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Riding One
Joined: 25 Jul 2006
Posts: 63
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 Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2014 8:32 am Post subject: Visa Extensions suspended as of Junly 12, 2014 |
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The visa renewing/extending business in Hanoi have just told me that as of yesterday, no visa extension are being given.
How long this will last is anyone's guess.
We really are a necessary evil. |
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sigmoid
Joined: 21 Jan 2003
Posts: 1276
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| Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2014 5:54 am Post subject: |
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The choice is simple. Stay, whine and be a victim. Or, leave.
If people start refusing to"jump through hoops" and leave en masse, the authorities might take notice. Until then, expect more of the same. |
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TRH
Joined: 27 Oct 2011
Posts: 340
Location: Hawaii
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| Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2014 8:21 am Post subject: |
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| Although I have a work permit, I opted to forgo a residency card as I have a 5 year visa "exemption." However, the last time my wife went downtown for my eighth quarterly extension, the officer asked her if I was working or still just visiting after two years. My wife wisely gave the "correct" answer but perhaps the question is also reflective of a general tightening. A "fixer" once told me that visa exemption stamps are limited to four quarters. I dismissed his statement as simply an attempt to drum up business, but perhaps I may regret not having gotten the residency card especially since it has dropped from two years to one. |
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ExpatLuke
Joined: 11 Feb 2012
Posts: 744
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| Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2014 11:46 am Post subject: |
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So far my process for getting a new work permit has gone like this:
DoL: You need a criminal background check and medical check.
Me: Here's a criminal check from Vietnam and a medical check.
DoL: You need 5 years experience and a relevant degree.
Me: Here's my degree and I've taught ESL for 6 years.
DoL: Your degree doesn't have your major clearly shown on it, we need a copy of your transcripts.
Me: Here's my transcripts.
DoL: We need letters of confirmation from your previous employers for the past few years.
Me: Here's the letters of confirmation.
DoL: You need a criminal check from America to show the time you've lived there even though it was over 3 years ago. If you have an old check from America, that will suffice.
Me: My employer from 3 years ago still had my check in their files. Here it is.
DoL: This needs to be authenticated and notarized.
Me: Please just kill me now.
The process is still on-going. The guy at the Department of Labor asked the Vietnamese women doing the go-between "Why are you trying so hard to keep these foreigners in Vietnam? They're all crazy. Why don't you just let them leave?" |
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ieltsteacher102
Joined: 24 Jun 2014
Posts: 37
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| Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2014 12:19 pm Post subject: |
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| I guess peoPle have diffrresnt experiences my school just got me a two year residence permit 208 usd took about 2 weeks no hassles oh well i cant complain life is good |
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I'm With Stupid
Joined: 03 Sep 2010
Posts: 432
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| Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 2:44 pm Post subject: |
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| I've heard rumours that they've changed the rules back again so that this 5 year thing no longer applies. |
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I'm With Stupid
Joined: 03 Sep 2010
Posts: 432
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| Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2014 4:03 pm Post subject: |
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Story
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Foreign experts, technicians and teachers will only have to show that they meet professional qualifications to apply for work permits, instead of also having to prove many years of working experience.
The Vietnamese Government issued Resolution No. 47/NQ-CP on 8 July 2014 ("Resolution 47") on 8 July 2014 to improve conditions for doing business in Vietnam. Among other changes, Resolution 47 addresses foreigners working in Vietnam. Concerned government agencies will have to amend current labor regulations, before the changes become law. However, legislative action is expected by the end of 2014. |
Looks like they've realised their mistake. |
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Prof.Gringo
Joined: 07 Nov 2006
Posts: 2236
Location: Dang Cong San Viet Nam Quang Vinh Muon Nam!
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| Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2014 1:34 am Post subject: |
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| sigmoid wrote: |
The choice is simple. Stay, whine and be a victim. Or, leave.
