Job Discussion Forums

mark_in_saigon · Joined: 20 Sep 2009 Posts: 837

That 1 year price you note may be one you got outside of VN. If you can get it at that price (especially inside VN as an endless extension process), great, give us the contact info. I recall I got a one year in PP once for a low price, but I think once you are here endlessly you pay a higher price. I am not trying to shop this guy to you folks, but my info is that this is more or less the "standard" price for those endlessly staying.

Recall this thread is really about visa availability drying up, not pricing. My response is that for those willing to pay the price, visas are out there. I personally am not trying to debate if it is extortion or not, I think that has already been established a long time ago.

Your mileage may vary.

calidan · Joined: 06 Aug 2014 Posts: 44

I paid $175 for my 3-month multiple-entry at the Vietnamese Consulate in San Francisco. It doesn't make sense to me that people can pay less than that. Do other consulates have different prices?

Mark, you said "even if they become rules, the common workaround will still allow you to stay in without a border run." Sorry for being daft, but what do you mean by the common workaround? (I've yet to do an extension).

Prof.Gringo · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 7:10 pm Post subject:

calidan · Joined: 06 Aug 2014 Posts: 44

Yeah, I've done the VOA before, but the website I typically use didn't offer a 90-day/multiple, so I went to the consulate instead. With the visa situation changing seemingly on a whim, I figured $175 was the current going rate, VOA or otherwise. Like I said, it doesn't make a lot of sense to me that it can be done cheaper than at the government office, which presumably has no "middle man" but perhaps they charge more in high-rent locations (like San Francisco)?

Would you mind PM'ing me your agent's contact info, Prof.Grino, if he or she is in HCMC? Thanks!

RustyShackleford · Joined: 13 May 2013 Posts: 449

For the record, Tokyo embassy cost about ¥7000-8000 or roughly $65-75 USD for a 3-month/multi as I remember. Dunno what/who they're doing at San Fran.

mark_in_saigon · Joined: 20 Sep 2009 Posts: 837

Big difference in pricing for these different scenarios:

1- lowest price should be when you are out of the country, not sure if a visa run qualifies you for this same lower price, and that can also vary depending on the country you ran over to.

2- getting extensions INSIDE the country boosts the price. The longer you are in, the more the price may go up, though it may level out at some point. I am thinking the high end is 125 single entry extension 175 multi entry. This is in HCMC, where it seems extensions are endlessly available if you have the money.

3 - HN is a different category, and if you enter or extend there, then your case is more difficult. Costs can be higher, extensions shorter or even not available. For guys staying long term, it may make sense to enter in HCMC and send your passport back for stamping, even if you are staying in HN.

As always, your mileage may vary, rules can change tomorrow, advice may conflict, bargains may be found and premiums may be paid.

I'm With Stupid · Joined: 03 Sep 2010 Posts: 432

mark_in_saigon · Joined: 20 Sep 2009 Posts: 837

Some of these folks may be not paying taxes, so the higher visa cost may be more than offset for some folks, especially the ones paid at the higher rates.

Really, I have always found life here to be quite a bargain. Even the visa costs, consider what it costs a VN to get a visa for the U.S. Some of these guys pay tens of thousands to get over on some scam deal.

We can constantly see these wild variations in prices for stuff here that often do not reflect what the cost should be. You can pay $5 for a bottle of water in the Sheraton when that same bottle is 25 cents in a shop (and they don't even serve it cold in the Sheraton). Most stuff is quite a bargain, unless you just do not shop around, don't have native help, or are just begging for the high end product (or high end provider).

Compared to a few years ago when visas were maybe you can get one and maybe you cannot, this current climate seems okay to me. Who knows what the next go around will be like?

I'm With Stupid · Joined: 03 Sep 2010 Posts: 432

mark_in_saigon · Joined: 20 Sep 2009 Posts: 837

I clearly stated it was some scam deal, maybe you missed that part. My point is, we can stay here endlessly, legally, with a relatively low cost. Our VN counterparts are lucky indeed if they can get in to our countries. Some of them resort to all manner of corruptions to get over. For us to be here, no problem, just pay the money, you are good. The expense seems pretty small, to me. Of course, it would be nice for it to be even less, but in a way, I do see some logic. It might tend to keep out some of the undesirables, but I am not sure I always equate wealth with desirability. My country does something like this also, giving legal status to Asians who can cough up big bucks to start a business in the U.S. Supposedly it is good for the economy.

We may also want to consider the situation in Thailand, which has recently turned against the endless extensions in a big way.

Prof.Gringo · Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 4:57 am Post subject:

pinot · Joined: 11 Jun 2014 Posts: 17

If you do it without an agent it costs $145 for a year visa, the change in January I have been informed is actioning resolution 47 which lifts the 5 year & the qualification to or..

TRH · Joined: 27 Oct 2011 Posts: 340 Location: Hawaii