Thanh Hoa is a coastal province in Vietnam known for its beaches. The province is visited by Western tourists who wanted to experience the serene and peaceful atmosphere of the Vietnamese countryside. Thanh Hoa lies on a coastal plain which the Song Ma River flows through. Its capital city, Thanh Hoa, is surrounded by rugged peaks, including the mountains of Mat Son and Ham Song, both of which are visible on a clear day. Aside from the scenic views, Thanh Hoa is also famous for its traditional architecture. The city’s quiet backstreets and tree-lined avenues are a joy to explore.
For foreigners who are based in Thanh Hoa, you do not need to travel far if you would like to have your visa extended. There’s a Vietnam Immigration Office in the province, and it’s located at 18 Le Hong Phong street, Thanh Hoa City.
If you want to stay longer in Vietnam, but you realized that your visa is already due to expire, you can get a visa extension in Thanh Hoa. With a visa extension, Vietnam Immigration will extend the validity of your visa so you can stay much longer than the visa’s original expiry date. If, for instance, you are holding a tourist visa that’s only good for 30 days, but you wanted to stay longer than 30 days, then you can request for the visa to be extended for 30 days more. But take note that you cannot extend the visa beyond 30 days.
To get a visa extension in Thanh Hoa, download the NA5 form online. You can get this from the website of Vietnam Immigration. After you download the form, print it, and answer it completely. Bring this to the Vietnam Immigration Office in Thanh Hoa, along with your passport and visa.
At the office, the staff will verify your documents and will ask you to pay the processing fee. Then you will be asked to wait for them to call you once your visa extension has already been processed. The standard processing time is 3 to 5 working days, but this can take longer sometimes. Therefore, it is best to apply for a visa extension at least a week before your visa expires.
Another option for foreigners who needed to extend their stay in Vietnam is visa renewal. For this option, a new visa will be issued to you. Therefore, this option will work best for those who came to Vietnam with no visa since they are eligible for a visa-free entry. Usually, foreigners coming from countries that are part of the Vietnam Exemption Program can only stay in the country for 30 days or less. Those who wanted to stay longer should apply for a visa renewal. That way, they will be given a new visa, allowing them to stay longer in Vietnam.
To apply for a visa renewal, just go to the Vietnam Immigration Office in Thanh Hoa and inform the staff that you wanted to apply for a visa renewal. The staff will then ask you to fill out the application form for your visa renewal request. They will also collect your passport. After that, you will be asked to pay for the processing fees. You might find the fees a bit expensive, but that’s because you will be issued a new visa. After 3 to 5 business days, the Vietnam Immigration Office will call you to inform you of the status of your visa renewal. If it is approved, you will find a visa attached to your passport, allowing you to stay longer in Vietnam using the new visa.
If you find it confusing to apply for a visa extension or visa renewal, it’s a good idea to use the services of a local agency. For an affordable fee, the agency will process the visa extension or renewal on your behalf. You just need to fill out the form and give them the requirements that you need. The local agency will work closely with the Vietnam Immigration Office in Thanh Hoa for the fast approval of your request. If there are any problems, the agency will make sure to resolve this for you.
Another good thing about using a local agency is that they will be able to offer advice on which method will work best in your situation. They can tell you if a visa extension or visa renewal is more appropriate. And if you have any other concerns related to Vietnam Immigration, the local agency would be able to assist you on this as well.
