Any Updates on the newly passed 12 month tourist visa for US citizens

Chris when my wife was in Hau Giang extending our VECs in December she asked about it and was told that as far as they know its still under discussion. At what level? Your guess is as good as mine.

Hi Chris, do you have a link we can refer to? and this is TOURIST visa not vec. yes

Mark,

This is what Chris is talking about:

http://tuoitrenews.vn/society/31980/vie … s-official

Rick

Ta

Mark,

Chris says he is married to a local girl, but he has a tourist visa that he renews every 3 months. I think its a VEC and he's just not calling it by the right name. He should apply for a TRC.:

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=541937

Charmavietnam posted it and its well worth doing, if you qualify.

Rick

This is an update to the news link you posted.  http://m.thanhniennews.com/travel/vietn … 55859.html   The story says it passed already, but I can't find any other info about when it will start.  And my wife is an American also, not a local so no luck on that visa route lol. Thanks for the responses on this btw. Any info will help.

looking really promising Chris, thanks for all your searching

Will this be renewable or extendable?

Hi Chris,

From what I heard, if you're married to a local, you are eligible for a 5 year resident card. I have no information on the fees involves though.

Anyone who can confirm this, I'd be very greatful.

/Martin

Its three years and there is a sticky thread at the top of the page.

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=541937

thecozmoz wrote:

Hi Chris,

From what I heard, if you're married to a local, you are eligible for a 5 year resident card. I have no information on the fees involves though.

Anyone who can confirm this, I'd be very greatful.

/Martin

Eligible for a 5 year 'Visa Exemption', with 90 day exit/entry required.  It cost me $10.00 USD the first time and $10.00 every three months.  Submitted a week prior to expiration date and usually returned within 4 working days.  The TRC I believe is only good 2 or 3 years.  I do not know what the cost is for one. 
I was by an AmVet  on Friday who has a 'Visa Exemption' that they stamped for 6 months...not 3.  Anyone hear any news on this change, if it is?    I actually saw the stamp this morning...6 months.

I have a 5 year Visa exception cert, being married to a Vietnamese. Last December I went to Hong Kong for a couple of weeks and on my return at Tan Son Nat airport the immigration bloke stamped a 6 month permit (valid to June 2016)  to stay in my passport free of charge. I went to the police station the next day and got the usual bit of paper.

Earlier this month I went to Hong kong again and on return, was again given a another 6 month stamp in my passport, valid until August 2016. The day after I got back I did the usual trip to the police station, but the police bloke declined to issue me with an updated police chitty, saying "come back in June".

eodmatt...the "come back in June" would sound about right. 
If I end up getting a 6 month visa stamp...they can come to me at a proper time during the day and they can bring the paper...If immigration's gives me 6 months...it's for 6 months...I have nothing to do and nothing to say to the local police here.  I've 'itched at them several times and walked away. 
I've argued at every turn over the past dozen years...then get very loud and they don't seem to want that...
Hope I get the 6 month stamp...
Later

The 6 month stamp is obtained when re-entering the country, not stamped when you go to do your normal 3 month stamping.

It's about time Viet Nam did away with this ridiculous stamping, but hey, it's all about the money and controlling those pesky expats.

Guess it's time for me to take a hike outside the country again...tks

Anthony64 wrote:

Guess it's time for me to take a hike outside the country again...tks

I guess you're in Saigon so it's a short trip to Moc Bai.

colinoscapee...a bit further North now...in DaNang...I actually enjoyed the trips to Moc Bai and to the casinos and back.  I haven't tried the drive yet to Lao Bao yet...picking up a Laos visa prior to my trip may save me a lot of time as well.

Ok, good luck with that. I do a run to Moc Bai and get the 6 month stamp, its nice having that extra three months. Even better when they finally scrap the whole stamping process.

Hello Mark

I have been in Vietnam now for almost 2 1/2 months.

This is Chris from Washington state. How are you ? I had to reconfigure my identity here as I lost the old Windows system.
Now operate as my pen name in the political / geopolitical discussion rooms.
You knew me before my handle: Half Centurion.  Okay I made it here met my lady and it was good , but not good enough. There were some things missing , or I am just to stubborn. I do not like being ordered about.

So by being fair to myself , and sometimes stubborn I lost my lady. We just did not share enough things together. She was always super fixated upon money. Sadly this and the fact i wanted to keep working in photography killed our relationship.

