Making photocopies, notorising and translating documents and badgering people in your home country to help you make photocopies, notorise and translate more documents. Welcome to Vietnam.
I haven't read much online regarding the new visa crackdown, one which seems deadly serious this time around.
Gone are the heady days of the 6 month business visa, which used to be available to any and all. When approaching the end of the validity of those visas, your passport would be submitted and a new 6 month multiple re-entry visa pasted in there. I myself did this for the nearly five years I have been based in Vietnam.
A restructuring of the system, basically to try and account for all the foreginers working in the country (and the tax they should be paying more importantly) means that no more 6 month business visas will be issued. Those remaining in country on such a visa (such as myself) will be offered one 3 month visa extension (single entry) in which period of time it is expected that the applicant will have (or be applying for) a work permit. My understanding is that as long as the application is in the process of being done then there will be no problems.
To get a work permit, according to a work email, you need:
1. Letter of application (Form No. 3)
2. CV (Form No. 4)
3. Copy of bachelors degree (or higher diploma): the copy must be certified by Consulate General + consular legalized in Expat’s country, then translated to Vietnamese by Notary Public
4. Health Check-up Certificate. Note: Validation of Health Check-up certificate: 06 months
5. Criminal Records.
Note: + Criminal Records issued in foreign countries must be certified by Consulate General + consular legalized in Expatriate country + translated to Vietnamese by Notary Public
+ Validation of Criminal record: 06 months since the date of issue
In case out of date, apply the LY LICH TU PHAP at So Tu Phap (Department of Justice) for the Expat. To do this, the Expat must provide:
a- 2 certified Passport & visa
b- Attestation of provisional residence, issued by local police
c- Application form (Form No.2/TP/LLTP1)
6. Four (4) color photos, 3*4cm (bareheaded, front side, clear face & ears, without eye-glasses, & taken not more than 01 year ago)
So, for those with no degree certificate or 'recognised' qualifications in what they are doing, a work permit is hard to come by.
Once a work permit is granted, it is then possible to get a temporary residence card.
Personally I have another option, which is the permanent residency card. This is a much simpler application process which we are currently going through for myself and Louisa. I believe this will be three years initially and indefinitely extendable.
http://www.eng.hochiminhcity.gov.vn/eng/news/default.aspx?cat_id=602&news_id=469
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
38 comments:
Why do you want to raise your daughter in VN? Her future is not in VN
Wow. I'm trying to figure out the best way to articulate on how rude/stupid that comment is...
Anyway. I'm facing this issue myself right at the moment. Apparently, one month extensions to visas are still pretty easy to come by. 3 month visas are possible if you do it out of the country.
I've also eligible to apply for a permanent residence card, but when we last looked at this about 18 months ago, we were told that they are almost never granted. How is your application progressing so far? I think not being employed in Vietnam complicates things for me.
I went through similar lops when i went back to VN to marry my wife there. At that time, they didn't tell me everything I needed to know. I had to run back and forth from Saigon and Phu Yen province to get all my documents in order.
MrCerulean - Yes, not sure how the Immigration department will feel about people who do a visa run every time their 3 month tourist visa expires...but that is a possibility.
Anonymous 1 - 'Almost never granted' is an absolute lie! The law clearly states the eligability of foreginers for permanent residency and as such there is no way you can be denied it if the application is all in order!
Oh, and David, I couldn't disagree more..
I couldn't disagree with David more too.
Thanks for this post. Very interesting.
One thing you didn't mention - unless I missed it that you need an employer willing to go through this. Am I wrong?
The sad thing about the work permit situation is that everyone wants to be legal but most employers aren't willing to assist them to get permits.
Ultimately the foreigners pay the price for employers not valuing employees highly enough to bother with the paper work.
I hope you keep blogging on this - I'd love to hear how you get on.
Hi Steve,
I think now the case is that most people HAVE to be legal or face some issues. MrCerulean mentioned one month extensions but that is no way to be living here with a family!
The situation for self-employed foreginers is not clear to me, of course if you have an employer they *should* be providing the work permit for you.
My school is undertaking this at the moment, and my degree/PGCE was sent back to London for notorization (the school organised this). However, I don't have a criminal record check from the last 6 months, so I have to wait until January so I have been resident here for 6 months again after returning from England so I can get a local criminal record check.
Same here, my employer is doing the best it can to get me registered. There were problems when I first came out because my notarised documents went missing but that's been resolved(although I'm not really sure how as the local consulate was refusing to have anything to do with educational qualifications when I took them up personally). I've had my medical and tomorrow I pick up my police check. My current visa runs out on the 26th so it'll be interesting to see what length of visa I get next.
Presuming you still don't have a work permit amasc it should be a 3 month single entry visa. That is what the new policy seems to be, but please let us know.
How many parents in that country wish they can raise their children in the US or non communist country to give them a better future. Here you have a chance but choose not to.
It's David again!
You haven't got a bloody clue what you are talking about have you?!
Vietnam isn't perfect, but my family will have a better life here than we could ever have in 'the west'.
In fact, you may have inspired a post for me - why life in Vietnam is a very wise choice indeed.
It just doesn't make sense to me that you would give up potential earnings in the west at the prime of your life to make pennies in VN.
Vietnam is where I am from, so I will want to eventually move back after my retirement.
Working as an accountant over there, I made $120 a month. I have to work the rest of my life just to survive. As a cpa over here I am making a great living and will have a 7 figure retirement income which will never happen if I have stayed in VN.
I am sure you can have a nice life in VN if you can clear 2K a month, but how long can this last? nothing is long term in VN - everybody is always trying to make a fast buck and run- in my opinion it's not a stable environment.
