Updated 15 December 2016:
Congratulation! From December 15, 2016 all visa categories (1 month, 3 months, 6 months visa) for US citizens has been restored. Now US travelers will have multiple options instead of only 1 year multiple entry tourist visa option as before. Lear more…
August 30, 2016:
From August 30, 2016 all Vietnam tourist visa for United States travelers will be automatically and mandatory converted into 1 year multiple entry visa with maximum 90 days duration allowed of each visit. For those who wish to stay more than 90 days are compelled to do visa run (or in-country visa extension) or select business visa instead. 1 year business visa will give United States travelers a continuous stay for 1 year without leaving the country for a visa run or extending current visa.
There are 2 common ways to get a visa to Vietnam: getting Vietnam visa at the Vietnam Embassy (traditional applicatyion) or getting Vietnam visa on arrival (online application).
Normally, people applies for Vietnam visa at the Vietnam Embassy for their “peace of mind”, as their words, even it takes more time and money. Meanwhile, Vietnam visa on arrival is 100% legitimate as it is issued by the Vietnam Immigration Department, a government organization belonging to the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security. In some cases, visa on arrival is even more secured and convenient as you don’t have to send your passport off and the application will be processed online absolutely using SSL encryption technology. It becomes more and more popular and is used by million of travelers going to Vietnam today.
Below is the instruction on how to apply for Vietnam visa from United States:
1. Apply in person at Vietnam Embassy or Consulates
Embassy of Vietnam in Washington DC, United States
Address: 1233, 20th St., NW, Suite 400, Washington DC, 20036, USA
Phone: (1-202) 861 073
Fax: 1-202) 861 0917
Email: consular@vietnamembassy.us
Visa section of the Embassy:
Opening hours: 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM Monday through Friday.
Phone: (202) 861- 2293, (202) 861- 0694 and (202) 861- 0737 ext. 221, 222, 236, 237 during 10:00 AM – 12:00 AM and 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM Monday through Friday
Fax: (202) 861- 1297 and (202) 861- 0917
Consulate General of Vietnam in San Francisco, United States
Address: 1700 California St, Suite 430 San Francisco, CA 94109
Phone: (1415) 922 1577
Fax: (1415) 922 1848
Email: info@vietnamconsulate-sf.org
** Remember to prepare full the required documents for visa application at Vietnam Embassy in United States before coming there to save you time.
For a tourist visa, you will need to submit:
- Visa application form (will get from the Vietnam Embassy directly or download from their website);
- Two photos (usually 4 cm x 6 cm or 3 cm x 4 cm but not strictly);
- Your original passport (will be hold during your visa being processed);
- Visa fee (which varies from one Vietnam Embassy or Consulates to another)
A business visa usually also requires a sponsored letter and documents from the agency or company in Vietnam. The process usually takes 5 working days (in person) or 2-3 weeks (by post) depending on the service you use.
2. Apply a visa on arrival to Vietnam
Visa on arrival is the process that you will apply for a visa online then pickup visa upon arrival airports in Vietnam – Hanoi (Noi Bai International Airport), Ho Chi Minh City (Tan Son Nhat International Airport), Da Nang (Da Nang International Airport) or Nha Trang (Cam Ranh International Airport). It is a legitimate alternative to obtaining a full visa stamp from the Vietnam Embassy in United States with simple process and much cheaper cost. It is beneficial for those who do not have much free time to apply for visa in person at the Vietnam Embassy or those who is residing in the cities with no Vietnam Embassy or Consulates nearby.
The visa on arrival process will take 48 hours maximum from the time of payment completion then an authorized visa approval letter will send to your registered email. In emergency cases, you can apply for rush Vietnam visa service and the visa approval letter will be delivered in just a few hours. What you need to do is to print out the letter, bring along with your passport, photos, stamping fee and obtain a full visa stamp at Immigration Counter at Vietnam airports. Once issued, it is exactly same as a visa issued by the Vietnam Embassy or Consulates with similar limitations and conditions for using. See more how Vietnam visa on arrival works
What the Vietnam visa approval letter for United States looks like?
Authorized visa approval letter sample provided by visumvietnamonline.com
Please make an application and take the experience on our services, we believe you will feel happy and satisfied. If you need further information about the visa service, you can check more at FAQs section or contact us for more support.