Overstay in Vietnam

Someone came and knocked on my door a couple of nights ago and wanted to check my papers, luckily mine is all up to date and he got nothing on me and left empty handed.

Just bear in mind someone is out there watching your every move and waiting to catch a fish anytime soon....

Porkypig wrote:

Someone came and knocked on my door a couple of nights ago and wanted to check my papers, luckily mine is all up to date and he got nothing on me and left empty handed.

Just bear in mind someone is out there watching your every move and waiting to catch a fish anytime soon....

Why would they be checking your papers, you hold a Vietnamese passport?

Porkypig wrote:

Someone came and knocked on my door a couple of nights ago and wanted to check my papers, luckily mine is all up to date and he got nothing on me and left empty handed.

Just bear in mind someone is out there watching your every move and waiting to catch a fish anytime soon....

Your profile says you're a Vietnamese expat in Australia and you're currently living in Australia.  Moreover, your comment was posted from Sydney within the last 45 minutes, so who came to your door, an Australian official?

jonnysharp6 wrote:

Hi all
Due to the immigration not extending visas or companies not providing TRC's . What are the penalties for not renewing the visa during lockdown?
The travel agents and visa agents charge a fortune now for only a 15 day extension visa.
One travel agent advised to overstay until lockdown was lifted.
Any genuine answers to this question?

Don't know about the penalty, but here in Vung Tau, many people already left for their home countries due to the inability to renew their visa.

The acceptable excuse for overstay used to be that you must show every effort to return to your country but there was no option for you to leave (not having funds to buy ticket is not an excuse.)  Even that line doesn't cut anymore because there are flights to take expats back.  Six people I know have bought tickets to fly back to the US and UK in July.  One of them pays exchangeable RT tickets to Florida for $2300 including taxes and fees, only slightly higher than normal but if he wishes to return to VN, he's allowed to change the date 3 times without penalty.

[Post under review]

seek professional advice. Check with your consulate.

I am on long term visa so no need to renew anything but last I heard, the government was just extending them without any thought, though you still need to apply for it.

I guess the bigger question is why not go home if you are on these short term visas costing you tons of money? It means you dont have a working/business visa so assume no income domestically

Porkypig wrote:

I am in Hcmc, I have both Australia and Vietnam passports. The local district police came knocking on my door in Hcmc, he obviously knew who I was, but he did not know I also have a Vietnamese passport, so he was definitely disappointed with the outcome.

Each district in Hcmc keeps an eye on foreigners  staying locally. With the current visa restrictions in place and some expats may overstay, the local cops thinks there is no better time to make a move than now.

Why would you be using a foreign passport in Vietnam, makes no sense. Your VN passport creates less hassle, something not quite right about your story.

[Post under review]

I have been in Vietnam for almost five years and no police have ever come to my door. 

Projecting one personal anecdotal claim into "someone is out there watching your every move" is illogical.

Porkypig wrote:

No, you are right, I stamped the Vietnam passport on my arrival at the airport therefor I did not need a visa on entry. The point is I have been living in Vietnam since 2015 and have been traveling back and forth using only the VEC, I only recently acquired the Vietnam passport. Since I never got around to obtain my Vietnamese ID card or the household red book, the local cops didn?t know I hold a Vietnamese passport.

So, you entered on a VN passport and the police dont know..... youre kidding. You're house registration will show your form of ID.

paulmsn wrote:

I have been in Vietnam for almost five years and no police have ever come to my door. 

Projecting one personal anecdotal claim into "someone is out there watching your every move" is illogical.

Ive been here over 13-years and had the same experience as you, never been visited by Cong An.

colinoscapee wrote:

paulmsn wrote:

I have been in Vietnam for almost five years and no police have ever come to my door. 

Projecting one personal anecdotal claim into "someone is out there watching your every move" is illogical.

Ive been here over 13-years and had the same experience as you, never been visited by Cong An.

Same here nearly 14 years, only one time about 2 years back some (3) officials one with Green uniform came to our door checking who lived in the apartment against their records. Ms My answered the door, all in order & they did not even ask to see me or my Pass Port. Just ticked off on a clip board & went to the next apartment & they did them all.

There are a few Expats here that got refused a visa extension??.they are staying until they get punted.

Plan of attack.   Ditch the bank account , operate thru WesternUnion via a 3rd party.
Get a new SIM card in the GFs name.
Live in a cheap place unregistered.
Keep a low profile & drink under the bed .

They?re now illegal immigrants on the run.

Livin the dream ?

My troll radar is going off at maximum pitch.

colinoscapee wrote:

My troll radar is going off at maximum pitch.

Grrrrr?.
True story mate.

I?m avoiding those guys like the plague.   
They drink a carton of Bivina & smoke 2 packs a day.   
That?s why they?re staying ?put?

Ciggies back home are $40 a packet and beer ain?t cheap either. 
They?ve found their niche here.

PS.?.  If I was an Internet troll , I?d have figured out how to get rid of these question mark things?I?m working on it.

