You Asked (22-09-2009)

You Asked

(22-09-2009)

I have been in Ha Noi since 1993 and am now settled down with a family. I have to apply for a visa extension every six months and this is a very tiring process.

My wife and I have enquired with all relevant authorities for any leads towards applying for PR- Permanent Residency status, but NOBODY seems to have any such information.

Could you kindly advise us on the followings:

1. Is there such a status as PR in Viet Nam?

2. If there is, who do we see to apply for such status?

Many thanks for your kind advise,

Clement Chin

Regarding to your concern, we have called officer Le Van Le at the Department of Immigration under the Ministry of Public Security and it was confirmed that permanent residency status for foreigners does exist in Viet Nam.

He said that the local Department of Immigration, where you want to apply for the status, will receive the application and arrange a direct interview.

In your case, because your wife is Vietnamese and if she maintains her nationality, there are very specific steps and procedures you need to complete in order to receive PR.

The application procedure, in general, is as follows:

1. Application letter for permanent residency

2. Criminal-background record

3. Diplomatic note issued by the embassy of the country that you hold citizenship in. (a note asking for assistance to the applicant)

4. Guarantee note from your wife

5. Marriage certificate ( the document must be in Vietnamese. If the certificate was issued in your country then it must be translated into Vietnamese and notarised by a functional office of Viet Nam)

6. A copy of your Passport

7. Additional papers that detail your employment and income in Viet Nam.

It is also imperative to use the proper application for the process, which is dependent upon your wife’s permanently registered residence within the country. If she is a registered Hanoian, you can file the application at the Ha Noi Immigration Department at No. 89 Tran Hung Dao Street, Hai Ba Trung District. Le told us that you can contact Ms Kim Anh, who is the person in charge of dealing with these applications, at (+844) 3942 3076. In the event that your wife’s permanent residence is registered in another city or province, you should call that city or province’s Immigration Department for more information. Telephone numbers can be found at the customer service system of Viet Nam Post and Telecommunication (regional code)1080.

We hope that this information will be of an assistance to you. Please, feel free to write us if you have any further questions.

Good luck,
The Editor