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The low down on Visa runs??

 
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Kirkpatrick



Joined: 27 Feb 2008
Posts: 205
Location: China

PostPosted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 10:05 am    Post subject: The low down on Visa runs?? Reply with quote

So what's up with this visa thing? Are you only able to get the 3 month renewable visa from outside the country? Are you able to come in overland from say Thailand, Laos, Cambodia? How about cheap hostels? How long does it take to find work? Also, which cities would you all recommend? How much can you save? And lastly, how long can you reasonably do the visa run thing?
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LettersAthruZ



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

PostPosted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 4:13 am    Post subject: Re: The low down on Visa runs?? Reply with quote

Kirkpatrick wrote:
Are you only able to get the 3 month renewable visa from outside the country?

Generally, yes....on the visa-on-arrival through any one of hundreds of different websites offering it.

Kirkpatrick wrote:
Are you able to come in overland from say Thailand, Laos, Cambodia?

FROM WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD, no, there are NO visas issued at the land borders.....international airports only. You COULD go to the Vietnamese Embassy in Phnom Penh, but I have been told that all THEY give you is a 30-day visa because you are coming in OVERLAND (as three-month visas are ONLY available coming in from an International flight).

Kirkpatrick wrote:
How about cheap hostels?

All over Quan Hoan Kiem in Ha Noi and P.N.L. in HCMC

Kirkpatrick wrote:
How long does it take to find work?

Depends....ain't gonna be easy pickins right NOW, because the summer busy season just ended, and by early December, the wind-down/decrease-in-enrollment/decrease-in-teaching-hours leading up to Tet will begin, soooo.......

Kirkpatrick wrote:
Which cities would you all recommend? How much can you save?

Prolly Da Nang.

From what I had heard from people down there and what I had seen first hand when I was there last month, HCMC is crawling with economic refugees looking to escape life on the dole in their Western Nation because of the Economic Depression....so a fair number of schools are hanging out the "no vacancy" (fully staffed) sign in Sai Gon.

Ha Noi has SOME positions open, but again, you got three months before the wind-down leading up to Tet takes place and ya just missed the busy season, so I can't guarantee anything. Also, Ha Noi is almost twice as expensive as Ho Chi Minh City in terms of everyday cost of living (rent is ABSOLUTELY INSANE in terms of how artificially over-valued places in Ha Noi are!!!!! Most of the teachers that I know there have to get a roommate).....

Hai Phong DOES have positions (I know this - several friends that I have there keep trying to get me to move back there and teach with them at several different centres/schools), but, honestly - it's Hai Phong (which was addressed in a thread here where somebody asked basically what's wrong with Hai Phong - http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=89047)....and it's a dump.....and it's not pleasant.....

...but if you're desperate.......

How much you should expect to save has been addressed ad nauseam here.....

Kirkpatrick wrote:
how long can you reasonably do the visa run thing?

I know friends and others who have been doing that for two-plus years now.....



Honestly - it's getting a bit dodgy here in Viet Nam, and, unless one of the rose-coloured-glasses brigade on this board gets to you promising sunshine and rainbows, I'd stay in Turkey if I were you!


Last edited by LettersAthruZ on Tue Sep 13, 2011 4:48 am; edited 1 time in total
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Andy123



Joined: 24 Sep 2009
Posts: 206

PostPosted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 4:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

There isn't a rose coloured glasses brigade on this board. Xao!

It is funny how these people's attitude changes two years down the line. Years ago there were tons of jobs, the money was good and the people were pleasant. Things have changed and that is a fact.

Hell, I have multiple Viet friends who can not find work (for D 3,000,000 a month) or they are stuck in hopeless dead-end jobs that they loath. These are smart, well educated and English speaking folks. Could someone lend them your rose coloured glasses?
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LettersAthruZ



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

PostPosted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 4:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I stand corrected, Andy - naw...not a brigade, perhaps....but there are two or three individuals on here who, whenever a posting is placed that does not put Viet Nam in a nice light, these sorts twist it around and contort it to start blaming the person who might have questioned some aspects of life in Viet Nam or raised concerns about something. Hell, I'd seen them do it to you!

Not naming names, but......

Yes, Andy, you are correct - things HAVE changed here.....it ain't milk and honey anymore. Visa restrictions, waves of backpackers coming in trying to teach, and several other aspects of everyday life here.....naw, the halcyon days are gone, my friend Crying or Very sad
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generalgiap



Joined: 03 Sep 2011
Posts: 95

PostPosted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 7:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I am not wearing rose colored glasses or dark tinted sunglasses.