Ontheroad57 wrote:

colinoscapee wrote:

My troll radar is going off at maximum pitch.

Grrrrr?.
True story mate.

I?m avoiding those guys like the plague.   
They drink a carton of Bivina & smoke 2 packs a day.   
That?s why they?re staying ?put?

Ciggies back home are $40 a packet and beer ain?t cheap either. 
They?ve found their niche here.

Yeah, the barfly brigade are a wonderful crew to avoid.

Let's get back to the original question . The best place to get information is at the immigration office (196 Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, P6, Q3 in HCMC) . However, they told me not to worry about my visa expiring whilst I was waiting for a new passport which I'd applied for in December 2020. It was due to expire in February 2021. Subsequently I picked up my new passport in March 2021 and I took all of my paperwork etc.. to their office. I was promptly given an official 4,100,000vnd (21 day) overstay fine which I had to pay at a Vietcom bank. They then gladly gave me a new six month visa which cost me US$10. Having said that, I believe that the overstay will remain as a black mark on my record for eternity, and if the current 'lockdown' lasts until the middle of August? I'll be in the same situation again!

On 21 June I went to the Immigration Office at 254 Nguyen Trai street, District 1 HCMC.

I explained to the clerk that my tourist visa had expired the previous day (20 June),  that I had a confirmed flight out on 1 July and that I wanted an exit visa.
She said there were 2 options:
1. Get visa agent to apply for an extension, which would take between 5 and 8 working days.
2. Pay an overstay fine at the airport of  around 2m vnd.

Because of the time required to get an extension I took option 2.

At the airport the immigration officer  consulted with his boss about my expired visa.
I was stamped out without a fine and no note in the passport re blacklisting.

Just a note: I had my RT-PCR test at the Public Health Institute
159 Duong Hung Phu
Phuong 10, Quan 8
84 028 3855 9503
Testing 8.30am - 10.00am
Collect result next day after 8.30am
Price 950,000vnd.

honem wrote:

On 21 June I went to the Immigration Office at 254 Nguyen Trai street, District 1 HCMC.

I explained to the clerk that my tourist visa had expired the previous day (20 June),  that I had a confirmed flight out on 1 July and that I wanted an exit visa.
She said there were 2 options:
1. Get visa agent to apply for an extension, which would take between 5 and 8 working days.
2. Pay an overstay fine at the airport of  around 2m vnd.

Because of the time required to get an extension I took option 2.

At the airport the immigration officer  consulted with his boss about my expired visa.
I was stamped out without a fine and no note in the passport re blacklisting.

Just a note: I had my RT-PCR test at the Public Health Institute
159 Duong Hung Phu
Phuong 10, Quan 8
84 028 3855 9503
Testing 8.30am - 10.00am
Collect result next day after 8.30am
Price 950,000vnd.

Good to see common sense prevail.

Colinoscapee nailed it. Whining is nothing less than venting online frustrations. Better is hanging on the positive side. 15 yrs. of local experience taught me a simple approach. Do one's homework as best one can, plan actions further in advance than one would anticipate in their home country, remain polite, keep a smile on, and eventually it will come together. Having said this, it's OK to return to your apartment, down a few quick beers and yank out tuffs of hair. Has always worked for me.

honem wrote:

On 21 June I went to the Immigration Office at 254 Nguyen Trai street, District 1 HCMC.

I explained to the clerk that my tourist visa had expired the previous day (20 June),  that I had a confirmed flight out on 1 July and that I wanted an exit visa.
She said there were 2 options:
1. Get visa agent to apply for an extension, which would take between 5 and 8 working days.
2. Pay an overstay fine at the airport of  around 2m vnd.

Because of the time required to get an extension I took option 2.

At the airport the immigration officer  consulted with his boss about my expired visa.
I was stamped out without a fine and no note in the passport re blacklisting.

Just a note: I had my RT-PCR test at the Public Health Institute
159 Duong Hung Phu
Phuong 10, Quan 8
84 028 3855 9503
Testing 8.30am - 10.00am
Collect result next day after 8.30am
Price 950,000vnd.

Just a small comment about the PCR test price (thank you for your very interesting message) :
I have just readen in official document of health ministry (number 5378 - 8th of July) : from now, there is a maximum price for covid test: 238.000 vnd  What do you think ?

Laurent futur Nha Trang wrote:

honem wrote:

On 21 June I went to the Immigration Office at 254 Nguyen Trai street, District 1 HCMC.

I explained to the clerk that my tourist visa had expired the previous day (20 June),  that I had a confirmed flight out on 1 July and that I wanted an exit visa.
She said there were 2 options:
1. Get visa agent to apply for an extension, which would take between 5 and 8 working days.
2. Pay an overstay fine at the airport of  around 2m vnd.

Because of the time required to get an extension I took option 2.

At the airport the immigration officer  consulted with his boss about my expired visa.
I was stamped out without a fine and no note in the passport re blacklisting.

