Bến Tre is a province in Vietnam located within the Mekong Delta region in the Southern part of the country. It’s about 80 km south of Ho Chi Minh. Known as the coconut city, Ben Tre is a peaceful countryside and a great place to explore for those who love nature. Because of its serene atmosphere, a lot of foreigners and expats in Vietnam have chosen to live in Ben Tre. The place is also famous for its delicious local foods that are made from the freshest ingredients handpicked from the many fruits and vegetable gardens in the province.
If you are a foreigner living in Ben Tre, you would be happy to know that there’s a Vietnam Immigration Office in Ben Tre. The office handles all immigration-related concerns and can even process the extension or renewal of your visa just in case you decide to prolong your stay in the country. As you know, Vietnam visas have a validity period, and you need to be able to go out of the country before the visa expires. But if you wanted to stay longer, your best option is to get a visa extension or renewal.
The process of getting a visa extension is easy. Just bring your passport to the Vietnam Immigration Office in Ben Tre and fill out the form known as the NA5. The staff at the office should be able to assist you with this. It’s also possible to download the form ahead of time then print it out. Fill out the form with your name and other important details and submit it to the Immigration Office along with your passport.
There is a processing fee that you need to pay and the cost will depend on how long you plan on staying in the country for your visa extension. But take note that your visa extension will only be approved if your stay in the country will not be more than 6 months. For example, if you are holding a visa that’s only good for three months, then the immigration office can only extend it for three months or less.
It will usually take 3 to 5 business days for the Vietnam Immigration Office in Ben Tre to process your visa extension. So if your visa is about to expire soon, you should process your visa extension as soon as possible.
Aside from visa extension, you will also have the option to request a visa renewal. With the visa renewal, they will attach a new visa sticker to your passport and this new visa will allow you to stay in the country longer. This option can work well for those who entered Vietnam without a visa, such as those foreigners who are eligible for the visa exemption program. The visa exemption program grants foreigners of certain nationalities visa-free entry to Vietnam provided that they stay in the country for a certain number of days, depending on their nationality. But for those who needed to stay longer, they can opt for the visa renewal. With the visa renewal, they will be issued a new visa and this will let them stay in the country for a much longer time.
There’s also a processing fee that must be paid for visa renewal. It’s usually more expensive than the visa extension, but what’s great about the visa renewal is that you will not have to go out of the country. You will immediately get a visa sticker on your passport so there’s no need to exit Vietnam to re-enter.
If you want a hassle-free way of getting a visa extension or renewal, consider using the services of some local agencies in Vietnam. These are expert professionals who are knowledgeable about the immigration processes of Vietnam. If you are not sure whether to choose a visa extension or visa renewal, you can ask for help from them. They will clearly explain to you the differences so you can best decide on whether you should go for extension or renewal.
When using a local agency for your visa extension or renewal, you just need to give them your passport and other requirements. They will forward these to the Vietnam Immigration Office in Ben Tre and will facilitate the processing of your visa. If you need the process to be expedited since your visa is about to expire, they may be able to assist you with that. Aside from visa renewal and extension, these agencies can also help you with other immigration-related concerns. Just give them a call and they will be happy to offer assistance.