I and many others have had a different experience concerning visas in Vietnam. I have never had any issues getting a visa or an extension because I have worked for reputable EFL schools in HCMC and the schools have been responsible for getting my visa.

Can't comment on visa issue in Hanoi.

If you work for a reputable school in HCMC, you will Probably not have any problems regarding your visa. Of course, there is always the exception. The following schools, ILA, ACET, Language Link, Apollo, RMIT and others provide visas for their teachers.

If you have a 3 month visa in HCMC, it is generally pretty easy to extend it twice. It costs between 70-100 usd per extension, possibly cheaper. After the second extension, it can be difficult depending on the political climate, time of year etc.

You can get 3 month visas in Cambodia at most of the travel agencies.

I also have numerous friends who are independent teachers who have a two year temporary residence visa-The Tam Tru- with work permit, costs between 600-700 usd. A good price if you ask me, about a dollar a day.

I meet teachers all the time who have visa problems, most are working for cowboy outfits, independent teachers, most are unqualified and can't get a job at one of the better schools. They also don't want to be managed and generally have problems no matter where they are working.

Vietnam has changed but if you are qualified and experienced and don't mind working at one of the better schools in HCMC, you can find a good job and save a lot of money depending on your lifestyle.

If anyone is interested in a contact for visas in HCMC, send me a pm.
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LettersAthruZ



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

PostPosted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 2:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

generalgiap wrote:
I am not wearing rose colored glasses or dark tinted sunglasses.

I and many others have had a different experience concerning visas in Vietnam. I have never had any issues getting a visa or an extension because I have worked for reputable EFL schools in HCMC and the schools have been responsible for getting my visa.

Can't comment on visa issue in Hanoi.

If you work for a reputable school in HCMC, you will Probably not have any problems regarding your visa. Of course, there is always the exception. The following schools, ILA, ACET, Language Link, Apollo, RMIT and others provide visas for their teachers.

If you have a 3 month visa in HCMC, it is generally pretty easy to extend it twice. It costs between 70-100 usd per extension, possibly cheaper. After the second extension, it can be difficult depending on the political climate, time of year etc.

You can get 3 month visas in Cambodia at most of the travel agencies.

I also have numerous friends who are independent teachers who have a two year temporary residence visa-The Tam Tru- with work permit, costs between 600-700 usd. A good price if you ask me, about a dollar a day.

I meet teachers all the time who have visa problems, most are working for cowboy outfits, independent teachers, most are unqualified and can't get a job at one of the better schools. They also don't want to be managed and generally have problems no matter where they are working.

Vietnam has changed but if you are qualified and experienced and don't mind working at one of the better schools in HCMC, you can find a good job and save a lot of money depending on your lifestyle.

If anyone is interested in a contact for visas in HCMC, send me a pm.


Naw, General....you're respectful in your disagreements......though i STILL differ with you on getting Vietnam Dong OFFICIALLY (e.g. - at a bank) changed into USD.....but that'll be a post in the future.....

I had heard through numerous sources that there is ONE RENEWAL PER VISA ALLOWED - hard and fast with no exceptions.....guess ya musta heard differently......

...also, as a side note to getting an in-country visa renewal: PLEASE BE ADVISED that your visa renewal MUST BE IN THE CITY WHERE YOUR FIRST ORIGINALLY LANDED IN VIETNAM!!! So, if you flew into Ha Noi San Bay Noi Bai three months ago, you can NOT make a trip down to a travel agency in Ho Chi Minh City and get a $50 - $100USD renewal....nope - it's the $175 sticker-shock renewal in Hoan Kiem for you, Cowboy (this is through personal experience before I had obtained my Work Permit/Residence Permit)....and vice-versa.
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esbam2002



Joined: 26 May 2011
Posts: 54

PostPosted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 7:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I actually was just in Phomn Penh last month getting a new visa, and no problems....just filled out a form, answered some questions about my length of stay, paid $110, and on my way with a 3 month B3 Multi entry visa....I did though get a paper through a travel agency though....
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generalgiap



Joined: 03 Sep 2011
Posts: 95

PostPosted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 10:11 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
ROM WHAT I'VE BEEN TOLD, no, there are NO visas issued at the land borders.....international airports only. You COULD go to the Vietnamese Embassy in Phnom Penh, but I have been told that all THEY give you is a 30-day visa because you are coming in OVERLAND (as three-month visas are ONLY available coming in from an International flight).


