Menu
Expat.com

Volunteer work as way to get long-term visa or TRC?

Post new topic

hyagly256

Is this possible? Working as a volunteer in order to get long term VN residence?

If it's possible, I wonder how one would find an appropriate situation.

Also, I would not want to work Monday to Friday, 9 to 5, and would prefer to work from home.

And I assume no work permit required?

Thoughts? Easy? Impossible? Pipe dream?

THIGV

Two thoughts:

As the most often mentioned volunteer jobs seem to be either English instruction or working at orphanages, such work probably would be away from home.    You could take in students at home but see my #2 below.  Volunteer medical work would also be possible but of course one would have to be qualified. 

A recent posting told of someone who had been doing volunteer work without a work permit being blacklisted by immigration.  I am sorry that I can't find it now and that the search function on this site is not very robust.   :sosad:   Just imagine that the immigration officials are people who would never work for nothing, therefore they may not be able to comprehend your doing so.  Their assumption could easily be that if you are working, you are being paid, maybe under the table, and hence need a work permit and payment of taxes as well.

GuestPoster1236

It happens.....that’s why I ditched  volunteering at a free English club.

A guy showed up one day & started asking questions about what I get paid & did I have a work permit.   Politely told him to go find a qualified teacher , get them a work permit ,a tax file No and start paying them.   I’ll be lying on the beach “working” on my tan now.

Also suggested he start picking up the “tab”$ for all the free snacks & drinks I supplied.

Last I heard from him was as I was walking away......he was trotting behind me like a little pup.....sir ,sir ,sir

Jim-Minh

I remember another post that described the fees you must pay in order to do volunteer work. The amounts were not inconsequential.

OceanBeach92107

hyagly256 wrote:

Is this possible? Working as a volunteer in order to get long term VN residence?

If it's possible, I wonder how one would find an appropriate situation.

Also, I would not want to work Monday to Friday, 9 to 5, and would prefer to work from home.

And I assume no work permit required?

Thoughts? Easy? Impossible? Pipe dream?


AFAIK, you still need to be sponsored, and that will cost the sponsor money.

To use your own words, it does seem like a bit of a pipe dream.

Why?

I've  been told there are already organizations here, approved by the government, sponsoring volunteers for various projects.

From what I've been told (not firsthand knowledge) the volunteers pay a pretty penny for the privilege of volunteering here for limited time periods (I've heard up to 90 days, but I'll guess that varies).

So, as is often mentioned here, if you start doing here for free that for which someone else charges, that someone is likely to complain to immigration.

If someone here can correct anything I've said go for it, since I don't have first-hand knowledge.

hyagly256

Thanks for the replies. Guess I'll have to start searching for a wife.

Jlgarbutt

That wont take long....

If a woman smiles at you here the  you have a good chance.

GuestPoster1236

Jlgarbutt wrote:

That wont take long....

If a woman smiles at you here the  you have a good chance.


Does that include the old,toothless lady at the wet market?

Articles to help you in your expat project in Vietnam

All of Vietnam's guide articles