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| "Independence, Freedom, Happiness" -- the motto of Vietnam |
Since a friend of mine was looking high and low for information regarding criminal background checks in Ho Chi Minh City, I thought I would post what I know about the process.
- Get your ward police to issue you a statement of temporary residence for over 6 months. A lot of landlords and landladies do this for you, at no cost, and within a few days. The "pink book" also serves this function if your landlord set you up with one.
- Bring two photocopies of your passport and latest valid visa or temporary residence card.
- Fill out the application form, with your name exactly as it reads in your passport. That application form is called TỜ KHAI YÊU CẦU CẤP PHIẾU LÝ LỊCH TƯ PHÁP. If you want a version of that form in English to see what you're filling out, look here. Don't submit the English-language version, mind you. It's just a guide for you to see what you're being asked to fill in. If you need the Vietnamese-language version, look here. For this one, it really helps to have a Vietnamese speaker go over it with you.
- Submit two sets of all of the above to the Justice Department Office:
141 – 143 Pasteur Street, Ward 6, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
Tel: 08.38290230 – Fax: 08.38243155
Working days/time: Monday – Friday (7:30 – 16:30) and Saturday (7:30 – 11:30), except public holidays
Wear decent clothes and bring a Vietnamese speaker if you know one. If you can't, you should still be able to take a number and submit your paperwork. The wait might be about thirty minutes. They give you a receipt for when your background check is ready. This is usually about three weeks, but once I returned on the date on the receipt and it wasn't ready, so I gave it another two weeks and it was. When you pick it up, bring the receipt they gave you and your passport and visa. They issue two copies.
The cost is 200,000 VND.
Do comment if you have tips, corrections and questions!
Note for Americans: find out about the Vietnamese process for FBI background checks here.
Note for Americans: find out about the Vietnamese process for FBI background checks here.
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Thank you for the great information, Casey! I went in this past week and the process has changed just a bit.
ReplyDelete1. Only one copy is needed of all documents to submit.
2. The "Pink Book" has changed to a piece of paper that needs an original. This is brand new so they will still except the book, but are moving towards the stamped paper.
3. After paying, you are sent to another window where you can sign-up to have your documents mailed to your home or workplace at the cost of 20.000VND in cash. They tell you that you need to be there to sign to get the package. No quite sure on the time line of this, but they tell you that it will be about a month.
Best!
Hey there, do you know by chance how to get a criminal background check if you are NOT in the country? I need one, but I am back home and don't plan to return. Also it was over 2 years ago already. Your help is really appreciated! Or, do you know a better place on the web to ask this question? Many thanks!
ReplyDeleteGood question, and no, I don't have a good answer for you. My first advice: Call your embassy! If you are from the UK, call the UK embassy in Hanoi and ask them for advice. They will probably be able to give you an honest answer in clear English.
DeleteLooking online, it is clear that you will need a bit of patience, maybe a bit of help, and in the worst case you will need to pay a service.
I ran a few searches and came up with the following:
http://www.expatforum.com/expats/australia-expat-forum-expats-living-australia/139166-vietnam-police-check-need-help.html
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/365632-vietnamese-police-check-for-foreign-nations/
http://immigrationservices.com.vn/vietnam-work-permit/
http://www.anphatpham.com/news/925/Procedures-to-obtain-criminal-record-certificate-(police-clearance-certificate/-judicial-record-certificate/-police-check/-police-certificate)-in-Vietnam.html
http://britishexpats.com/forum/us-immigration-citizenship-visas-34/vietnam-police-clearance-help-632127/
Hope that helps!
Casey
how long is the validity of criminal record?
ReplyDeleteOne year, but if you get it for a work contract you don't need to renew it as long as you stay at the job. For example if you stay at the job for three years then get the background check once but you would need a new one if you switch jobs.
DeleteDo know if there's an option to expedite the process? I need to have the document as soon as possible for a work permit, but 3 weeks is too long a wait.
ReplyDeleteThe only way I know to expedite is under the table. Honestly, your best bet is to bring a really savvy Vietnamese person with you -- bureaucrats seem to respond better to women -- and to have them do the talking so that they can get some assurance that your documents won't take more than a reasonable amount of time.
DeleteThanks for this. Really helpful post! There’s just one part of the application I’m confused about... On the 2nd page, where the type of record is being requested. You selected #1. Do you know the difference between the two? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteGood question. Between the two different criminal records, the first option looks like the list of only those open, outstanding offenses that haven't been cleared, whereas the second section is the entire "rap sheet" of all offenses ever logged (regardless of any time limit, time served in prison, fine paid, etc). If you have a perfect record, it doesn't matter, but Option 1 appears to be the more standard and shorter version.
DeleteNew rules according to my HR Manager. If your last work permit was dated in 2016, you only need Hospital check up. 2017 and later, renewing your work permit requires the whole shebang. Re-do everything. By the way, I was turned away this morning for wearing knee length denim shorts. You need long pants. I'll go back after lunch. :-(
ReplyDeleteSorry for your headache, there's always the odd arbitrary rule. Going with a Vietnamese speaker really does help (they might be the ones bearing the scrutiny taking the pressure of you). And thanks for the helpful details about their absurd rules.
DeleteYou can get a background police check if not living here
ReplyDeleteIs this a question?
Delete