I stated the following:
Quote:
You can get 3 month visas in Cambodia at most of the travel agencies.


ESBAM wrote


Quote:
I actually was just in Phomn Penh last month getting a new visa, and no problems....just filled out a form, answered some questions about my length of stay, paid $110, and on my way with a 3 month B3 Multi entry visa....I did though get a paper through a travel agency though....


I have never heard from anyone besides this website that 3 month visas are only available from an international airport. This is of course completely false.


Quote:
I had heard through numerous sources that there is ONE RENEWAL PER VISA ALLOWED - hard and fast with no exceptions.....guess ya musta heard differently......


This is also false, 3 month visas can be extended numerous times, in fact I know numerous teachers and have personally extended teachers visas 5 or 6 times, one issue regarding extending the 3 month numerous times is whether you have left the country during this time. The Govt etc does not like to extend visas numerous times for foreigners who have not left the country for a long time, why-who knows.

Quote:
also, as a side note to getting an in-country visa renewal: PLEASE BE ADVISED that your visa renewal MUST BE IN THE CITY WHERE YOUR FIRST ORIGINALLY LANDED IN VIETNAM!!!


This is also false.

I have been in Vietnam for a long time and have been working for a few reputable EFL schools in the HR Department. My responsibilities have included obtaining visas for teachers. I have had a few problems getting visas for a few teachers and extending their visas but for a majority of teachers there are no problems. In fact, when there are issues, the teachers contract and the school's business license generally takes care of it and of course some tea money.


BEWARE of postings that include must, no exceptions, [b]onlyetc. Vietnam is a country that is constantly changing due to the political climate, the phase of the moon, etc etc.

I look forward to discussing obtaining foreign currencies in Vietnam.
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esbam2002



Joined: 26 May 2011
Posts: 54

PostPosted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 12:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

LettersAthruZ wrote:
I had heard through numerous sources that there is ONE RENEWAL PER VISA ALLOWED - hard and fast with no exceptions.....guess ya musta heard differently......


I would disagree with this too. As I said I had to go through the new visa process last month, after getting 2 extensions, which was actually like 6 or something since I changed passports, due to expiration, and played off the new one that was empty for a while. Anyway everyone I talked too, like 3 different people, all said you can still get multi extensions on your visa, but normally around a year in country is when you have to leave and come back. Of course though having a work permit which allows visa extensions for the length of it, as I was told, but also the 3 year temporary residency permit you can get with it as I know a teacher who has one, or a 5 year marriage visa can go longer....

Not all "reputable schools" help with visas, though Cleverlearn may not fit in here. I was there 2 years ago and once I hit the one year mark they couldn't do anything for me, and had to go to Cambodia the first time. Now though everything seems to have become about the work permit, which is a pain for me not because I don't have the legalized documents, but finding a school that will actually do it. They all seem to want you to have it, but they don't want to be the ones to give it to you.
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LettersAthruZ



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

PostPosted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 7:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

All of my other points have been told to me by friends who have had experienced these situations themselves
BUT THIS??

generalgiap wrote:


Quote:
also, as a side note to getting an in-country visa renewal: PLEASE BE ADVISED that your visa renewal MUST BE IN THE CITY WHERE YOUR FIRST ORIGINALLY LANDED IN VIETNAM!!!


This is also false.

I have been in Vietnam for a long time and have been working for a few reputable EFL schools in the HR Department. My responsibilities have included obtaining visas for teachers. I have had a few problems getting visas for a few teachers and extending their visas but for a majority of teachers there are no problems. In fact, when there are issues, the teachers contract and the school's business license generally takes care of it and of course some tea money.


REALLY??

This is false�?

Soooo....you were privy to the conversations that I had with FIVE DIFFERENT TRAVEL AGENCIES IN HO CHI MINH CITY SOME MONTHS AGO REGARDING obtaining a visa extension for my visa that had originally been obtained at San Bay Noi Bai in Ha Noi??

REALLY?

Thee same five reputable (two of them are extremely popular and VERY reputable with Tay and Visa handling) travel agencies who all have most likely been in Viet Nam a lot longer than you and more likely than not have a far more of a "....good relationship...." with the Powers That Be in the Ministry of Immigration than you do?

REALLY?

THESE SAME FIVE travele agencies who ALL told me that they CANNOT take a visa ORIGINALLY ISSUED AT NOI BAI and extend it in Ho Chi Minh City and that I would have to go to Ha Noi City to extend said visa?? Regardless HOW MUCH tea money I offered to throw at 'em?


