How do you find out if you are blacklisted in Vietnam?

Hello while90,

Welcome to expat.com!

Thank you for asking your question here.

The Vietnam forum is very active. You will be able to find some answers soon

All the best,

Yoginee

Expat.com team

I have been going back and forth from Japan to Vietnam but on my last trip in December I caught coronavirus and had to overstay my allotted two weeks as a tourist
I overstayed by 2 days and had to pay a fine.

I want to return as usual this week but I didn’t realize I might have been blacklisted. Is there anyway I can find out?
quickly?
-@while90

Hello while90, and welcome to expat.com!

The easiest and definitive way to find out that you are NOT on a blacklist is to simply apply for an eVisa.

Apply today, and say by Wednesday, 15/02 (taking into account the Tet backlog) , you should receive approval, which would be confirmation that you are NOT b-listed.

Failing your receiving eVisa approval, and without receiving official confirmation that you are indeed b-listed, the next step to verify that you are b-listed would be to employ the services of a travel agent. If you do use a travel agent, present yourself as needing assistance in completing/submitting the application for the eVisa. No need to mention any other particulars.

While there were initial reports of eVisas being denied to people (blacklisted), in each case it was for an overstay well in excess of your two days, or for other immigration infractions considered more serious.

When you have time please let us know how things worked out.  We would certainly appreciate it, and your feedback/tips/observations will help others.

Again, welcome to expat.com.

I agree with Aidan above; a few days overstay is not that serious and is usually due to extenuating circumstances, as was your case, rather than an deliberate intention to violate the terms of the visa.

Also, it seems like the immigration official would have informed you of any other penalties when you paid your fine, if indeed you were blacklisted.

I know a couple of people who overstayed a year+ and managed to pay only a fine by negotiating through a visa agent. Of course, that was years ago, but one of them is still there in Vietnam...

quickly?
-@while90

I'm going to call a mulligan, and blame it on a "senior moment". I somehow missed the urgency here.

Even at the best of times, the turnaround time for eVisa applications is 3 to 4 days. You posted your question on Tuesday evening, so an approval by Monday (13/02) would be expected, assuming you apply online today.

So, "quickly", you ask? Seek the services of a travel agent in Japan, preferably one with VN experience and influence. The agents have a streamlined route to the eVisa approval process. Reports are 1 or two days, on a rush request. Expect to pay, at least here in VN, ~$25 extra for the service.

Best of luck.

While the Vietnam Immigration Blacklist isn't publicly accessible, overstaying by 2 days and paying the fine is unlikely to land you there. However, for quickest confirmation, contact the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan directly. They can check your individual immigration history and confirm your eligibility for entry. Explain your overstay and fine payment, and politely ask if any restrictions apply to your future travel. This official confirmation will offer you the most reliable and prompt answer.

***

• Vietnam's immigration blacklist is not publicly accessible.
• There exists no VN immigration website which will reveal a person's blacklist status.
• According to the hundreds of reports received from current and former expat.com members, the Vietnam immigration department has never responded to email inquiries (to date).
• Physically attending at the immigration department's offices in Vietnam would (obviously) not be possible if one were blacklisted.

I had asked you here (Link) whether you were still interested in the Philippines? Awaiting your reply.

Guys, what will happen if you fly in Vietnam (HCMC, let’s say), in hopes of getting a visa-on-arrival stamp, and it turns out you’re blacklisted? Because one had an administrative offense and was softly deported from the country before. Will they just say go buy ticket elsewhere and you remain in the transfer zone? What will happen with luggage?

@John777111

I dont think you would be allowed on a plane in the first place without a proper visa.

Guys, what will happen if you fly in Vietnam (HCMC, let’s say), in hopes of getting a visa-on-arrival stamp, and it turns out you’re blacklisted? Because one had an administrative offense and was softly deported from the country before. Will they just say go buy ticket elsewhere and you remain in the transfer zone? What will happen with luggage? - @John777111

Hello John777111, and welcome to expat.com's Vietnam forum.

Please expand on your statement of your committing an "...administrative offense and (being) softly deported...".

Your profile indicates that you are a Russian citizen. Is this correct? If so, under normal circumstances as a Russian citizen you can enter Vietnam, visa free, for a period of up to 45 days. No VOA (visa on arrival) necessary. Should you wish to extend this, you would simply have to do what is colloquially known as a "border run", reentering immediately for another 45 days,again visa free. 

A 90 day uninterrupted stay is possible, but this would require your holding an eVisa.

Hope this helps. Feel free to ask any further questions you might have and we'll do our best to answer you.

Again, welcome aboard. Good to have you with us.

Guys, what will happen if you fly in Vietnam (HCMC, let’s say), in hopes of getting a visa-on-arrival stamp, and it turns out you’re blacklisted? Because one had an administrative offense and was softly deported from the country before. Will they just say go buy ticket elsewhere and you remain in the transfer zone? What will happen with luggage? - @John777111

"My advice" (for the sake of the casual reader):

First, there's no longer any type of casual "Visa On Arrival" available for any nationality.

Visa On Arrival is only available for those who have an official approval letter from the government and there's only three ways to get one:

1. A prospective employer applies for approval from the government and provides you with an email copy of the approval letter to use when boarding your flight and after arrival at the airport, at the Visa On Arrival desk, in order to receive your visa stamp in your passport and THEN officially enter Vietnam.

2. An authorized visa agent helps you arrange a visa approval letter for one of myriad reasons, including special limited tourist visas for foreigners who are unsuccessful when applying for an online e-visa. You also use a visa agent if you are a Vietnam business owner or approved investor or a few other reasons.

3. You are granted a visa approval for various diplomatic reasons.

(Somebody correct me if I've left out another method of obtaining an approval letter).

IF you (@John777111) were to apply for ANY type of approval letter, and IF you were on the immigration blacklist, the letter would never be approved.

Concerning the automatic visa exemptions for certain nationalities (currently 45 days for citizens of Russia) I would highly recommend against flying here to use yours for entry, without being 100% sure that you aren't on the blacklist.

The reason for this: You could probably board a flight to Vietnam with just your passport IF the gate agent or supervisor is aware of Vietnam immigration law.

However, you wouldn't be checked against the Vietnam immigration database, and there would still be the danger of being denied entry to Vietnam by the immigration officer at the entry checkpoint after landing.

So given that uncertain set of circumstances (and your possible minimization of the severity of your infraction) I highly recommend that you apply for your entry visa through a reputable visa agency.

It will cost you more, but they will be checking your name through their contact at immigration.

So if they tell you you are approved and send you an approval letter, it's virtually certain that you won't have any problem entering the country 

Once you are here in Vietnam if you want to Day longer than the length of your visa (90 days max) you can use your free 45 day visa exemption when doing a Visa border run.

Good luck with your plans.

Господи, помилуй!🙏

O.B.

@John777111

I was denied entry at Da Nang due to an error in my visa. I was sent back to Cambodia (where my plane had departed from) almost immediately. I asked if I could be sent to Bangkok instead and was told that the low required them to send me to my point of departure only.

@John777111 Didn't notice that you asked about luggage. My luggage claim ticket was taken along with my passport and rechecked through to Phnom Penh. It's a pretty cut and dried experience. The only silver lining was that I didn't have to pay for the flight and the Cambodian officials were extremely kind and helpful.