US Passport Holder: Vietnam E-Visa Still in Processing and Your Trip Is Days Away?
For US passport holders, a Vietnam e-visa still in processing is harder to manage because of the time difference: Vietnam’s working day happens while most of the US is asleep. The status itself usually just means Vietnam Immigration has not decided yet. If your departure is close, you can speed up the application you already submitted. Here is how to time it from the US, and what the US government’s own travel advice says.
We are a private visa service, not the Vietnamese or US government. Vietnam Immigration decides every e-visa.
What the US State Department says about Vietnam e-visas
The State Department’s Vietnam page (updated January 2024) lists points that matter when your e-visa is late:
- US citizens need a visa. The e-visa is valid for up to 90 days and cannot be extended or renewed inside Vietnam.
- Your passport must be valid for six months beyond your planned stay and have at least one blank visa page.
- Enter and exit through the port of entry you selected when you applied.
- Errors on the e-visa, even small mismatches with your passport, can lead to denial of entry.
- The US Embassy and Consulate General cannot change e-visa details or speed up the process.
Therefore, if your application has an error, speeding it up does not help. Fix the problem with a new application.
Vietnam is 12 to 15 hours ahead
From the first Sunday of November to March, Vietnam is 12 hours ahead of New York and 15 hours ahead of Los Angeles. Vietnam Immigration and our team count working days Monday to Friday in Vietnam.
| Vietnam time (Monday) | New York (EST) | Los Angeles (PST) |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00, working day starts | Sunday 20:00 | Sunday 17:00 |
| 12:00, morning working session ends | Monday 00:00 | Sunday 21:00 |
| 18:00, afternoon working session ends | Monday 06:00 | Monday 03:00 |
What this means: if you order on a Sunday afternoon in the US, the Vietnamese working day is just starting. An order placed on Friday afternoon US time falls on Saturday in Vietnam, so it counts from Monday.
Long flights change your deadline
In addition, most trips from the US take a day or more, with a connection. As a result, your e-visa must be approved before your first flight, not before you land. Count the working days from today to your departure from the US.
| Your departure from the US | What to do now |
|---|---|
| 4 or more Vietnam working days away | Wait, and check the official status page each day |
| 1 to 3 working days away | Speed up the application you already submitted |
| Within 24 hours | Use the 2- or 4-working-hour option, if a slot is still open in Vietnam today |
| You found an error in your application | Start a new reviewed application |
E-visa in processing on a US passport: how to speed it up
We follow up the application you already submitted on the government website. We need your registration code, email, date of birth, entry date and entry port. Also, there is no second government fee. Speed-ups run Monday to Friday, Vietnam time: 8 working hours for USD 145 (order before 08:00, result by 18:30), 4 working hours for USD 175 (order before 08:00 for a result by 12:30, or before 14:00 for 18:30) and 2 working hours for USD 200 (order before 08:00, 10:00, 14:00 or 15:00). If we miss the time you chose, we refund the amount we received. You can pay by card through PayPal. The main guide for e-visas in processing has the full price table.
Before you land, read our Vietnam entry procedure guide (step by step from the aircraft to the arrivals hall) and our Vietnam customs rules guide (duty-free allowance, cash limits and banned items).
FAQ for US travellers
Can I call the US Embassy in Hanoi to speed up my e-visa?
No. The State Department says the US Embassy and Consulate General cannot change e-visa details or speed up processing.
I have dual US and Vietnamese citizenship. Do I need an e-visa?
However, rules for dual citizens and people of Vietnamese origin are different. Contact a Vietnamese embassy or consulate before you travel.
Does Thanksgiving or a US holiday slow down my e-visa?
No. In fact, only Vietnamese working days and public holidays count.
Facts checked on 7 November 2026 against the US State Department’s Vietnam page, evisa.gov.vn and our price list.
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