The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Hanoi wishes to inform the public about changes that will be implemented concerning receiving and handling visa applications for Schengen visa to Norway, and other countries being visited on the same trip. These changes will take effect from 15 September 2008.
27/08/2008 :: The Embassy would like to make it perfectly clear that these changes will not be changes to how a decision is being made for if a visa should be granted or not. The established visa practise by the Royal Norwegian Embassy and the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration is published on the Directorate of immigrations web page (click link to read, only in Norwegian). The Embassy also suggests reading the general practise for making a decision in a visa application (click link to read, only in Norwegian).
The Embassy would like to make it perfectly clear that these changes will not be changes to how a decision is being made for if a visa should be granted or not. The established visa practise for Vietnam by the Royal Norwegian Embassy and the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration is published on the Directorate of immigrations web page (click link to read, only in Norwegian). The Embassy also suggests reading the general practise for making a decision in a visa application (click link to read, only in Norwegian).
The Embassy is in the process of upgrading our web page with relevant information about the visa process and practises in Norwegian, English and Vietnamese (not all information will be published in all three languages). The check list referred to in this text will be published in both English and Vietnamese. The applicant and the reference person(s) in Norway can down load these check lists, applications form and guarantee form for visits from our web page to fill out before coming to the Embassy in Hanoi or the Honorary Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City. The Embassy also suggests that the public is regularly checking our web page for continuous updates.
The changes that are being implemented are meant to make the application process easier and more predictable for the applicant from Vietnam. The handling time by the Embassy is also expected to drop. The goal of the Embassy is to have processed an application in 15 working days if the application is submitted at the Embassy in person. Somewhat longer for applications submitted at the Honorary Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City. This requires that all documents according to the new check lists are being submitted together with the application, and that there is no need to forward the application to the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration in Oslo. The Embassy would like to make it clear that it is up to the Embassy’s discretion to make the decision to forward the application to the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration in Oslo. The handling time for an visa application at the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration in Oslo are much longer then 15 working days, please read more about handling time on this link http://www.udi.no/templates/Page.aspx?id=8651.
When the applicant submits his application, together with all required documents, the applicant will be given a specific date that the application could be expected to be finished. The applicant can then show up at the Embassy or at the Honorary Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City to receive the decision. If the application has been granted, the passport with an affixed visa sticker together with a copy of the Guarantee form for visit will be returned to the applicant. If the application has been rejected, the passport and a written decision in English will be returned to the applicant. The Embassy WILL NOT send passport and other documents through mail to the applicant.
The most dominant changes will be that the applicant is asked to submit a confirmed booking of a plain ticket together with the application. The Embassy strongly advice against purchasing a plain ticket prior to being granted a visa by the Embassy. To buy a ticket before a visa is being granted is of a great financial risk. If a ticked is purchased before a decision has been made, this would be at the applicants (and/or the reference in Norway) own decision and risk. The Embassy can not be of assistance in getting a reimbursement from the airline, or be held financial responsible for money being lost on a ticket that can not be used.
The second thing that the Embassy will request is that the applicant submits a copy of the compulsory travel-medical insurance together with the application in order to shorten the handling time of the application. The Embassy can not demand that compulsory travel-medical insurance is being purchased prior to a decision has been made. Those who choose to submit a copy of the compulsory travel-medical insurance after a visa has been granted have to expect a much longer handling time.
The third thing the Embassy requires is that the passport of the applicant, together with previous passports, is to be submitted with the application. Those applicants who know that they will need their passport during the handling time of their application (e.g. travelling outside of Vietnam) must make the Embassy or the Honorary Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City aware of this fact. A copy of the passport could be deemed sufficient documentation in these cases. Previous passports are to be submitted. A copy of both current and previous passports is to be submitted in all instances. Those who choose to submit their current passport after a visa has been granted have to expect a much longer handling time.
Copies of the different check lists and application forms are available at the Embassy in Hanoi and at the Honorary Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City. Copies of the different check lists and application forms will also be put up in the waiting room at both places.
For Norwegian language, clik here
For Vietnamese language, click here