Thailand's Immigration Bureau and its partner VFS Global will launch a new e-visa on arrival (eVoA) system on Feb. 14, for foreign tourists from 20 countries. Illustrative image (Source: loyaltylobby.com) The new eVOA service will offer travelers a whole new experience when applying for a Thai visa as they can fill out the electronic form and make an e-payment any time regardless of embassy working hours. Once the tourists arrive at airports, they can show their passports at specific counters to obtain a visa in just one minute, rather than a one-to-two-hour wait, according to Chief of Immigration Police Surachate Hakparn. Travelers could apply online for eVOA for Thailand by visiting thailandevoa.vfsevisa.com, and will receive their pre-departure travel authorisation online within three days. The 20 countries eligible for the system include Andorra, Bhutan, Bulgaria, China, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, India, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Papua New Guinea, … [Read more...] about Thailand to launch new e visa on arrival service
Electronic diversity visa lottery
Vietnam visa hassles could deter long holidayers
Frenchman Thomas and Thai girlfriend Araya had big plans for Vietnam. Their first visit to the country in August had impressed them so much that they wanted to return for a much longer trip. The first trip happened after they’d traveled from France to Bangkok to visit Araya's parents. As they socialized with Vietnamese people and learnt about different places in the country, they regretted not visiting Vietnam sooner. After the trip, Thomas researched more information about other travel destinations in Vietnam. Fond of motorbikes, he planned to enjoy exploring the northern mountains on one, apart from a leisure trip to Nha Trang, a resort town in central Vietnam, and Ho Chi Minh City for Araya. Vietnam’s beaches are a popular draw among foreigners, but those who want long holidays in the country face complicated visa rules and procedures. Photo acquired by VnExpress The plan was to spend the entire month of November exploring Vietnam, before Thomas starting a … [Read more...] about Vietnam visa hassles could deter long holidayers
Electronic visa scheme extended
International tourists are eligible for e-visas in a pilot programme until February 1, 2021. — VNA/VNS Photo Anh Tuấn Viet Nam News The NA’s Standing Committee agreed to extend the period for a pilot programme to issue electronic visas to foreigners until February 1, 2021. The pilot, a part of the Vietnamese Government’s reform efforts, is aimed to eliminate red-tape, attract foreign businesses and gives a boost to the country’s tourism sector. According to minister of public security General Tô Lâm, the pilot, which begun in 2016, has now expanded to provide e-Visa to citizens from 46 countries around the world. E-Visa allow foreigners to enter the country through some 28 border gates. The committee’s decision ensured the continuation for the programme, which received much positive feedback from National Assembley deputies, and allows the country’s immigration agencies to analyse and study the pilot. Deputy Đinh … [Read more...] about Electronic visa scheme extended
VISA sees strong increase in transactions in Vietnam
VISA sees strong increase in transactions in VietnamBy Hung Le Truong Minh Ha, head of client relationship management at Visa Vietnam and Laos, gestures at a digital payments seminar in HCMC on September 19 – PHOTO: LE HOANG HCMC – VISA, the leader in digital payments, on September 19 announced that it has experienced strong electronic spending growth in Vietnam, with the number of transactions on its network increasing by 45% compared with the previous year and payment volume up nearly 37% (from June 30, 2017, to June 30, 2018). In addition, figures released by the network show strong growth in ecommerce spending, with transactions increasing by 44%. Truong Minh Ha, head of client relationship management at Visa Vietnam and Laos, shared the information at a digital payments seminar in HCMC on September 19. According to the company, Vietnam is going through a period of strong economic change, with the country’s businesses and citizens becoming more involved … [Read more...] about VISA sees strong increase in transactions in Vietnam
Visa’s Everywhere Initiative for start-ups concludes
Nine Vietnamese start-ups on Wednesday took part in the finale of the “Visa’s Everywhere Initiative”, a global innovation programme that tasks up-and-coming businesses with solving some of the most challenging issues in payments and commerce. The nine represented a diverse cross-section of Viet Nam’s business scene, with interests in everything from recruiting services, to online marketplaces, to food delivery. They had to submit a solution for one of the following three challenges: How might start-ups leverage social media platforms to create seamless financial/banking experience for millennial segment? How might start-ups give consumers a digital pay-on-delivery solution that meets their needs far better than cash and how might start-ups innovate to expand the acceptance of electronic payments and provide value-added services to merchants? Of the nine, a winner was selected in each of three prize categories: best proposal, people’s choice award and … [Read more...] about Visa’s Everywhere Initiative for start-ups concludes
