Job Discussion Forums

[andwar]

Basic Facts of Life: Permanent Visa and Marriage to a Vietnamese Citizen

I am a US citizen. I will soon be married to a Vietnamese citizen. She lives in Saigon � never lived outside of Vietnam � possesses a Vietnamese passport (is not an overseas Vietnamese). We will live in Saigon. What are my visa options? I have read lots of conflicting information:
1) 5 year � renewed every three months - intended for overseas Vietnamese & their families.
2) 2 year � renewal ever 2 years
3) 3 year � does this document exist?
4) Does Vietnam offer anything similar to a US �Green Card� � a permanent residents visa that doesn�t need to be renewed?
5) Aside international football players, have any foreigners in Vietnam gained a Vietnamese passport? I understand that Vietnam permits dual-nationality.

[mushroom_season]

Five year definitely. It only costs $10 every three months after you got your visa exemption. When you are more settled you may want to consider temporary or permanent residency which may make your life easier.

[andwar]

How does one apply for temporary or permanent residency? Do most foreigners (who are married to Vietnamese nationals) follow this route? Does permanent residency need to be renewed (i.e. every 2 years) or is it truly permanent - similar to US green card?

[mushroom_season]

Permanent residency is not worth pursuing unless your wife owns property or has a well paying job and can then sponsor you. Citizenship is not worth pursuing unless you are willing to give up your other nationality and can read and write and speak fluent Vietnamese.

Go to 254 Nguyen Trai Q1 and make further inquiries with your wife there. But only do so after you obtain your marriage certificate from 141 Pasteur St.

[spycatcher reincarnated]

As of 1 July 2009 the Vietnamese government allows dual citizenship. Before this date it was illegal, but the Vietnamese government didn't care about this issue. Loads of children of mixed marriages have at least two nationalities, one of them being Vietnamese.

I see the main advantage of being a Vietnamese national is that you can own as much property as you like.

I see the main disadvantage as being that if you ever decide to leave Vietnam, Vietnam will still tax you on your worldwide earnings.

[LettersAthruZ]

[Jbhughes]

The last time I checked what the UK does with the taxation issue is that you need to pay tax on your worldwide income unless either 1) the country you are resident of has a taxation agreement with the UK (VN has such an agreement and VN taxes are less than that of which you would pay in the UK) or 2) you lose your residency status in the UK - something you lose after being away from the UK for 3 years (amongst other regulations).


I would like someone to correct me should I be incorrect, as it's been awhile since I've checked this information out.


Does anyone know anyone who has obtained Vietnamese citizenship since they accepted duel citizenship in 2009?