Permanent Residency in Vietnam

Hi all,
I'm a bit of a novice at forums and this one is the most informative I've managed to find.
I'm an Australian expat married to a Vietnamese lady and we have a couple of kids.
Can someone advise me as to the best way to go about obtaining permanent residency or dual citizinship, as I'm really sick of this visa renewal lark. Apparently there's been a new decree relating to this issue released recently but I can't find anything on it.
We've visited the relative authorities in the province where we reside but the've been less than co-operative. On our most recent visit it was intimated the the stage curtains could be open if we sang the tune titled US1500. Now I don't mind a little cafe dosh but half a years salary is taking the p*ss.
Thanks in advance for any input. Delta.

Good luck,i suspect,although in theroy it can be done,you have no chance,but stranger things have happened,so never say never....

i do believe Vietnam doesn't allow dual citizenship.

Thanks, for the replies. It's more the residency thing I'm interested in. Resident card, whatever, to do away with the visas. I know it's a nightmare to deal with them but I'll give it a shot if someone has been there and can point me in the right direction. Have considered a lawyer but it would probably cost more than the aformentioned 1500.

I looked at getting a permanent residency a couple of years ago and quickly gave up. Among other things they wanted a letter from the German Embassy guaranteeing for my good behavior down the road, obviously they would never give me a document like that. Secondly, I get a resident card valid for 2 years through my job.

Personally, i think USD 1,500 is cheap You might want to go the the closest big city and inquire there as the good folks in the smaller towns often haven't got a clue.

hanno, on 2009-01-14 06:19:45, said:

Yeah, catch22 is what dealing with some of em is all about. The problems I've had have been in our regional capital. But will step it up to The Ministry Of Public Security when next in Saigon with too much time on my hands.

hanno, on 2009-01-14 06:19:45, said:

Yeah, the problems I've had have in our regional capital. The next time I'm in Saigon I'll hit the

Delta, on 2009-01-13 12:15:34, said:

Hi, I wonder if you an expat working here with a workpermit or just a type C multiple entry visa ? If you got a workpermit or u own a business here in Vietnam then u can go to the Immigration office of the city of province with u are now living in to apply for a residence card . If u dont have either one of those i have listed above then should you wait till July 2009 then u may apply for Vietnamese passport

I hope my informations could help u a bit , cheers

Thanks for that. I'm on a B3 visa which I renew 6 monthly. My income is deemed outside Vietnam though. You mention waiting till July and applying for a Vietnamese passport. Has this anything to do with this duel citizen decree that's supposed to have been handed down?? Cheers D.

There is a new rule here which will be affected on July 2009, that allowed the foreigners who are married to Vietnamese to have the Vietnamese passport . also mean duel citizen, so in your case u will have to wait till july to get a vietnamese citizenship as u cant get a residence card .Either u working under a work permit or you own a biz here to be able to get the residence card , cheers

Thanks again for the valuble info. Miss Loan. I just read your latest reply to my wife and she's happier about it all more than I am I think. Maybe because now I'll stop moaning about Vietnamese bureaucracy!! Also thanks to others for the imput. D.

Good , i am just as happy as ur wife because there will be one less moaning foreigner in Vietnam hihihi , and by the way i am no longer Ms but Mrs :)wink wink

oh and by the way , If u ever apply for residence card then u wouldn't have to pay 1500 usd like someone here said , also If i am not mistaken my boss and hubby's residence card only cost 130$ ..

This post has been edited by Kimloannguyenself: 14 February 2009 - 02:08 AM

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for real, how about VK, can they get dual as well

Yes they can if they can prove that they once had a vietnamese citizenship

My VN wife and I are just going through the process of trying to get me a perm res. card - been offered a lot of other types (6-12 months visa, temp. res card) but hitting a brick wall on the one I want - shall persevere, though - does anyone know of any agencies out here that can handle this for you? Would make it a lot easier for the wife and I..

At the same time have the company in the process of trying to arrange a work permit which should result in a temp. res card. (taken 2 years so far - slowly does it..)

I would prefer the perm res card as that allows me to 'exist' in this country, and actually put my name to something (car, bike, apartment, whatever) - so far as I know, temp res card doesn't allow this? (pls correct me if I'm wrong..)

