How to get Multiple Entry visa for Vietnam

[Matt_Stevens 5]

Well, this is odd. I hit the embassy website and there was no listing of the actual fees fore a visa. That was not the case when I went in 2006. No idea what I spent at that time. It was long ago. I should add I emailed the embassy last week and have received no reply.

I will leave January 16 and return February 12. I need a one month stay and multiple entry since we plan on going to Thailand or Cambodia while staying in Vietnam.

Googling gives me dozens of contradictory pieces of information. What a pain in the @ss. Can anyone explain the truth here?

For those wanting to know, I am a U.S. citizen married to a Vietnamese lady who is here under a K1 visa (we are in the process of removing conditions on her residency).

I wonder if I will have to bring a copy of our marriage license with us to Vietnam since they have those silly rules about no Asian ladies in the room with non-Asian men...??? Imagine being told you cannot sleep with your own wife!

Edited October 25, 2009 by Matt_Stevens

[Anh map 2,098]

This has been posted in this forum a few times already and I'll put the link here again for those not able to seach for it on VJ.

http://mienthithucvk.mofa.gov.vn/Home/tabid/113/Default.aspx

[Matt_Stevens 5]

That's not what I am asking. I want the visa. I am a U.S. citizen. I am just asking about THE COST OF THE VISA, which is different on every single website I check.

I've also read about Visa on arrival and wonder if that is acceptable or not.

[bryonm4 0]

That's not what I am asking. I want the visa. I am a U.S. citizen. I am just asking about THE COST OF THE VISA, which is different on every single website I check.

I've also read about Visa on arrival and wonder if that is acceptable or not.

I have never seen them ever post a fee for the visa Ive always had to call to get it. I just got mine and it was 85$

[toddandhien 2]

Matt, Anh Map was trying to help you out here. You want a visa? and you want to spend a lot of money? If you are married to a VN citizen you can apply for visa exemption for $20. You can't get a multiple entry visa for that money. If you want to know the costs, go to this site:

http://www.travelvisapro.com/visa/vietnam A multiple entry, 3 month validity, normal processing time will cost you $150 from the embassy.

I am married to a VN as well and will be going to VN in December. I have had 6 visas to VN over the last 2 years but I can assure you that I am going for the exemption now that we are married.

[toddandhien 2]

Oh, and about the hotel thing. If you want to stay in a big western hotel in HCM (Sheraton, Caravelle, etc), bring your marriage license. They will not let you and your wife in the same room after 9 PM without it. However, if you stay in a small hotel or away from the city, you won't have a problem either way.

The rules are there because they are trying to prevent prostitution. This is a socialist country, remember? They don't care if you and your wife are inconvenienced.

[Anh map 2,098]

Matt, that's the best option for all of us married to Viet citizens. It costs $20 and is valid for 5 years.

[bryonm4 0]

Has anybody tried that?? I emailed hte consulate about that and they didnt' know anything about it unless they were just giving me a hard time. Here is what I got in reply. I didn't do it because I wasnt sure how to follow there instructions

***************************************

Hi, I just married a Vietnamise and I heard I qualify for a 5 year visa. Can you tell me how I can get this or what I need to do?

Thanks

***************************************

Qui vi co the truy cap trang thong tin dien tu cua Bo Ngoai giao Vietnam:

http://www.mofa.gov.vn/mienthithucvk

de co thong tin chi tiet ve viec mien thi thuc cho nguoi Vietnam dinh cu o nuoc ngoai.

Sau khi ke khai truc tuyen, Quy vi co the in To khai, hoan thien ho so theo huong dan va gui ve:

Embassy of Vietnam

1233 20th St, NW, suite 400

Washington DC 20036

Phi xu ly ho so lan dau: $30

Phi xu ly ho so lan thu hai: $20

Tra bang money order hoac cashiers’check cho Embassy of Vietnam

Neu quy vi muon gui tra ket qua qua duong buu dien, de nghi gui kem 01 bi thu USPS Expressmail da tra tien cuoc phi va de ten nguoi nhan.

Xin cam on.

Please visit the Vietnamese MOFA’s website

http://www.mofa.gov.vn/mienthithucvk

to get informations on Visa Exemption for Vietnamese Residents Overseas.

After completing on line the Application Form for Certificate of Visa Exemption, print it out and send all the requested documents and processing fee to

Embassy of Vietnam

1233 20th St, NW, suite 400

Washington DC 20036

Tel. 202.861.2293/202.861.0737

Processing fee:

for the first time : $30

For the second time: $20

For the return of Certificate and documents, Please include one prepaid,self-addressed, returned envelope. USPS express mail OR FEDEX ARE highly recommended.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

********************************************

[bryonm4 0]

Has anybody tried that?? I emailed hte consulate about that and they didnt' know anything about it unless they were just giving me a hard time. Here is what I got in reply. I didn't do it because I wasnt sure how to follow there instructions

***************************************

Hi, I just married a Vietnamise and I heard I qualify for a 5 year visa. Can you tell me how I can get this or what I need to do?

Thanks

***************************************

Qui vi co the truy cap trang thong tin dien tu cua Bo Ngoai giao Vietnam:

http://www.mofa.gov.vn/mienthithucvk

de co thong tin chi tiet ve viec mien thi thuc cho nguoi Vietnam dinh cu o nuoc ngoai.

