Bac Giang is a major industrial hub located in the northeastern part of Vietnam. In recent years, the province has experienced a robust growth rate in its economy thanks to its strategic location, which is surrounded by major economic hubs, international borders, and national highways. Because of this, several foreign investors would come to the province to do business. Many of them have to extend their stay to facilitate their projects.
If you are a foreigner and you need to stay longer in Bac Giang to do business or for some other reason, you may need to get your visa extended or renewed. Most foreign investors are holding a visa that’s only valid for a certain period. Others are holding a visa that’s good for 30 days while some have visas that are good for 60 days. But if you need to stay longer in the country, your best bet is to visit the Vietnam Immigration Office in Bac Giang to extend or renew your visa. Here’s how.
To extend your visa in Bac Giang, you will be asked to fill out a form known as NA5. You can download this form online. Just search for the Vietnam Immigration Form For Visa Extension. Print the form and fill it out completely. Make sure you type in your complete name, passport details, and some other important details. Bring the form to the Vietnam Immigration Office in Bac Giang and submit it along with your passport.
Just like with applying for a new Vietnam visa, you will be asked to pay the processing fee. The cost will depend on how long you wanted to extend your stay in Vietnam. But remember that the extension period should not exit the validity period of your visa. For instance, if you’re holding a visa that’s only valid for 30 days, then you can only extend your stay for 30 days or less.
The processing of the Vietnam visa extension will usually take about 3 to 5 business days. But this can take even longer during the peak season. It is best to call the Vietnam Immigration Office in Bac Giang ahead so you will know when you can be approved for the visa extension, especially if your visa is about to expire in a few days.
To request a visa renewal in the Vietnam Immigration Office in Bac Giang, you need to go to the office and submit some requirements. You will be required to submit the original copy of your passport because they will attach a new visa sticker to it. It is therefore important that your passport has two blank pages for the visa sticker. Your passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of the visa renewal. What’s great about the visa renewal is that you have the option to choose between single entry and multiple entries for your new visa. This method can work best for those who entered Vietnam without a visa, under the visa exemption scheme.
Just like with requesting a visa extension, you will be asked to pay processing fees. The cost will depend on the type of visa that you have requested. You can expect to pay more if you will choose the visa with multiple entries. The processing time will take around 3 to 5 business days or more. So it is best to apply for your visa renewal as early as possible.
The process of requesting a visa renewal or extension at the Vietnam Immigration Office in Bac Giang can get confusing for some. If you do not want to go through the hassles, you better get in touch with a local agency. These agencies are run by experts on Vietnam visas and they can further explain the difference between the visa extension and renewal. That way, you would be able to decide what can work best for you.
When you ask for assistance from a local agency, they will handle the processing of your visa extension or renewal. All you need to do is to submit the requirements, most especially your passport. They will forward your application to the Vietnam Immigration Office and once it is approved, they will immediately send you your passport. If your visa renewal is approved, you will find a visa stamp on your passport indicating the new validity period. For visa extension, you will see a visa sticker attached on one of the pages of your passport.
Hiring a local agency is truly worth it. Their services will not cost a lot, but the help that they can give you is significant.