Job Discussion Forums

[Mushroom Druid]

It's official.

The 6 month and 1 year visas have been cancelled/stopped in Phnom Penh.

For many of us, in particular those in Hanoi, this will mean problems.

Perhaps these visas will be reinstated. As usual, nobody knows.

[vabeckele]

And it just gets better...pfff.

[alohahapa]

I know someone who can help extend visas.
Send me a pm

[Mushroom Druid]

[alohahapa]

Mushroom Druid wrote

[mark_in_saigon]

That is pretty big news on the PP deal. Here is my SPECULATION:

I do not see some big push to get rid of the foreigners. That should be rather widely reported and tied to some other actions as well. I do see the VN feeling that the foreign interaction is positive on balance, and especially in terms of the knowledge and financial transfers. Even with teachers, my suspicion is that for every dollar earned over here, 80 cents is spent here, and it could be more. We are not some big financial drain to them, and at this time, they do prefer having the foreigner to teach English, as well as whatever else we teach their students.

There is also a lot in the news about VN needing to improve ties with the western nations, for economic reasons as well as a counterbalance to the Chinese. This headline below is in today's Than Nien, along with a picture of Obama shaking hands with the VN president.

For Vietnam, trade with US top priority

My most insightful VN friend always reminds me that the visa is all about money. If you think about it, they are losing money by giving a 1 year for 250 or whatever it was rather than multiple 3 months for 180 (or whatever we pay). My knowledge is that the 3 month extensions are pretty much flowing like water if money is flowing in their direction. Further, the previous restrictions on how many extensions one can get before running over to Cambodia seem to be diluted, of course all of this can be maddeningly vague. My thinking is the process will be to go to Cambodia once and then get a year or more extensions (in 3 month increments) without problem, other than the additional cost of course. Your mileage may vary. It would be especially helpful for folks to weigh in on how long they have been able to stay recently by using 3 month extensions.

On the guys in the north, it might be worth your while to start coming into HCMC to get your stamp, then when you go for extensions, send your passport to a southern visa agent. So you are in HN, but bypassing the HN "no can do" mentality on extensions. We have seen many times that once you are stamped in at a HN location, the southerners do not want to extend your visa here, like it is radioactive or something.

[ExpatLuke]

Just out of curiosity, what is it that stops people who plan on living here for a year plus from getting their residents cards? They're good for 2 years if memory serves and there are no visa renewal hassles every 3 months.

Is there something Im unaware of that stops people from going this route?

[alohahapa]

I have no idea but I would rather have the resident or work permit than doing the visa renewal every three months.

My aunt said many viet kieus who came here for work just think it is easier to just pay for visa renewal.

[TRH]

[ExpatLuke]

[quote="TRH"]

[bobpen]

[TRH]

[mark_in_saigon]

http://tuoitrenews.vn/society/11674/legislators-review-outcome-of-immigration-policies

Since August 1, 2000, when the ordinance on immigration, migration and residence of foreigners took effect, the number of foreigners entering Vietnam has increased by 20-30 percent every year. Last year, the number of foreigners’ arrivals in the country was six times higher than that in 2000.

Along with the increasingly growing number of foreign visitors, around 14,500 projects funded by investors from 98 countries and territories, including Japan, Taiwan, the Republic of Korea and Singapore, are underway in 63 cities and provinces nationwide.

As commented by officials from relevant ministries and departments, the ordinance is a boost to Vietnam’s consistent foreign policy of independence, self-control, peace, cooperation, development, multilateralism and diversification of international relations.

Vietnam’s regulations on immigration and foreigners’ movements and residence inside the country have been simplified, attracting greater numbers of foreigners to Vietnam for travel or business purposes, according to the meeting’s participants.

I will not argue that in some (or many) situations, the friendliness has fallen off. It is quite clear to me that the adulation we sometimes get comes in contexts where they rarely see us, which may be a good argument for staying away from the city centers. But my point is that there does not seem to be some “big push” to get rid of us, which seems backed up by the reported figures noted above, a 20 – 30 percent yearly increase.

If there is some news on a big push to get foreigners out, please share it with us.

[sigmoid]

[Mushroom Druid]

[quote="bobpen"]