Nearly 2,000 minors split from parents at border in six weeks: US
Nearly 2,000 minors were separated from their parents or adult guardians who illegally crossed into the United States over a recent six-week period, officials said Friday, as debate raged over how to end the deeply controversial practice. President Donald Trump, facing mounting anger over his administration's "zero tolerance" border security policy, repeated he is incensed about the family separations but continued to blame opposition Democrats for the crisis, which critics say is one of his own making. And the president signalled the drama could drag on. After Trump initially seemed to say he was not keen on a Republican compromise bill that includes a fix to the separation issue as well as DACA protections for young migrants who arrived illegally as children, the White House walked back his remarks. According to a Department of Homeland Security spokesman, between April 19 and May 31, 1,995 children were separated from 1,940 adults who were being held by U.S. border patrol. Amid an … [Read more...] about Nearly 2,000 minors split from parents at border in six weeks: US
Visa exemption extended for 3 years
Tourists from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain and Italy will continue to be exempted from visa until June 2021, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said at a Government meeting on Thursday. Foreign tourists visit a village of the ethnic Dao minority in Ta Phin Commune, Sa Pa Town in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has approved visa exemptions to be extended for 3 years until 2021 for tourists from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain and Italy. - VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Ha Visa will be waived for tourists coming to Viet Nam from these five countries for another three years (until June 30, 2021) after the visa waiver programme expires at the end of June this year. When the extension expires, Viet Nam will review its unilateral visa exemption policy and re-evaluate its electronic visa pilot, the PM said. He was addressing a proposal from the HCM City Tourism Association to expand the visa exemption policy to more countries … [Read more...] about Visa exemption extended for 3 years
HSBC, Visa to expand debit card issuance
HSBC, Visa to expand debit card issuanceBy Binh Nguyen - The Saigon Times DailyHCMC - HSBC and the world’s largest retail electronic payments network, Visa, have announced their new regional agreements over programs to boost new debit card issuance in the Middle East and Asia Pacific, including Vietnam.The five-year regional agreements mark an expansion of HSBC’s current credit card issuing relationship with Visa and Visa’s efforts to combine its global brand and payments expertise with local marketplace knowledge to help clients develop their business.“Visa debit cards are a key element of our customer proposition in the Asia Pacific markets,” Conrado Engel, a regional director of HSBC, said in a statement sent to the Daily.Hans Morris, president of Visa Inc, said the new deal expanded their relationship in some of the fastest-growing areas. “Importantly, this agreement delivers on our strategy to expand Visa’s global debit product offerings … [Read more...] about HSBC, Visa to expand debit card issuance
Explanation of benefits and privileges from SMART Visa
These benefits include (1) Visa validity up to 4 years (instead of the usual 1 year); (2) No requirement of work permit; (3) Extension of reporting of stay to Immigration Bureau – from every 90-day to every year; (4) The right of legal dependents (spouse and children) of the SMART Visa holder to live and work in Thailand equivalent to SMART visa holder (only SMART T type allows dependents of SMART Visa holder to work in Thailand).At a press conference, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok on 25 January 2018, all relevant agencies gave an explanation on the SMART Visa. These agencies include the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Labor, the Board of Investment of Thailand, and the Immigration Bureau.The Thai government hopes that the SMART Visa will encourage foreign talents and investors to invest in the 10 targeted industries in Thailand and will also enhance knowledge transfer and increase the competitiveness of Thailand in … [Read more...] about Explanation of benefits and privileges from SMART Visa
First foreigners get electronic visa
First foreigners get electronic visaDao Loan HCMC - A number of foreign passport holders have obtained an electronic visa since it was launched on February 1, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT). Nguyen Quy Phuong, head of the Travel Department at VNAT, said at least 40 of 60 foreign applicants had received e-visa on the first three days of this month. The number of e-visa getters is increasing as the immigration agency is processing more applications. “The Ministry of Public Security is quickly processing visa applications by foreign passport holders,” Phuong told the Daily last Saturday. The pilot e-visa policy applies to residents of 40 countries for two years starting from February 1. As usual, foreigners can get visa within three working days after they submit all required documents but some have obtained it in just one working day. Phuong acknowledged that the slow operation of the website … [Read more...] about First foreigners get electronic visa