....but, hey....if you say so......I have no reason to doubt you.
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DNK



Joined: 22 Jan 2007
Posts: 236
Location: the South

PostPosted: Thu Sep 15, 2011 4:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm going to step in here to note a few things.

1. We have a thread on this topic somewhere down the list that's fairly recent and includes my (now a little dated) experiences and received knowledge on the subject. This thread seems a bit unnecessary given that one is still fairly recent.
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=90466

2. Said knowledge was that you can extend a multiple entry visa 2x, get another single-entry visa without an extension, and a final 1-mo (expensive) visa after that without leaving the country. That was from a travel agency my school contracts out their visa work to.
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mark_in_saigon



Joined: 20 Sep 2009
Posts: 837

PostPosted: Thu Sep 15, 2011 10:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
REALLY??

This is false�?

Soooo....you were privy to the conversations that I had with FIVE DIFFERENT TRAVEL AGENCIES IN HO CHI MINH CITY SOME MONTHS AGO REGARDING obtaining a visa extension for my visa that had originally been obtained at San Bay Noi Bai in Ha Noi??

REALLY?

Thee same five reputable (two of them are extremely popular and VERY reputable with Tay and Visa handling) travel agencies who all have most likely been in Viet Nam a lot longer than you and more likely than not have a far more of a "....good relationship...." with the Powers That Be in the Ministry of Immigration than you do?

REALLY?

THESE SAME FIVE travele agencies who ALL told me that they CANNOT take a visa ORIGINALLY ISSUED AT NOI BAI and extend it in Ho Chi Minh City and that I would have to go to Ha Noi City to extend said visa?? Regardless HOW MUCH tea money I offered to throw at 'em?



He is not saying he knows exactly what happened in your case, he says he knows that there are outlying cases, and your mileage may vary. He goes on to say something like, beware of posts that say ALWAYS. Yes, your information is GENERALLY the case, but not ALWAYS. I personally got stamped in HCMC, then Ha Noi (yeah, that one was a bit harder), then again in HCMC, (who acted stupid about it because it had been stamped in HCMC first, then HN), but it did get stamped. The chain of events DID happen, and I am sure similar visa adventures have happened with others. This is not to disparage your list of 5 agents or however many told you "no can", it just means that the concepts of ALWAYS, MUST, NEVER, don't really mean the same thing here that they do in our cultures.
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LettersAthruZ



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

PostPosted: Thu Sep 15, 2011 4:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

mark_in_saigon wrote:
This is not to disparage your list of 5 agents or however many told you "no can", it just means that the concepts of ALWAYS, MUST, NEVER, don't really mean the same thing here that they do in our cultures.


Right, Mark....you'd think as long as I've been here with all the changes I'd seen that I'D REALISE THAT! You are indeed correct - nothing is set in stone here!

However, to make blanket statements such as "This is false - that is false" by implying that YOU somehow screwed up and that anybody can legally obtain blah blah blah by just asking me for advice.....I dunno....

Suggesting that posters PM me for paperwork help with renewals and currency withdrawal help to Tay nations???

Seen enough hucksters here in this country......don't really need to see anymore.....
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mark_in_saigon



Joined: 20 Sep 2009
Posts: 837

PostPosted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 2:01 am    Post subject: in the North Reply with quote

I see you are in the north. I spent a bit of time up there, but most of my time has been in the south. I understand the experience up there is quite different. Seems there are some times we can use the concept of ALWAYS, yeah, when we tie it to the concepts of CHAOTIC or GOOFY. Hope you guys in the north are having as much fun as we are down here. Don't know how long it will last, but it is one hell of a ride.
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generalgiap



Joined: 03 Sep 2011
Posts: 95

PostPosted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 6:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I wrote




Quote:
I look forward to discussing obtaining foreign currencies in Vietnam.



Quote:
If anyone is interested in a contact for visas in HCMC, send me a pm.


A-Z wrote

Quote:
Suggesting that posters PM me for paperwork help with renewals and currency withdrawal help to Tay nations???

Seen enough hucksters here in this country......don't really need to see anymore.....


I guess when people are proven wrong over and over by numerous posters, they continue to make false statements. As I stated before, if you want a contact for visas pm me, and i will send you the details and you contact them. Also, discussing obtaining foreign currencies has nothing to do with sending me a pm for details concerning currency withdrawl to western nations.

Not to be disrespectful, but you need to take a course in English and admit to your distortions and fabrications that others have pointed out on this thread. Best of luck.
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