Job Discussion Forums

[EFL4Life]

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[RustyShackleford]

Every document you submit needs to be notarized. I think you can get it done in VN and they'll not care but best to err on the side of caution and get it done while still in your state.

[EFL4Life]

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[Okie from Muskogee]

For US citizens, I think criminal check should be done at national level (FBI criminal background check) because some states don't share their information at the federal level either intentionally or unintentionally by mistake.

One can run a state criminal check in California (where one may have or may not have never lived in) and run another in New York (where one may have or may not have never lived in) criminal check and get different results.

[calidan]

I guess the question is what do the Vietnamese accept? I've heard anything from local (county) police department clearance, to state clearance, to FBI clearance. I opted for doing State of California, but somebody else told me I only needed the local county sheriff report. I figured California DOJ is better, but who knows?

Anyone? Bueller?

[RustyShackleford]

I got mine done from my county and they were happy with it.

[TRH]

I have to agree with the Okie. If you are from the US, the FBI check has to be the best. I got a local check in my state when I came. It was notarized but then I had to go to the court to have the notary signature verified, then the office of the Lt. Governor (Hawaii is unique) and subsequently send it to DC for the State Dept. authentication. (Remember, no state level apostilles for Vietnam.) Each step took time even when hand carried as all the local offices demanded that I leave the document and return when called.

The FBI web page now says that since last year they no longer will send the records check directly to the State Dept so you will have to mail it to DC after receiving it. But the best thing is that it is unassailable. No local Saigon or Hanoi bureaucrat will reject it just because he never heard of your town or even state. My guess is that national records from other countries would have the same advantage over local records. The FBI is a 30 day process but if you plan ahead it may only be two weeks net longer than going the local check route. Soon after I started my local check, I started the FBI process and both were fully completed at nearly the same time.

What I would be curious to find out is: will the embassy or consulate here authenticate an FBI check or must it go to DC. Does anyone here have any first hand experience. The FBI will only mail a check to a US address. If you are here, you need a cooperative partner where you get your mail but it would be easier if they could forward it here directly instead of to DC and back first.

[aaaronr]

I had to turn down a job because I couldn't trust that the FBI could process it in time. Their website said 30 days to process and then mail via priority mail. Site also says they get 70,000 requests per week or month.

How long did it take for those who had FBI checks?

I want to get an idea of average turn around so I can plan ahead next time.

Also, does VN gov't want it exactly 6 months from time of departure/arrival, or can it be the same month? I'd like to have my documents in hand before I leave. It seems strange to me because I don't think you can leave the country if you have a felony charge hanging over your head (not sure about misdemeanors).

[TRH]

[aaaronr]

Thanks for the reply, TRH.

So, I could get my FBI check in May and arrive in Vietnam in September and I'd be ok for 3 months to get a job?

[TRH]

[Prof.Gringo]