Visit visa fee waived for former Lao citizens

http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/free_Visit.htm

The government has taken a new step in its policy to encourage people who were born in Laos but who have since become citizens of another country to visit their motherland.

Officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Lao Overseas Relations Department said on Friday the government has approved a visa fee exemption aimed at encouraging former Lao citizens to visit Laos on their holidays.

The notice states that former Lao citizens aged over 65 or under 15, or who are monks or disabled, receive further benefits in that they do not have to pay a for a 90 day visa at either a Lao embassy or on arrival in Laos.

Nor will these groups need to pay for a visa extension at immigration offices in Laos, as the government understands they do not work and earn money to the extent that most people do.

A notice to this effect came into force earlier this year.

The notice also stated that former Lao nationals who obtain a visa at a Lao embassy or consulate do not have to pay a fee and will not be charged for any extension. However, those who get a 60 day visa on arrival must pay US$30, but need only pay US$1 per day to extend their visa compared to the standard rate of US$2.

Officials said this latest m ove to strengthen Laos's overseas relations policy was instigated after the government saw the positives of granting visa fee exemptions to former Lao citizens returning for the SEA Games in 2009 and the 450th anniversary of Vientiane as the Lao capital in 2010.

Officials said the visa fee exemption is aimed not only at cutting travel costs and encouraging visits, but also at making those who were formerly Lao nationals feel more at home here by not being bound by the same immigration procedures as other tourists.

According to the Lao Overseas Relations Department, there are more than 500,000 former Lao nationals living in other countries, mostly in the US, France, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Japan. Most of them left Laos during the Cold War prior to 1991.

Good policy LPDR, but what about me I'm in my early 30's. I'm not a radical, just a manufacturing worker.  
:D ;D

This is a very good news! I am welcome the news with my open arms! They should extend the right to own land and business.. I will jump on the next plane back to my mother land......  

I second that 8-)!


Tee wrote on 4^th May, 2011 at 8:13am:

This is a very good news! I am welcome the news with my open arms! They should extend the right to own land and business.. I will jump on the next plane back to my mother land......

Is it not $500,000 the minimum to own land/business to have your name, for anyone?.  That is too high and I am sure 99% of the Lao population do not that much to take risk on.  They should lower that amount for folks born in Laos to come back and start something to create more jobs for khonLao in Laos.


Tee wrote on 4^th May, 2011 at 8:13am:

This is a very good news! I am welcome the news with my open arms! They should extend the right to own land and business.. I will jump on the next plane back to my mother land......

llX wrote on 4^th May, 2011 at 6:54am:

Good policy LPDR, but what about me I'm in my early 30's. I'm not a radical, just a manufacturing worker.   :D ;D

You were born in Laos so you qualify! As for me, I was born in 'no man's land'; in a Refugee Camp West of the Lao border. So I don't qualify. :'(

It should be for everyone who can prove Lao ancestry; not just for those that were born there.

Agreed. It'll only benefits the country. They should throw in dual citizenship why they at it too.
:D ;)


Tee wrote on 4^th May, 2011 at 8:13am:

This is a very good news! I am welcome the news with my open arms! They should extend the right to own land and business.. I will jump on the next plane back to my mother land......

Government should low down the amount to $100k. I think the U.S has similar policy. Anybody can get green card for investing $500k. Laos and U.S most will pick U.S.
;) :)


PEACE wrote on 4^th May, 2011 at 12:09pm:

Is it not $500,000 the minimum to own land/business to have your name, for anyone?.  That is too high and I am sure 99% of the Lao population do not that much to take risk on.  They should lower that amount for folks born in Laos to come back and start something to create more jobs for khonLao in Laos. Tee wrote on 4th May, 2011 at 8:13am: This is a very good news! I am welcome the news with my open arms! They should extend the right to own land and business.. I will jump on the next plane back to my mother land......

