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Visa Renewal

Temporary visitors, returning students/ exchange visitors, temporary workers and intra-company transferees (B, F, M, J, H and L visas holders) of Vietnamese nationality can renew their visas by dropping off their applications at the U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City during scheduled drop box hours (Tuesday and Thursday from 8:00am – 10:00am), receiving their new visa in as short as three days, without having to come for a personal interview and fingerprinting. Applicants can also continue to renew their visas by mailing their applications to the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi. All residents throughout Vietnam can take advantage of the visa renewal service by mail or drop box. The Consulate General HCMC will not be processing any visa renewals received by mail. We will process visas only through in-person applications or use of the drop box during scheduled hours.

Who is eligible to use the Consulate’s drop box service?

You are qualified for the drop box renewal program if you meet ALL criteria below:

  1. You are not traveling to the U.S. or need to use your passport within the next five business days.
  2. You are a Vietnamese citizen.
  3. You are physically present in Vietnam.
  4. You are a holder of a U.S. temporary visitor, returning student/exchange visitor, temporary worker or intra‐company transferee visa (B, F, M, J, H and L visa).
  5. You are applying for a visa in the same classification as your prior nonimmigrant biometric visa. (note: a biometric visa is one issued to an applicant above 14 years of age which included capturing fingerprints).
  6. Your latest visa was a full validity visa. (note: currently a multiple entry, twelve month visa).
  7. You are applying for a new visa not more than 11 months after the previous visa expired.
  8. If you are a student, you have not left the United States for a break in studies of five months or more, unless your activities overseas are related to your course of study.
  9. You did not answer “YES” to any question in Security and Background of the DS‐160 application form and you were not refused a visa at your last interview

Applicants who do not meet these requirements should schedule an online appointment for a visa interview. For information on scheduling an online appointment, please go to How to apply.

What do I need to submit?

  1. Passport. Your passport must have at least one blank page for the visa and a minimum validity of six months beyond your intended arrival date in the U.S.
  2. Prior passport with your last U.S. visa, if that visa is not in your current passport.
  3. DS-160 confirmation page with barcode, completed and submitted online at DS-160.
  4. One (1) passport-sized photo taken on a white background, with your ears visible, within the last six months.
  5. Visa application fee receipt (both copies – pink and yellow). Please check our website for more information about paying the Fee.
  6. Pre-paid self-addressed EMS envelope. For more information about this pre-paid service, please go to EMS service.

For students and exchange visitors only:

  1. Original I-20 or DS-2019 form
  2. The student’s transcripts

For petition based visa applicant only:

  1. Copy of I-797 or I-129

Applicants who do not have these items should schedule an online appointment for a visa interview. For information on scheduling an online appointment, please visit How to apply.

How do I use the drop box service?

Applicants who meet the eligibility requirements outlined above can hand-deliver the items listed above to the U.S. Consulate information booth, which is located next to the Le Duan entrance of the U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:00 am - 10:00 am. Any applications submitted outside of the regularly scheduled drop box hours will not be accepted. Applications submitted by drop box will be processed and returned within three to five business days, although the Consulate reserves the right to call applicants in for personal interview in the event that additional information is required.

For more information about visa renewal by mail via the embassy in Hanoi, please click here.