Just a note: I had my RT-PCR test at the Public Health Institute
159 Duong Hung Phu
Phuong 10, Quan 8
84 028 3855 9503
Testing 8.30am - 10.00am
Collect result next day after 8.30am
Price 950,000vnd.

Just a small comment about the PCR test price (thank you for your very interesting message) :
I have just readen in official document of health ministry (number 5378 - 8th of July) : from now, there is a maximum price for covid test: 238.000 vnd  What do you think ?

*I think* that some places which have been choosing to offer the tests might begin choosing not to provide it, IF that's the entire story.

However, I'm wondering if there is a distinction between the testing with results vs testing with certification for international travel?

In other words, *perhaps* the fee will be lower if you only need the test within Vietnam, and not to board an airplane for another country which requires certification of test results?

colinoscapee wrote:

honem wrote:

On 21 June I went to the Immigration Office at 254 Nguyen Trai street, District 1 HCMC.

I explained to the clerk that my tourist visa had expired the previous day (20 June),  that I had a confirmed flight out on 1 July and that I wanted an exit visa.
She said there were 2 options:
1. Get visa agent to apply for an extension, which would take between 5 and 8 working days.
2. Pay an overstay fine at the airport of  around 2m vnd.

Because of the time required to get an extension I took option 2.

At the airport the immigration officer  consulted with his boss about my expired visa.
I was stamped out without a fine and no note in the passport re blacklisting.

Just a note: I had my RT-PCR test at the Public Health Institute
159 Duong Hung Phu
Phuong 10, Quan 8
84 028 3855 9503
Testing 8.30am - 10.00am
Collect result next day after 8.30am
Price 950,000vnd.

Good to see common sense prevail.

Yes, though in other individual cases, some immigration officials might think that "blacklisting" is a common sense response.

paulmsn wrote:

I have been in Vietnam for almost five years and no police have ever come to my door. 

Projecting one personal anecdotal claim into "someone is out there watching your every move" is illogical.

I've been in Da Nang for 17 months and my documents (and whole apartment including the wardrobe and bathroom) have been checked by police three times already.
I guess different actions in different provinces.

colinoscapee wrote:

paulmsn wrote:

I have been in Vietnam for almost five years and no police have ever come to my door. 

Projecting one personal anecdotal claim into "someone is out there watching your every move" is illogical.

Ive been here over 13-years and had the same experience as you, never been visited by Cong An.

I moved here Sept 2018 lived in apartment block in D7 near Peugeot dealers off Nguyen Van Linh was visited twice by police matching passports with office managers rental agreements, both times approx 10 police - the info from security guy I was talking to when they turned up was looking for people not registered in building.

Then again in Thai An 6x building in Go Vap stayed there for a year and was checked out once there as well.

So yep it does happen maybe not so much if renting house but definatly in apartments where westerners rent.

Andybris2020 wrote:

I moved here Sept 2018 lived in apartment block in D7 near Peugeot dealers off Nguyen Van Linh was visited twice by police matching passports with office managers rental agreements, both times approx 10 police - the info from security guy I was talking to when they turned up was looking for people not registered in building.

Then again in Thai An 6x building in Go Vap stayed there for a year and was checked out once there as well.

So yep it does happen maybe not so much if renting house but definatly in apartments where westerners rent.

I've had 5 apartments, geared toward Westerners, but no experience with police.  Maybe they are more suspicious in some areas.

OR the apartment building supported the ward's expectations. I've never encountered a problem; I imagine the building's management clearly understood the business procedures.

In my 18 years in Vietnam, I was only checked once, when still renting a house in HCMC.  They came at 2:00AM and asked if I had an overnight visitor in addition to checking my papers.

Never been checked in the near two years I have been here. Perhaps some areas are more likely to these sort of thing if there are high numbers of foreigners living in shared accomodation.

Also have to remember manpower versus population numbers makes regular checks harder to do. I'm sure the local law enforcement have better things to do with their limited resources.. bit of a shame if there are some illegals flying under the radar

Jlgarbutt wrote:

Never been checked in the near two years I have been here. Perhaps some areas are more likely to these sort of thing if there are high numbers of foreigners living in shared accomodation.

Also have to remember manpower versus population numbers makes regular checks harder to do. I'm sure the local law enforcement have better things to do with their limited resources.. bit of a shame if there are some illegals flying under the radar

Most of the illegals are Chinese, maybe they should concentrate more on them.

colinoscapee wrote:

Jlgarbutt wrote:

Never been checked in the near two years I have been here. Perhaps some areas are more likely to these sort of thing if there are high numbers of foreigners living in shared accomodation.

Also have to remember manpower versus population numbers makes regular checks harder to do. I'm sure the local law enforcement have better things to do with their limited resources.. bit of a shame if there are some illegals flying under the radar

Most of the illegals are Chinese, maybe they should concentrate more on them.

They have been doing that, since the Da Nang outbreak.

https://www.laprensalatina.com/vietnam- … -outbreak/