Asia - Vietnam Visa "Approval number?"

I'm traveling to Vietnam as part of a package tour in February (with Tauck) and have a visa question. Does one really need a "visa approval number" to apply at the embassy? I've gotten my fair share of visas, but this is the first time I've seen something like this. If you don't have one of these magical numbers, the embassy says they will apply for one for you for an additional charge, but I'm trying to avoid that.

It seems that the tour operator or your "host in Vietnam" can obtain the approval for you, but Tauck doesn't seem to know much about it. I'm applying for the visas in person rather than using a visa service.

Does anyone ever get an approval number in advance? Or do people usually just apply without one and have the embassy do it?

Thanks much.

I'm traveling to Vietnam as part of a package tour in February (with Tauck) and have a visa question. Does one really need a "visa approval number" to apply at the embassy? I've gotten my fair share of visas, but this is the first time I've seen something like this. If you don't have one of these magical numbers, the embassy says they will apply for one for you for an additional charge, but I'm trying to avoid that.

It seems that the tour operator or your "host in Vietnam" can obtain the approval for you, but Tauck doesn't seem to know much about it. I'm applying for the visas in person rather than using a visa service.

Does anyone ever get an approval number in advance? Or do people usually just apply without one and have the embassy do it?

Thanks much.

I've gotten half a dozen visas the last few years and I've never heard of such a thing. Perhaps it is something related to a visa on arrival program. I believe Americans can do visa on arrival if it's approved in advance.

There have been a number of threads in this forum describing the visa process, but some are probably buried under more generic subjects. Most people mail their applications to the Consulate in San Fran, as the service is excellent. I now go in person to the UN mission in NYC since my mailman nearly ruined a trip by delivering my passport/visa to the wrong address.

Here's a link to the consulate's visa process, including an application. If you decide to phone them to get the correct fee and method of payment (instead of e-mailing), be very patient. It may take you a few hours before somebody picks up the phone.
http://www.vietnamconsulate-ca.org/vietnamvisa.htm

Thanks for the San Fran link. I've seen the other threads that praise their service out there. Since I'm in the Washington, DC area, I was planning to go directly to the embassy. Interestingly, the embassy's visa info page: http://www.vietnamembassy-usa.org/consular_services/visa_info/ clearly says that this approval number is needed (unless you want to pay the embassy extra for it) while the SFO consulte link makes no mention of it!

I think this is where the visa is approved in Vietnam rather than at your local embassy. It could then be issued at your embassy or on arrival.

I get my visa approved in Vietnam and get "the number". I then go to the London embassy and get the visa issued on the spot. I can get a 6 month multiple entry visa this way.

If I just pitched up without a number, the normal service would be a week - and getting a multiple entry is a bit complicated.

Have a great trip!

Here is how I understand it. When you go to Vietnam, you need a visa. You can't just show up at the airport and pay a fee as in some other countries where you get true "Visa on arrival".

There are several ways you can get a visa

1. The default is submit paperwork at your local Vietnamese embassy. They process paperwork, get their own internal approval in Hanoi, issue your visa. Cost varies by country, but from what I have heard in the $70+ range in most places. Takes several (i.e. 4-5+) days, again varies.

2. Your tour organizer does the legwork in Hanoi to get your approval, providing you with a visa approval code. You take that to the embassy and get your visa. Takes a shorter amount of time and costs less, since they know from the code you are approved.

3. Your tour organizer gets the ministry in Hanoi to issue a letter stating you are approved for a visa, which you print out and bring to Vietnam. Copies are sent to Vietnam immigration at the 3 main international airports who effectively then issue a visa on arrival based on that letter on the spot. They charge a $25/passport stamp fee. It's not true visa on arrival since you need to pre-prepare.

Historically 2 and 3 made sense only when you were part of an organized tour and they did the legwork. You can now find various services on line where a Vietnamese travel agency just obtains the letter in #3 for you for about $25. We have done this for our upcoming trip since it is faster and cheaper than #1 - I travel too much to give up my passport for a week to the vietnamese embassy.

I use the E-Visa, or Visa on Arrival service for Vietnam (it's so much easier!)

Several travel agencies in Vietnam will help you to get an Approval Letter from Vietnamese Immigration to enter the country. You apply online (cost is approx $25. for the letter), they email back the Approval Letter, you print out the letter, show it to your airline when boarding, and actually receive your hard copy visa when you land in Vietnam (must be an airport arrival). You pay an additional $25. when you arrive in country for the visa. If you google for "visa on arrival vietnam", you'll see many offers. I use this one with great success:
www.visatovietnam.org

Everything is explained at this site, but be sure to bring along 2 passport pictures, $25. in USD, and contact info for your stay (hotel with address works fine). The service applies to these airports: SGN, HAN and DAD and applies to all international flights around the clock.

Just for the record, I ended up getting my visa at the Vietnamese Embassy in Washington (bizarrely located in an office suite in a downtown office building). Never got or even asked about the "approval number" - just paid the $65 ($25 for the "visa fee" and $40 for the "processing fee"). Five business days later - presto - visa in hand ready to go. Only spent about 5-10 minutes in line during the two visits. Very easy.

I use the E-Visa, or Visa on Arrival service for Vietnam (it's so much easier!)

^

I use the E-Visa, or Visa on Arrival service for Vietnam (it's so much easier!)

Several travel agencies in Vietnam will help you to get an Approval Letter from Vietnamese Immigration to enter the country. You apply online (cost is approx $25. for the letter), they email back the Approval Letter, you print out the letter, show it to your airline when boarding, and actually receive your hard copy visa when you land in Vietnam (must be an airport arrival). You pay an additional $25. when you arrive in country for the visa. If you google for "visa on arrival vietnam", you'll see many offers. I use this one with great success:
www.visatovietnam.org

Everything is explained at this site, but be sure to bring along 2 passport pictures, $25. in USD, and contact info for your stay (hotel with address works fine). The service applies to these airports: SGN, HAN and DAD and applies to all international flights around the clock.

This looks great. The multiple entry visas are a helluva lot cheaper than those from the NYC office.

Just for the record, I ended up getting my visa at the Vietnamese Embassy in Washington (bizarrely located in an office suite in a downtown office building). Never got or even asked about the "approval number" - just paid the $65 ($25 for the "visa fee" and $40 for the "processing fee"). Five business days later - presto - visa in hand ready to go. Only spent about 5-10 minutes in line during the two visits. Very easy.

This has been my experience on multiple occassions. I think this is a consulate, not an embassy. I could be wrong though.