The article say over the age of 65 and under the age of 15. I left Laos at age 11.
;)


Larb Dip wrote on 4^th May, 2011 at 1:22pm:

llX wrote on 4th May, 2011 at 6:54am: Good policy LPDR, but what about me I'm in my early 30's. I'm not a radical, just a manufacturing worker.   :D ;D You were born in Laos so you qualify! As for me, I was born in 'no man's land'; in a Refugee Camp West of the Lao border. So I don't qualify. :'( It should be for everyone who can prove Lao ancestry; not just for those that were born there.

How do can I prove that if I am now a US citizen? I have no paper for Laos.  


llX wrote on 4^th May, 2011 at 3:20pm:

The article say over the age of 65 and under the age of 15. I left Laos at age 11. ;) Larb Dip wrote on 4th May, 2011 at 1:22pm: llX wrote on 4th May, 2011 at 6:54am: Good policy LPDR, but what about me I'm in my early 30's. I'm not a radical, just a manufacturing worker.   :D ;D You were born in Laos so you qualify! As for me, I was born in 'no man's land'; in a Refugee Camp West of the Lao border. So I don't qualify. :'( It should be for everyone who can prove Lao ancestry; not just for those that were born there.

llX wrote on 4^th May, 2011 at 3:20pm:

The article say over the age of 65 and under the age of 15. I left Laos at age 11. ;) Larb Dip wrote on 4th May, 2011 at 1:22pm: llX wrote on 4th May, 2011 at 6:54am: Good policy LPDR, but what about me I'm in my early 30's. I'm not a radical, just a manufacturing worker.   :D ;D You were born in Laos so you qualify! As for me, I was born in 'no man's land'; in a Refugee Camp West of the Lao border. So I don't qualify. :'( It should be for everyone who can prove Lao ancestry; not just for those that were born there.

It says those over the ages of 65 and under the ages of 15 recieve FURTHER BENEFITS.

You still qualify.

That's good then. Good policy. Thinking about visiting Laos next year couple of my friends is going in April. They should allow all Lao around the world to come back to do business, live or own land. Laos is underpopulated. We need more ethnics Lao in Laos. They should also allow and encourage Lao Issan to move to Laos.
;)


Larb Dip wrote on 4^th May, 2011 at 11:54pm:

llX wrote on 4th May, 2011 at 3:20pm: The article say over the age of 65 and under the age of 15. I left Laos at age 11. ;) Larb Dip wrote on 4th May, 2011 at 1:22pm: llX wrote on 4th May, 2011 at 6:54am: Good policy LPDR, but what about me I'm in my early 30's. I'm not a radical, just a manufacturing worker.   :D ;D You were born in Laos so you qualify! As for me, I was born in 'no man's land'; in a Refugee Camp West of the Lao border. So I don't qualify. :'( It should be for everyone who can prove Lao ancestry; not just for those that were born there. It says those over the ages of 65 and under the ages of 15 recieve FURTHER BENEFITS. You still qualify.

Good question maybe they can check your parent record.
:)


PEACE wrote on 4^th May, 2011 at 4:52pm:

How do can I prove that if I am now a US citizen? I have no paper for Laos.   llX wrote on 4th May, 2011 at 3:20pm: The article say over the age of 65 and under the age of 15. I left Laos at age 11. ;) Larb Dip wrote on 4th May, 2011 at 1:22pm: llX wrote on 4th May, 2011 at 6:54am: Good policy LPDR, but what about me I'm in my early 30's. I'm not a radical, just a manufacturing worker.   :D ;D You were born in Laos so you qualify! As for me, I was born in 'no man's land'; in a Refugee Camp West of the Lao border. So I don't qualify. :'( It should be for everyone who can prove Lao ancestry; not just for those that were born there.