For me I rather build my fortune in the West and retire in the East...just my 2 cents
Anyone know if this will also affect 6 month multiple entry tourist visas, or it is only about business visas?
FINALLY an explanation of the new visa rules. You won't believe how much trouble I've had trying to get information on this -- and I work for a state-run company.
I have one of the new 3 months extensions and it will be my last. By the way it is still multi entry but a lot more expencive than the old 6 month multi
RE the last anonymous post:
I know where you're coming from.
Information is real problem in Vietnam and for me it has come to the point that is not worth the effort any more.
Reuben:
6 month multi entry visas are business visas, this is the type that has been axed. I have only seen tourist visas valid for 1 month.
Just to add, my agent called the new (no questions asked) visa an "expert visa" whatever that means.
Hey,David
It is vietnamese like you, that is why Vietnam will never become a great coutry to live in. Every one who has an education wants to leave. No boby wants to stay and build the country. I am a Vietnamese Canadian and I an engineer over here. I make a great salary, but lately I have been thinking about going back to Vietnam to help rebuilt the country. I want to do it now when I am still young and useful not when I am old and useless.
Yes, I agree with New Saigon - I don't think as a tourist you can get a 6 month multiple entry visa... that was the business visa which was available to ANYONE, tourists and expats alike. I think tourist visas are 3 or 1 month issues?
You're right - my previous visa was category B3, which is "issued to foreigners entering Vietnam to work with Vietnamese enterprises". So this change basically means that you're only allowed to stay in VN on a permanent basis if you're working. What about retirees?
Reuben that's right (if you mean by working - having a work permit).
Retirees are just one of the kinds of people who must have seriously unanswered questions at the moment. People retired but living here, also part time / self employed peoples...I really don't know what the answer is.
I am investigating the permanent residence application as well, but a 'visa exemption' is as far as I have got...
Are you handling the permanent residence application yourself, or going through a 3rd party?
You do have to wonder how these decisions are made, and if any sort of "sanity check" is applied before they are passed into law.
We're committed to living in Vietnam, at least for the medium term, but these sorts of things highlight the importance of not putting all your eggs in one basket, when that basket can be turned on its head without warning. Another example is the recent increase in the land use duty, which may end up costing us unknown thousands.
This is interesting: http://www.vietnam-visa.com.vn/HOME/noi_dung.asp?cat=2
They mention a "six month multiple tourist's visa" as distinct from a B3 visa.
We have a lawyer helping us but I will be going to the immigration office soon to figure this out as best I can. A friend has been told it is 3 years. Chi was told it is 5 years. It's running around in circles, different answers to the same question.
That page posted with the different visa categories, sorry to say but might as well forget about that!
Came into to work this morning to find a teacher from school was 'detained' at the airport coming in from Bangkok...things are not getting any better (after one night in a custodial hotel she was 'released').
This place is the visa agent for Sinh Cafe:
Ánh Sao Thiên
20 Trần Hưng Đạo, Q1 TPHCM
0838360789
They said that as I'm married to a Vietnamese citizen, I can apply for a visa exemption/miễn thị thực, which is valid for 5 years, but I can only stay in VN for 90 days at a time.
http://www.prlog.org/10151448-5-year-vietnam-visa-exemption-for-overseas-vietnamese.html
This isn't as good as a permanent residency card, but it may be easier to obtain.
The official site for visa exemption certificates:
http://mienthithucvk.mofa.gov.vn/Default.aspx?alias=mienthithucvk.mofa.gov.vn/en
You can fill out the form online, print it and submit it either in Vietnam or to a Vietnamese embassy.
The main advantage of this, for people like me who aren't working for a company in VN, is that you don't need a work permit - all you need is a marriage certificate.
Reuben - this is the same thing Chi and I have been applying for- but do you require some kind of paper work from YOUR government to say you can remain in Vietnam?
Jon - I'm intrigued... do you mean you need written permission from your home government as one of the required documents for the visa exemption application, or do you mean you need such permission to live overseas full stop? Australia doesn't stop its citizens from living wherever they like, but I assume the UK doesn't either?
Of course I don't need permission to live abroad (we haven't reached that stage yet..) but apparently this (piece of paperwork) is part of the application process for permanent residency - I am still trying to establish exactly what it is.
Right, but the permanent residence card and the visa exemption certificate are two separate things, afaik.
Yes...I just spoke to someone else doing the same process, you can get this letter from the British Embassy for 1 million dong...and it costs $100 to apply, nothing to renew it. 3 years permanent residency.
Good luck with it. I'll be interested to hear all the details if your application is successful.
I heard the visa application office closed down for three days last week to try to cope with the backlog. Good work except I am now five days past my visa expiry date and my landlord is starting to show signs of stress. On a good point admin reckon they can get me one of the new "expert" multi entry visas which should keep me going up to getting my work and residency paperwork. I'll keep you posted
What's the new 'expert' multi-entry visa then??!!
From what I can work out it's just another name for the three month multi-entry visa. No particular expertise apart from that needed to do you normal job is being asked for.
nice posting!If you are going to Vietnam and concern about the visa, I suggest you to make visa on arrival online. It is very easy and convenient now. You just copy your passport and scan it and then send it to the professional visa online operator. you could pay 20$ for doing online if you have from 3 person up, if only you , it costs 25$. You may wait 2 days to receive the letter of arrival approval. Then arrive in Hanoi or Sai Gon airport, show it to custom officers and pay 25$ for stamp fee.
Here the link for you to refer:
http://www.visaforvietnam.org
The best place for freelance projects is freelancing sites. Freelancing sites are the best option for part time home based business and freelance jobs. There are many types of work available at freelancing sites
www.onlineuniversalwork.com
Post a Comment