Visas can be extended whilst you stay in Vietnam. However, the cost is quite high. Speaking practically, it is less expensive to leave and re-enter the country. There are a lot of visas for Vietnam depending on which you can apply for moving to Vietnam from US.
These include,
- Tourist Visas: This is for those who wish to visit Vietnam without work for 30 days.
- Official Visas: These are for diplomatic purposes which are issued for different durations. Such visas are issued with an official letter right from the Vietnam government.
- Business Visas: Here, you get 2 kinds of work permits. In case you are transferred to Vietnam from your office, your employer will sponsor your business visa. This will be valid for up to 1 year. However, when you move to Vietnam without a job, business visas will allow you to stay and work in Vietnam for about 90 days.
Residency Card
Residency in Vietnam and immigration laws are highly strict. Moreover, there are several hurdles that you need to cross before applying for residency, while moving to vietnam. Here, the 3 levels of application that you should make are,
- Temporary Residence Permit
- Working visa
- Permanent residency permit
Working Visa
To obtain a working visa, you must be able to prove that you are,
- Over 18 years old
- In a good health
- Having a job offer in Vietnam
- Having no criminal record
Moreover, you should prove that you own all the essential experiences needed professionally. It can either be professional training, undergraduate degrees, or 5 years of employment in your industry. Ideally, a work permit is valid for 2 years. However, bear in mind, while moving to vietnam that you need to secure this permit at least 2 weeks before the date you start employment.
Temporary Residency Permit: Next in the lane comes the temporary residency permit. Under this, there are several categories. Some last up to 5 years but are quite hard to get hold of. To get this, you should get approval to work in any type of business or own a business or be a professional under government approval to study/work in Vietnam.
When moving to vietnam, not to forget, there is plenty of paperwork involved. Hence, it is best to work with a local law firm to ensure you own everything needed for the application.
Permanent Residency Permit: Permanent Residency Permit for expats who,
- Have been residing in Vietnam for minimum 3 years
- Had a temporary residency permit earlier
- Can prove they have a stable income during their stay in Vietnam
Note: Permanent residency cards should be renewed every 10 years.