The US passport should have the 'birthplace' of country.


llX wrote on 5^th May, 2011 at 12:33am:

Good question maybe they can check your parent record. :) PEACE wrote on 4th May, 2011 at 4:52pm: How do can I prove that if I am now a US citizen? I have no paper for Laos.   llX wrote on 4th May, 2011 at 3:20pm: The article say over the age of 65 and under the age of 15. I left Laos at age 11. ;) Larb Dip wrote on 4th May, 2011 at 1:22pm: llX wrote on 4th May, 2011 at 6:54am: Good policy LPDR, but what about me I'm in my early 30's. I'm not a radical, just a manufacturing worker.   :D ;D You were born in Laos so you qualify! As for me, I was born in 'no man's land'; in a Refugee Camp West of the Lao border. So I don't qualify. :'( It should be for everyone who can prove Lao ancestry; not just for those that were born there.

PEACE wrote on 4^th May, 2011 at 4:52pm:

How do can I prove that if I am now a US citizen? I have no paper for Laos.   llX wrote on 4th May, 2011 at 3:20pm: The article say over the age of 65 and under the age of 15. I left Laos at age 11. ;) Larb Dip wrote on 4th May, 2011 at 1:22pm: llX wrote on 4th May, 2011 at 6:54am: Good policy LPDR, but what about me I'm in my early 30's. I'm not a radical, just a manufacturing worker.   :D ;D You were born in Laos so you qualify! As for me, I was born in 'no man's land'; in a Refugee Camp West of the Lao border. So I don't qualify. :'( It should be for everyone who can prove Lao ancestry; not just for those that were born there.

It should have your Country/City of birth on your citizenship certificate, right?...............Unless if you're an overstayer. Are you? ;D ;D ;D

US passport says 'Country of origin' (or soemthing like that) = LAOS for me but no 'City'

PEACE wrote on 6^th May, 2011 at 3:08am:

US passport says 'Country of origin' (or soemthing like that) = LAOS for me but no 'City'

Maybe they still has record of you and your family in Laos, and birth certificates. I moved to USA in 1990 at age 11. How about you?
;)

The US passport should be enough I think.  1980 and I was 8.

PEACE wrote on 7^th May, 2011 at 3:10am:

The US passport should be enough I think.  1980 and I was 8.

I think so passport should be enough.
;)

So you know all building codes for building residential/commerical buildings in Vientiane? You'd mentioned somewhere before that you are very knowlegeable about build homes and as such.  Does your uncle have his own building company or is he working for someone?



llX wrote on 7^th May, 2011 at 5:31am:

PEACE wrote on 7th May, 2011 at 3:10am: The US passport should be enough I think.  1980 and I was 8. I think so passport should be enough. ;)

My uncle work for a company. Sometime he  also work as a subcontract. I know about building code in the U.S, but not in Laos. Like Old Man say there's not must building code in Laos. Anybody can just build their own house. In America you need permit from the city and follow all the building code or they allow you to live in the house. Some of the work on the house have to be done by a license contractors.
:)


PEACE wrote on 7^th May, 2011 at 10:14pm:

So you know all building codes for building residential/commerical buildings in Vientiane? You'd mentioned somewhere before that you are very knowlegeable about build homes and as such.  Does your uncle have his own building company or is he working for someone? llX wrote on 7th May, 2011 at 5:31am: PEACE wrote on 7th May, 2011 at 3:10am: The US passport should be enough I think.  1980 and I was 8. I think so passport should be enough. ;)

Old Man says anything is possible outside of Vientiane.  However in Vientiane, there is a 'building code' that new homes have to abide by.  I saw this from a Lao PDR website before but the site does not mention specifically and the best way to know is probably through a builder or builders that are currently building those new houses in Vientiane.  So does your uncle know the bulding company in Vientaine?

Yes my uncle know building company and all about the buidling code. If you need more  infor in the future let me know. I can ask him.
;)

Are the builders in Vientaine follow the same building procedeurs as in the US that you know of?

I think they do, but there's more building code in America, it's  very strict and regulated.  
:)