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.
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
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.
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.”