What goes into a visa application file

Almost every visa refusal comes down to the file, not the country. Embassies are answering one question: will this person come back? Everything you submit is evidence for that answer.

The four blocks

1. Identity

Passport, ID card, proof of residence, and civil documents such as birth and marriage certificates. This block is rarely the problem — but expired documents and inconsistent name spellings between passport and ID cause real delays.

2. Your position in Vietnam

Labour contract, payslips, approved leave, business licence or school confirmation. This is what shows you have a reason to return. A short employment history or a recent job change weakens it, and needs to be explained rather than hidden.

3. Finances

Savings, bank statements, property, vehicles. The point is not a large number — it is a number that matches your stated income and the cost of the trip. A savings account opened last month with a sudden large deposit is a red flag, not an asset.

4. The trip itself

Itinerary, flight and hotel bookings, insurance, invitation letters. These must agree with each other and with the purpose you stated on the form.

The mistakes we see most

• Inconsistency. The form says tourism, the invitation letter says a business meeting. Officers notice.
• Borrowed money in the bank. A large deposit that appears days before submission and does not fit the income history.
• Missing translations or translations that are not notarised where notarisation is required.
• Over-submitting. Fifty pages of irrelevant documents make it harder, not easier, to see the case.
• Old passports left out — travel history is one of the strongest arguments you have. Always include them.