Vietnam visa has wrong dates, ending too early
I have a Vietnam visa (U.S. citizen) valid from April 17 - May 17. I applied for the visa months ago, and didn't realize the visa was only good for those dates, and my plans changed. I entered Vietnam on May 3, and noticed the dates on the visa. I'd like to stay for 3 weeks, taking me past the May 17th end date.
Does anyone know if this will be an issue?
I checked the travel.state.gov site and didn't see the usual mention of penalties for overstaying. Is the visa valid from the day I enter or from the date on the visa?
Is there a way I can get the dates changed on my visa, without having to pay for a new one?
Best Answer
If you leave after your visa has expired, you will be "fined" but allowed to leave the country. Depending on the situation and where you are leaving the country (eg, airport v's overland) the "fine" may be an actual fine, or it could just be a border official taking the money for themselves.
In general, expect somewhere around US$5-20/day as the "fine".
The better option is apply for a visa extension. These can be processed by most travel agencies (especially those in HCMC), at a cost of around US$40. A friend of mine went through this process a few years ago and said it was easy and pain-free. Not only will this avoid any issues at the border, it'll mean that you'll remain "legal" for the full time that you're in the country (Remaining legal can be important for things like travel insurance, which might not cover you if you are out of legal status in the country)
A good source for information on issues like this is your own countries embassy in the country that you're in. Although they will not be able to give you any official information they will know how things normally play out.
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What happens if I overstay my visa in Vietnam?
Consequences of Overstaying Your Visa in Vietnam In addition, those overstaying a visa Vietnam may be blacklisted by the Vietnam Immigration Department and subject to forced deportation. Worse, you will never be able to come back to Vietnam again in the future.How much is the fine for overstaying in Vietnam?
Overstaying up to 3 days and les than 10 days: 500,000 VND (25 USD) Overstaying up to 10 days: 1,250,000 VND (55 USD) Overstaying up to 1 month: 4,000,000 VND (175 USD) Overstaying from 1 to 3 months: about 10,000,000 VND (440 USD)How long to get Vietnam visa?
In person, the process usually takes 7-10 working days, and by mail, the process usually takes 2-3 weeks, depending on the service you use, although times can vary considerably by embassy or consulate. If you are mailing, please note that you need to make arrangements to have your passport with visa returned to you.How long can I stay in Vietnam?
Validity Vietnam e-visa Your stay can last a maximum of 30 days, calculated from the starting date of the visa. Therefore, if you arrive later than the starting date, you can only stay in Vietnam for less than 30 days. The Vietnam e-visa is suited and valid for both business as well as tourist travellers.How To Stay In Vietnam For Longer Than 30 Days - 3 Ways To Stay In Vietnam Long Term Legitimately.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Quang Nguyen Vinh, Quang Nguyen Vinh, Quang Nguyen Vinh, 越武道