However, if, as you say, Kim, foreigners will be able to apply for VN passports in the near future, this should conceivably mean I would be able to do the above and work here without needing a work permit/res card etc?

If so, that would be sooo sweet

Dunno how the wife would take it though..she's after is a foreign passport for her and our son, and here I am joining the ranks, so to speak..

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This is correct

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Well it doesnt allow u to buy anything but since u married to a vietnamese and after Jan 1st 2009 u are allowed to own an appartment ,

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They said on July 2009 they will allow foreigners who married to Vietnamese to get Vietnamese passport , but will see what happens on July as i dont really trust what a communist said

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Would u mind tell me where u from ? couldnt u pass ur citizenship onto ur son when he was bornt?as fas as i know , my daughter is british as soon as we regiestered ber birth at the local british consulate ( and she's also vietnamese with both british and vietnamese passport )

This post has been edited by TizMe: 10 April 2009 - 07:57 AM
Reason for edit: Fixed up quote tags to make it more readable.

Kimloannguyenself, on 2009-04-09 23:48:20, said:

Hmm not so good - had assumed the only diff between perm & temp res. involved ownership, as they are both for up to three years - if perm. gives no other 'rights'. don't really see the benefit in pursuing it now..

Kimloannguyenself, on 2009-04-09 23:48:20, said:

True - I guess I won't hold my breath too much for that one

Kimloannguyenself, on 2009-04-09 23:48:20, said:

I am ex-Zimbabwean with a South African passport - there is no problem on my son's side, we registered him as VN first with passport, now only remains to register his birth with SA, fill out some paperwork and get him a SA pasport - only problem is that it requires a flight for the three of us up to Hanoi as there is no SA embassy/consulate in HCMC - so once he's a little older, will be making the trip..

What if your daughter is a Vietnamese citizen? Would this apply too?

nehvun, on 09 April 2009 - 06:33 PM, said:

Hi, I am with you on your train of thought. I too am married to Vietnamese in Vietnam. (We are not married in US.) We live in Ho Chi Minh City and we plan to stay in Vietnam to raise our child and build our business.

I would like to "exist" as you say. Have you been successful in getting a PR card?

Kimloannguyenself, on 31 January 2009 - 11:49 PM, said:

Hi Kim Loan,

You seem knowledgeable on the subject. Can you help me find out what I need to do in order to get the Vietnamese Passport you mentioned?

Also, if the passport is not a good option for me, then how do I apply for a permanent resident card? What forms must I get from the US?

Thanks!

Hi,

Is there anyone who can help me get a permanent resident card in Vietnam?

I am married to Vietnamese and we live in Vietnam full time. Our marriage is registered with the Vietnamese Government but not in the US.

I found this on the internet:

The Article 13 of Ordinance 24/2000/PL-UBTVQH10 dated April 28, 2000, on immigration and residence of foreigners in Vietnam is as follows:

1) Foreigners who are residing in Vietnam in the following conditions will be considered for permanent residence:

a) Being unjustifiably oppressed while fighting for people’s freedom and independence, socialism, democracy and peace or for a science cause.

Having contributions in building and protecting the fatherland of Vietnam

c) Being the wife, husband, child, father or mother of a Vietnamese citizen residing permanently in Vietnam.

I qualify for #3 so I can get a permanent residence.

The question is: What forms do I need to get from the US?

Apparently, there are two forms I need from the US

02 bản lý lịch tư pháp có xác nhận của cơ quan có thẩm quyền của nước mà người đó là công dân hoặc của nước mà người đó có nơi thường trú.

Rough Translation: 02 copies of Judicial Certificate which is certified by authorized office of USA government

- Công hàm của cơ quan có thẩm quyền của nước mà người đó là công dân đề nghị giải quyết cho người đó được thường trú tại Việt Nam;

Rough Translation: Diplomatic note of US authorized suggests that Vietnam governments allow you to reside in Vietnam

Can someone please help me with this?

dual not d u e l !! you don't want to get into mischief you know...

either that or you're a big closeted SPIELBERG fan

tophu4u2, on 26 February 2010 - 10:47 PM, said:

She doesn't post here anymore, she got into a huff when someone wrote something that she didn't agree with. Good luck anyway with pr, most people I know don't think it's worth the bother. Hope you don't get dizzy easy, you will be going round a lot circles.