Getting a Vietnamese Business Visa in the U.S.

Jurisdiction: 

Area of Law: 

 

Vietnam

A visa is an indication that the person holding the document has been granted permission to enter the country that issued it.  However, the possession of a visa is not in itself a guarantee of entry.  Rather, the issuing country may revoke a visa at any time.  The principal function of a visa is to allow the host country to verify the identity of the visa applicant before their entry into the country. 

 

Vietnamese Business Visas

 

Asia has become a common location for U.S. companies to do business, and travel there is often necessary.  Vietnam requires that United States travelers show a valid passport and a valid Vietnamese visa when entering the country.  In order to obtain a Vietnamese business visa, you must submit an application to the Vietnamese Embassy.

 

United States citizens may apply for business visas that are valid for one month to one year, depending upon the nature of the business visit.  Most business visas are granted for a six month period.

 

How to Apply

 

In order to qualify for a Vietnamese business visa, you have to first fill out the application, which can be found online.  After the application has been completed, you must print, sign, and mail it to a Vietnamese Embassy.

 

The regular processing time for a Vietnamese business visa is five business days.  Expedited processing can be done for an additional fee, which will still necessitate one or two business days after the Embassy receives the application.  Keep in mind that no mail can be delivered to the Vietnamese Embassy on the weekend or holidays (including Vietnamese holidays).

 

In addition to the application form, the following is required of the applicant:

 

Passport - Your original passport must have a minimum validity of six months from the date of application and one month prior to the application.   It also must have one visa page left blank.  In the case of an emergency, a loose-leaf request may be made to submit a copy of the passport’s photo and detail pages instead.

 

Photographs – One recent, two square inch photo must be attached to the application form.  A loose-leaf request requires one additional photo stapled to the form.

 

Fees – Fees vary based on the type of visa and the citizenship of the applicant. The fee for stamping the visa can be found here.  The Vietnamese Embassy recommends that the applicant contact the consular via email (consular@vietnamembassy.us) or telephone (202-861-2293 or 202-861-0694) in order to attain information on other applicable fees.  These fees must be paid in the form of a money order, a cashier’s check, or a certified check, payable to “The Embassy of Vietnam.”

 

Applicants for a Vietnamese business visa must provide the approval of a Vietnamese sponsor in addition to the above requirements. Applications for multiple entry business visas must be approved prior to arrival by the Vietnamese Immigration Department.

 

If the applicant requests that the visa be returned by mail, a prepaid USPS return envelope or return label must be included as well.  Applicants applying together may provide a single envelope.  For international shipping, a money order made payable to the Embassy of Vietnam must be included.

 

For further information, it is recommended that the applicant contact the Visa Section of the Vietnamese Embassy.  Operating hours are 9:30-12:30 EST Monday through Friday.

 

Phone:            (202) 861-2293            Fax:            (202) 861-1297

                      (202) 861-0197                               (202) 861-0694

 

Email:            consular@vietnamembassy.us