Being with her was nice in many ways , but life was shrinking into a dull formula. My fault , and hers.

I tried so many things to liven our lives up , she just wanted to live a simple quiet existence on her terms.
Only hers.

No good.  Chris loomis from Washington state , and yes I am on my second 90 day visa now. Cheers Mark.

Bye.

Here's any update, well kind of anyway:

http://vietnamnews.vn/politics-laws/293 … -week.html

"The adoption of the Agreement of visa issuance between Việt Nam and the United States is also on the agenda. — VNS"

I have a distinct impression that some of the liberalization of visa rules for US passport holders is in response to reciprocity requirements of the TPP.  As of now, every candidate for US president, including Clinton who negotiated most of it,  is talking about throwing the agreement out if elected.  If the agreement, which is very beneficial to VN is not ratified by Congress before Obama leaves office, VN could be walking back some of their recent liberalizations after the US elections.

THIGV wrote:

I have a distinct impression that some of the liberalization of visa rules for US passport holders is in response to reciprocity requirements of the TPP.  As of now, every candidate for US president, including Clinton who negotiated most of it,  is talking about throwing the agreement out if elected.  If the agreement, which is very beneficial to VN is not ratified by Congress before Obama leaves office, VN could be walking back some of their recent liberalizations after the US elections.

https://ballotpedia.org/2016_presidenti … trade_deal

Budman1, my new avatar is inspired by yours.

Where is this place you go to get the six month visa ( double 90 day Visa ) and is it multiple entry ? If so I would like to try the same process with same agency.

Thanks: Half Centurion ~ 

Half Centurion - My post here probably won't help you much but I hold a 6-month Multiple Entries DN Visa, which was issued from the Vietnamese Embassy in Abu Dhabi! Maybe this same option is available to you more regionally, like in Laos or Cambodia, not sure ... It took 20 minutes to process with 0 fuss. Absolutely great embassy there in Abu Dhabi - but like I said, probably of little help to you.

I'm just bumping so that I can stay up-to-date on this

http://tuoitrenews.vn/society/34100/vie … egislature

Not a law yet.  Scheduled for a ratification vote this month.  Stay tuned.

http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/govern … izens.htmlhttp://tuoitrenews.vn/society/34100/vie … egislature

Hope for best.

The TPP It is not explicitly mentioned but the article refers to reciprocity since Vietnamese are granted one-year tourist visas to the US.  If you want the one year visa, I suggest you write your Congressman and Senators in support of the TPP.

Budman1 wrote:

http://tuoitrenews.vn/society/34100/vietnam-to-issue-oneyear-visas-to-us-citizens-legislature

Try best ; with the horrible illegal immigration
from Mexico and Latin America and the resultant crime and dependency costs the air has been poisoned on Left and Right in USA.
This is because of current administrations encouraging of illegals from South. This is KILLING any chance of LEGAL immigration.
This is sad political fact in current economy In USA. Simply said you love Vietnam , as I do ... Marry the lady you love.

Be real : Commit .

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.p … 08#3179007

Check out posts # 14 and #16. The person is claiming that the 1 year Visa's are already being issued. 1st, I didn't know that there is a VN Consulate in Hawaii like I stated and 2nd, the NA isn't even voting the subject till the 9th of April.  I hope this thread doesn't turn into  one that's full of BS and misinformation as the ones back in Jan last year did when the new visa laws were implemented here.

Half Centurian: Check your information. Net immigration from Mexico to the US has been NEGATIVE for years!

According to http://www.vnembassy.net which I got to via a link on the Vietnamese Embassy in the US web site, there are Consulates in San Francisco and Houston; not Hawai'i.

Ignore both of atomiccolm's posts (#14 & 16) in the post referred to above.

So the vote on this is supposed to be today, April 9?

If you hear anything about the NA voting, keep us updated.

Zep--

My wife told me last night that the matter was under consideration and that a decision will be made very soon. With Pres Obama visiting next month I reckon there is more than a fair chance that it will be agreed.

Where is Pres Obama planning to visit - Hanoi or also HCMC ?
Hopefully that opens the flood-gates to Investors and other good things.

We will enjoy the security apparatus (ie. local + Secret Service) in action.
My oh my, where will the scooter buzzards go then with blocked roads ?

As more information comes available I'll post it:

http://www.thanhniennews.com/politics/v … 61048.html

Please post only information about the subject to this thread.