Expanded ODP program

Joint U.S. - Vietnamese Announcement of Humanitarian Resettlement Program Following is the text of the joint US-Vietnam Humanitarian Resettlement Program announcement:

  The Government of the United States and the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam jointly announce that, taking into consideration the request from the United States Government, the Government of Vietnam expresses its willingness to cooperate with the United States to resolve humanitarian resettlement issues.

This is a limited process to receive new applications from Vietnamese citizens who might have been eligible under three categories of the former Orderly Departure Program for consideration for resettlement to the United States. This process is limited only to those who were unable to apply or who were unable to complete the application process before the Orderly Departure Program closed on September 30, 1994.

The three Orderly Departure Program categories are the HO, U-11 and V-11 subprograms. Persons whose previous Orderly Departure Program applications were denied in the past are not eligible to re-apply for Humanitarian Resettlement. Persons who were previously notified of their ineligibility for former Orderly Departure Program categories are ineligible to re-apply. For free, accurate information about this process, please contact the Refugee Resettlement Section at the Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City. Contact information is listed below.

Access Criteria for Humanitarian Resettlement 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 United States Government 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 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 United States Government 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 United States Government prior to April 30, 1975 and - who had been directly employed by the United States Government, 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 United States Government 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 United States Government in Vietnam, with a cumulative period of time totaling five or more years verified United States Government 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 Humanitarian Resettlement. Important Notes:

1) This Humanitarian Resettlement process is free. Anyone interested in information should receive it directly from the Refugee Resettlement Section at the 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.

2) Those seeking Humanitarian Resettlement should understand that not everybody who applies 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 or 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 Humanitarian Resettlement process, and all application forms are 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 United States Government will be permanently denied admission to the United States.

Contact Information:

To receive a written description of the Humanitarian Resettlement process eligibilities and detailed application guidelines, and for any Humanitarian Resettlement-related questions, please contact the Refugee Resettlement Section at the Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, as follows:

Telephone: 08-829-2750
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m.
Mail: Refugee Resettlement Section (RRS)
U.S. Consulate General
4 Le Duan Street
District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
E-mail: RefugeeInfo@wrapshochiminh.org.vn
For additional information, visit the RRS website at:
http://hochiminh.usconsulate.gov/wwwhref.html 2005/1076
Released on November 21, 2005