After February 28, 2009, the Humanitarian Resettlement Section of the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City will no longer respond to correspondence, inquiries, or appeals under the Humanitarian Resettlement process (HR), except for cases currently being processed or that were interviewed by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services.  Services for other resettlement processes will continue. 

Information Regarding Humanitarian Resettlement (HR)

On November 15, 2005, the governments of the United States of America and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam jointly announced implementation of a Humanitarian Resettlement (HR) process in order to consider Vietnamese citizens who were former soldiers or officials of the former southern government before April 30, 1975 and were in re-education centers after April 30, 1975 (HO program), or who were former employees of the U.S. government (U-11) and private U.S. companies or organizations (V-11).

There was a two-year application period from June 25, 2006 until June 25, 2008.  This process was limited to those who were unable to apply or who were unable to complete the application process before the Orderly Departure Program (ODP) closed on September 30, 1994.

-  Persons who previously applied for ODP (HO, U-11 and V-11 subprograms) and were denied were not eligible to re-apply for HR.
-  Persons who were previously notified of their ineligibility for former ODP categories were ineligible to re-apply.

Access Criteria for HR
 
HO category – Former Re-Education Center Detainees:

a) Vietnamese applicants:
- who spent three or more years in a re-education center as a result of their close association with U.S. agencies or organizations to implement USG programs and/or policies prior to April 30, 1975; OR

b) Vietnamese applicants:
- who spent at least one year in a re-education center as a result of their close association with the U.S. Government (USG) prior to April 30, 1975 and
- who were also trained for any length of time in the United States or its territories under the auspices of the USG prior to April 30, 1975; OR

c) Vietnamese applicants:
- who spent at least one year in a re-education center as a result of their close association with the USG prior to April 30, 1975 and
- who had been directly employed by the USG, a U.S. company or a U.S. organization for at least one year prior to April 30, 1975; OR

d) Widow/widower applicants:
- whose spouse was sent to a re-education center as a result of his/her close association with the USG prior to April 30, 1975 and who died while in a re-education center or died within one year after release.

U-11 category – Former U.S. Government Employee:

Direct-hire employees of the USG in Vietnam, with a cumulative period of time totaling five or more years verified USG employment during the period from January 1, 1963 through April 30, 1975.

V-11 category – Former Employees of Private U.S. Companies or Organizations:
Direct-hire employees of private U.S. companies and/or U.S. organizations, with a cumulative period of time totaling five or more years verified employment during the period from January 1, 1963 through April 30, 1975.

Eligible Immediate Family Members:

An approved applicant’s spouse and unmarried children under the age of 21 at the time of application may be included under HR.

Important Notes:

1) This HR process is FREE.  Anyone interested in information should obtain it directly from the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City.  No other person or organization is authorized to provide information or assistance regarding the process or application.  We strongly urge that Vietnamese citizens interested in this process NOT pay any person or organization for advice or assistance. Copies of the application form may also be obtained through Government of Vietnam immigration offices.

2) Those seeking HR should understand that not everybody who applied will be approved for resettlement.  Being called for an interview or several interviews does not mean that the applicant will be approved for resettlement.  An individual approved for resettlement will be given sufficient time to make arrangements regarding employment, residence and personal matters in Vietnam, before departing to the United States.  An applicant should not take any actions in such matters until he/she has been notified officially by the U.S. government of approval for travel to the United States.

3) Applicants should NOT make any resettlement plans (i.e. selling home, property, resigning job, leaving school, etc.) until official confirmation of their acceptance for resettlement is received in writing from the Consulate General.

4) There is no charge to request information or to apply for the HR process, and all application forms were available free of charge.

5)   The U.S. government does not have any relationship with any private immigration agents or brokers and such agencies should not be consulted.

6)   The U.S. government will verify all documents as necessary.  Those who make false claims or submit false documents to the U.S. government will be permanently denied admission to the United States.

Contact Information:

Telephone:  08-829-2750
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. –5:00 p.m.
Mail:     Humanitarian Resettlement Process
           U.S. Consulate General
           4 Le Duan Street
           District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

E-mail: HRInfo@wrapshochiminh.org.vn
For additional information, visit the following website: http://hochiminh.usconsulate.gov/hr.html