6 month multi-entry Vietnamese visas
Dec 7, 2009, 1:58 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Hsinchu (Taiwan), Saigon, London
Programs: EVA (diamond), A3, BMI, VN
Posts: 2,960
6 month multi-entry Vietnamese visas
Is it just me... or are 6 month visas to VN becoming difficult to get?
A number of agencies seem to have stopped offering them over recent weeks (no problem with my last one which has just expired) and fees for shorter ones are creeping up.
A number of agencies seem to have stopped offering them over recent weeks (no problem with my last one which has just expired) and fees for shorter ones are creeping up.
Dec 7, 2009, 4:01 am
#2
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,048
You can still get a 6 month tourist Visa.
Dec 8, 2009, 1:55 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Hsinchu (Taiwan), Saigon, London
Programs: EVA (diamond), A3, BMI, VN
Posts: 2,960
OK thanks for the quick response. I only make short, but regular trips to Vietnam these days.
I got a friend in VN to double check - she said agencies (such as the one I usually use and Vietnamstay) can't do 6 month tourist visas either at the moment.
It's a real pain. Apart from the extra expense and inconvenience (bad service in the London embassy, no embassy in Taiwan), I can't add pages to my UK passport so now every 3 months or so I lose another page plus stamps elsewhere. (A 48-page UK passport costs £90.50.)
It's funny - for years my VN friends justified not giving visa-free access to Europeans on the basis of reciprocity. At least when they go to the UK a 6 month visa is fairly standard.
[rant over]
I got a friend in VN to double check - she said agencies (such as the one I usually use and Vietnamstay) can't do 6 month tourist visas either at the moment.
It's a real pain. Apart from the extra expense and inconvenience (bad service in the London embassy, no embassy in Taiwan), I can't add pages to my UK passport so now every 3 months or so I lose another page plus stamps elsewhere. (A 48-page UK passport costs £90.50.)
It's funny - for years my VN friends justified not giving visa-free access to Europeans on the basis of reciprocity. At least when they go to the UK a 6 month visa is fairly standard.
[rant over]
Dec 8, 2009, 6:36 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Hsinchu (Taiwan), Saigon, London
Programs: EVA (diamond), A3, BMI, VN
Posts: 2,960
It might have done, or maybe they are slow to implement a new policy.
Ever since I can remember, London was very reluctant to issue 6 month visas (tourist or business) without approval from VN. This has never been a problem as I could always get approval.
Not a massive issue, just a nuisance.
Ever since I can remember, London was very reluctant to issue 6 month visas (tourist or business) without approval from VN. This has never been a problem as I could always get approval.
Not a massive issue, just a nuisance.
Dec 8, 2009, 6:51 pm
#6
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: JFK
Programs: AA LT Plat
Posts: 453
Got one about a month ago - 6 month / business. Used CIBT. Visa was issued via San Fran Consulate (I am based in NY). I had an invite from a Vietnamese entity though.
Dec 9, 2009, 6:27 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Hsinchu (Taiwan), Saigon, London
Programs: EVA (diamond), A3, BMI, VN
Posts: 2,960
Ha ha ha... more digging...
Yep.. alot of "no" coming back from agencies in VN right now. (Not disputing that people are still getting them, especially with the right level of invite.)
The reason is that too many foreigners were working illegally on them when they should be on proper work permits.
So now a new service is available: 3 year resident's permits + work permits are being sold. None of the usual checks required... for the appropriate fee.
Yep.. alot of "no" coming back from agencies in VN right now. (Not disputing that people are still getting them, especially with the right level of invite.)
The reason is that too many foreigners were working illegally on them when they should be on proper work permits.
So now a new service is available: 3 year resident's permits + work permits are being sold. None of the usual checks required... for the appropriate fee.
Dec 18, 2009, 7:12 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
France obviously has close relations with Vietnam and I have found the Vietnam embassy in Paris to be very friendly and easy to use. But I don't have any current info on multi-entry.
Dec 20, 2009, 7:10 pm
#10
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,048
The business visa is harder to get because the VN Government has finally realized all the missed taxes they could have been collecting over the years. Anyone could get a 6 month Business visa, without a work permit. They want a piece of the pie now.