Sau khi ke khai truc tuyen, Quy vi co the in To khai, hoan thien ho so theo huong dan va gui ve:

Embassy of Vietnam

1233 20th St, NW, suite 400

Washington DC 20036

Phi xu ly ho so lan dau: $30

Phi xu ly ho so lan thu hai: $20

Tra bang money order hoac cashiers’check cho Embassy of Vietnam

Neu quy vi muon gui tra ket qua qua duong buu dien, de nghi gui kem 01 bi thu USPS Expressmail da tra tien cuoc phi va de ten nguoi nhan.

Xin cam on.

Please visit the Vietnamese MOFA’s website

http://www.mofa.gov.vn/mienthithucvk

to get informations on Visa Exemption for Vietnamese Residents Overseas.

After completing on line the Application Form for Certificate of Visa Exemption, print it out and send all the requested documents and processing fee to

Embassy of Vietnam

1233 20th St, NW, suite 400

Washington DC 20036

Tel. 202.861.2293/202.861.0737

Processing fee:

for the first time : $30

For the second time: $20

For the return of Certificate and documents, Please include one prepaid,self-addressed, returned envelope. USPS express mail OR FEDEX ARE highly recommended.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

********************************************

I guess I shouldnt say they didn't know anything but there response seemed like the didn't know what I was talking about. First I didn't say I was a VIetnamise resident but when they replied they said it was for Vietnamise resident. Second the link they gave me didn't work. The only thing I can think is it is for my wife after she gets her visa here maybe she can apply for it.

[Anh map 2,098]

It applies to you as a spouse of a Vietnamese citizen.

Follow the link posted and you can read all about it.

[Matt_Stevens 5]

Matt, Anh Map was trying to help you out here.

Yes, I know that. I wasn't rude in my response. I simply put in bold what I wanted so there would be no more confusion. That is all.

I had no idea there was an exemption I could apply for. Should I do that now, or get a visa and then apply in Saigon? Not sure I have enough time.

I'm clicking on Anh Map's link right now.

Here is the guts of it...

II. Required documents attached to application for visa exemption certificate

2. With holders of foreign passports being wives, husbands, and children of a Vietnamese citizen or Vietnamese residing abroad, the attached file comprises of:

a. 01 application form for a visa exemption certificate.

b. 02 recent 4 x 6 cm photos with white background, straight face, bare head, without colored glasses. (01 attached to the application form, 01 spare photo).

c. A foreign passport with validity of at least 6 months upto date of entry (a copy attached for competent authority to file)

d. One of documents proving relationship between wives/husbands/children and the Vietnamese residing abroad (a copy attached for competent authority to file)

- Certificate of Marriage

- Certificate of Birth

- A Certificate of relationship with farther, mother, children;

- Other valid documents as regulated by the Vietnamese Law.

- Decision of Adoption

3. The re-issuance or from the second issuance of Certificate of Visa Exemption

In case of applying for the re-issuance the Certificate of Visa Exemption (due to lost of visa exemption certificate or expired visa exemption certificate or issuance of new passport) at the initial issuing competent authorities, the applicant only needs to submit 01 application form with no certification of Vietnamese residing abroad required.

In case of application for re-issuance of Certificate of Visa Exemption (due to visa exemption certificate lost or expired) not submitted to the initial issuing agency, the applicant is required to submit all the documents as per the procedures applied to first-time issuance of Certificate of Visa Exemption.

III. Procedure of the issuance of a visa exemption certificate

Visa application forms, original passports/ permanent residence certificates and other documents proving Vietnamese citizenship and relationship to Vietnamese citizens or overseas Vietnamese can be sent directly or via post. (Original and certified copy)

IV. Time of the issuance of a visa exemption certificate

Within 07 working days since the receipt of complete documents.

V. Document processing fee

Issued herewith Decision (Circular) by The Ministry of Finance No. … Dated….

-First issuance of visa exemption certificate: 20 USD

Edited October 25, 2009 by Matt_Stevens

[toddandhien 2]

yes, you should apply for it now, as long as you can part with your passport for a couple of weeks. I thought you said you were going in January? I would do it here. Do it there and it will be more confusing, I think. I'm doing it here. I will post once I finish the process and give a summary on how it worked.

[Matt_Stevens 5]

I think I'll do it this week. I was worried about time, but sounds like it's no big deal. At that price, you can't go wrong.

So if I read everything right, I need to provide:

Passport

Marriage license (a photo-copy, or an original?)

Two photos

Is that all? Do I need to submit anything from Anh?

I do not see an application to download. Am I blind?

Edited October 25, 2009 by Matt_Stevens

[Anh map 2,098]

Click the "Registration" tab and that gets you to the online fillable form. You have to check the box at the bottom saying you've read and agree in order to get to the application form.

[Matt_Stevens 5]

OK, please forgive me, but this is still confusing. What proof of my wife's Vietnamese citizenship do I have to provide? I have read and re-read everything multiple times and am not clear at all.

When I fill out that online form and hit Complete, does it then have me print the completed form, or is it submitting the form to them online?

And same questions I asked before: Do they require an actual marriage cert for my wife and I? Or can we send them a photo copy? Or do I send an original, which they send back to me, plus a photocopy for their files?