Vietnam – U.S. Visa Reciprocity Agreement

Issue:             The U.S. State Department and AmCham requested that Vietnam issue temporary visitor visas to U.S. citizens on a basis of reciprocity, so that U.S. citizens would receive “one-year validity and multiple-entry visas” as do Vietnamese citizens that apply for temporary visitor status to the U.S., B1/B2 Visa.

As a result of AmCham’s support, Vietnam agreed in April 2016 to match the U.S. visa policy of one-year validity, multiple-entry visitor visas. U.S. visitors to Vietnam increased by 40% between 2015 and 2018, from 491,249 to 687,226.

Feb 2, 2015    U.S. Department of State Senior Advisor to the Bureau of Consular Affairs, David Donohue, met with Executive Director Herb Cochran and several AmCham governors at the HCMC Consulate General to discuss issues affecting U.S. businesses, including the lack of reciprocity in issuing temporary visitor visas to U.S. citizens. AmCham agreed to cooperate on this and other issues.

Apr 3, 2015     AmCham letter to Prime Minister re Visa Reciprocity

Jun 9, 2015    AmCham Statement at Vietnam Business Forum

Dec 1, 2015    AmCham Statement at Vietnam Business Forum

Mar 7, 2016     AmCham statement at meeting with the People’s Committee

The Vice Chairman instructed the External Relations Office representative to prepare a letter within days to higher HQ presenting AmCham’s request re visa reciprocity and asking for a favorable response.

Mar 16, 2016   AmCham Statement at the City Leaders’ (Party Secretary, Chairman of the People’s Committee) meeting with Foreign Business Association

Apr 4, 2016     President Tran Dai Quang Chủ tịch nước Trần Đại Quang and Deputy Prime Minister / Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh Phó Thủ tướng Chính phủ, Bộ trưởng Bộ Ngoại giao Phạm Bình Minh explained the issue at National Assembly and proposed that National Assembly ratify an exchange of diplomatic notes between the USG and the VNG on visa reciprocity.

https://www.amchamvietnam.com/30450655/vietnam-to-issue-one-year-multiple-entry-temporary-visitor-visas-to-u-s-citizens/

Apr 9, 2016     National Assembly voted to ratify the exchange of diplomatic notes between USG and VNG

2.2. Biểu quyết thông qua Nghị quyết về việc phê chuẩn Công hàm thỏa thuận về cấp thị thực giữa Chính phủ nước Cộng hòa xã hội chủ nghĩa Việt Nam và Chính phủ Hợp chủng quốc Hoa Kỳ.

2.2. Ratify the resolution on the ratification of the diplomatic note on visa agreement between the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Government of the United States of America.

– Ủy viên Ủy ban thường vụ Quốc hội, Chủ nhiệm Ủy ban đối ngoại của của Quốc hội Trần Văn Hằng trình bày Báo cáo giải trình tiếp thu, chỉnh lý dự thảo Nghị quyết về việc phê chuẩn Công hàm thỏa thuận về cấp thị thực giữa Chính phủ nước Cộng hòa xã hội chủ nghĩa Việt Nam và Chính phủ Hợp chủng quốc Hoa Kỳ

– Member of the National Assembly Standing Committee, Chairman of the National Assembly’s External Affairs Committee Tran Van Hang presented the Report on the acceptance and revision of the draft resolution on the ratification of the agreement on the visa agreement between the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Government of the United States of America.
– Phó Tổng thư ký Quốc hội, Phó Chủ nhiệm Ủy ban pháp luật của Quốc hội Lê Minh Thông trình bày dự thảo Nghị quyết về việc phê chuẩn Công hàm thỏa thuận về cấp thị thực giữa Chính phủ nước Cộng hòa xã hội chủ nghĩa Việt Nam và Chính phủ Hợp chủng quốc Hoa Kỳ.
– Deputy General Secretary of the National Assembly and Deputy Chairman of the Law Committee of the National Assembly Le Minh Thong presented the draft resolution on the ratification of the ratification of the agreement on the issuance of visas between the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam The United States and the Government of the United States of America.

Sau đó, Quốc hội biểu quyết thông qua toàn văn Nghị quyết.

Then, the National Assembly voted to approve the resolution.

So, after a few years of effort, the two governments reached agreement by exchange of diplomatic notes.

Posted: Apr 9, 2016. (Herb Cochran) Updated: Jun 2, 9, Sep 5, 2016.

1 reply
  1. AmCham Vietnam says:

    Update: as of Jun 7, a number of U.S. citizen applicants have reported that “ … administrative procedures for implementing the decision are dragging on. It still is not possible to get one-year visas and the timeline is opaque.”

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