalists abroad. I've always had to get the same month long tourist visa as the next person during my past trips back. The Vietnamese Consulate in SF weren't very helpful as most of their information was not in English and I couldn't get through their hotline.

Worst case scenario, I can go to Cambodia and renew my visa and then come back?

toiyeuthitmeo · Joined: 21 May 2010 Posts: 213

Shouldn't be necessary to go to Cambodia. With the proper connections, a visa is as simple as a quick meeting on Bui Vien street and waiting for a couple days. And of course a fee, which is reasonable. Let me know when you get here, we'll get ya sorted out.

yogurtpooh · Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Posts: 85

Thanks so much, I'm planning to be there the first week of June and I'm heading to Vung Tau... I'm in the process of getting "arranged" by the TESOL program that I did my certification with. They claim that they have 82 affiliated schools that won't discriminate against me (too much). If they can't hook me up in Vung Tau, then I'm still going to go apply to as many as I can when I get there anyways. It's my most desirable spot to live. I also just sent my background check and my TESOl certificate to DC for authentication.
Thanks a lot.

yogurtpooh · Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Posts: 85

sorry to bump up an old thread, but do you guys think it'll be a problem for me to work for 3-4 months without a work visa as I wait for my diploma to get sent and authenticated? Will schools not hire me if I'm technically working illegally?

uruguay1 · Joined: 21 Nov 2009 Posts: 27

Don't worry about getting your visa extended. As others have said, there are plenty of people around who can take care of it. You won't have to leave the country either. If a school wants you to work for them, they will take care of everything. Don't worry about being illegal.

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

yogurtpooh · Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Posts: 85

My biggest concern now is that the DCState Department or whoever will lag or lose my stuff and thus drag everything out past 90 days. I sent my TESOL certificate and criminal background check to get authenticated as a test run before my degree and both documents have been in DC for the past 5 weeks and I've heard nothing back. Can't call them and emails are not replied. The California state department only took 10 days to send me everything back. I'm worried that everything could take 4+ months- not including the actual time it takes to get the process going in Vietnam.
I won't get my diploma until late July or even August - authentication might take 2 months.. and my plan is to work before mid June.

I actually got the 5 year visa exemption thanks to the recommendation of Toiyeuthitmeo, which will allow me to stay in Vietnam without leaving the country... though after 90 days I would have to go to Saigon to extend it- but it can be done for sure. But at least I do not have to worry about staying anymore- now I'm just worried about working without a work visa for so long. Hopefully a visa exemption will be a benefit for schools who might not want to get me a work visa... hopefully since I'm brown, the cops might not hassle me or my potential school too much about the work visa.

Thanks.

uruguay1 · Joined: 21 Nov 2009 Posts: 27

No matter what, you shouldn't worry. This is Vietnam, and there is always a way to get things done. Of course this kind of thing isn't advertised, but that is how it is.

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

yogurtpooh · Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Posts: 85

Ya... that makes sense. It's pretty customary and usually expected for viet kieus to slip a few bills in their passport while they go through customs.

I just spoke to my university and they said they will expedite my degree processing if my employer mails/faxes them a letter.. so that could cut the time in half. They were only able to give me a letter stating that I have filed for graduation and that my degree is supposed to be completed on May 27th.
it doesn't actually say that the school usually requires 8-9 weeks to deliver diplomas.