If people start refusing to"jump through hoops" and leave en masse, the authorities might take notice. Until then, expect more of the same. |
Nice idea, but unless the flood of new arrivals stops, a few of us who actually post here leaving VN would just be a few drops against the flood... |
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Okie from Muskogee
Joined: 31 Jan 2014
Posts: 55
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| Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2014 11:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Hee-haaw! Flood of more americans are comin'. I'm bringin' 5 of my friends and they're brinin' 5 of their friends,...... |
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Greg444201
Joined: 17 May 2014
Posts: 11
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| Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2014 8:51 am Post subject: Work Permit Hassle... |
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I came to Vietnam in January of this year and I agree with some of the other posts here about the nit-picking of every little tiny detail...After 6 months I finally received my Work Permit that is good for 2 years and any province of Vietnam...Too bad I told my employer a month before I got it finalized I'm taking a couple months break to get away lol...but the good thing is I'll have it for at least 2 years so if I decide to come back and teach..I don't have to go through the BS. Also just a side note I was able to get my WP not having a Uni degree and with an online TEFL/TESOL cert I got a couple years ago  |
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TRH
Joined: 27 Oct 2011
Posts: 340
Location: Hawaii
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| Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2014 9:21 am Post subject: Re: Work Permit Hassle... |
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| Greg444201 wrote: |
| After 6 months I finally received my Work Permit that is good for 2 years and any province of Vietnam...I'll have it for at least 2 years so if I decide to come back and teach.. Also just a side note I was able to get my WP not having a Uni degree and with an online TEFL/TESOL cert I got a couple years ago |
You might want to check lines 5, 6, and 7 of your permit. Line 6 should have the name of your employer and line 7 the address, so its really not a permit to teach anywhere but a permit to teach for one employer and at one address although there is probably some flex on the latter. If your line 5 says Cử nhân that means Bachelor and your employer probably had to falsify something (and pay extra) to get the permit. One teacher that I know who did not have a degree paid a "fixer" $1000US for his permit. Your leaving after only 6 months probably means that your employer has suffered a loss on your employment. This must be part of why some schools don't want to pay for permits.
I feel strongly that the work permit process is unnecessarily complex and expensive but abuses just add to the bureaucrats feeling of justification in the process. |
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Greg444201
Joined: 17 May 2014
Posts: 11
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| Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2014 9:34 am Post subject: in Reply... |
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| Quote: |
| If your line 5 says Cử nhân that means Bachelor and your employer probably had to falsify something (and pay extra) to get the permit |
Actually it doesn't say that..Technical worker is what mine reads. And as far as the abuse in the system, the people who take the bribe are the problem not the "fixers" ..Vietnam is far from the only place this happens so lets not act like this is a new phenomenon in the teaching world. I've taught in Uzbekistan...so enough said lol |
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Okie from Muskogee
Joined: 31 Jan 2014
Posts: 55
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| Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2014 11:05 am Post subject: Re: in Reply... |
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| Greg444201 wrote: |
| Quote: |
| If your line 5 says Cử nhân that means Bachelor and your employer probably had to falsify something (and pay extra) to get the permit |
Actually it doesn't say that..Technical worker is what mine reads. And as far as the abuse in the system, the people who take the bribe are the problem not the "fixers" ..Vietnam is far from the only place this happens so lets not act like this is a new phenomenon in the teaching world. I've taught in Uzbekistan...so enough said lol |
Good for you! I always say, if you try to do things the right way in vietnam, most of the time you won't go anywhere. It takes a little bit of "persuasion" to get things done. |
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ExpatLuke
Joined: 11 Feb 2012
Posts: 744
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| Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2014 12:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Your work permit is void if you're no longer employed with the school that got it for you. Just useless slip of paper. |
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skarper
Joined: 12 Oct 2006
Posts: 477
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| Posted: Fri Aug 08, 2014 4:00 pm Post subject: |
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That's my understanding too - void if not working for that one particular school. This is another reason to delay getting one until you have an employer you can put up with more than the typical 3-6 months.
I wish they would change this rule and have a WP that licensed a qualified teacher for 2-3 years at a stretch - but they surely have their reasons not to and it's NOT to keep the standard of teachers high. |
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