Vietnamese nationals get help with spouse visas
Erasing language barriers: (Seated, second from left to right) Wa, Dr Mah and Truong showing copies of the bilingual guideline during a press conference at Wisma Perak MCA, Ipoh.
IPOH: Perak MCA Youth has introduced a bilingual guideline to assist Vietnamese nationals married to Malaysians in applying for a spouse visa.
Perak MCA Youth chief Daniel Wa said the initiative followed numerous complaints from both locals and their Vietnamese spouses about the complex application process.
'The Malaysia-Vietnam Friendship Association (MVFA) has also faced such issues, and it's challenging to provide individual guidance each time,' he told a press conference at Wisma MCA Perak on Friday.
'To address this, we have created a dual-language guideline in Vietnamese and Bahasa Malaysia to make it more accessible.'
Wa highlighted that many Vietnamese applicants face issues such as exorbitant fees, and reliance on middlemen or websites to get the visas.
'Some paid up to RM8,000 and still didn't receive the correct visa, while others resorted to illegal means,' he said, adding that the guideline aims to simplify the process for them.
About 1,000 copies have been printed and are available for RM20 each at Wisma MCA Perak, the Kampar MCA office and the Shake & Bake Cafe in Ipoh.
MCA deputy president Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon praised Wa and Perak MVFA chairman Kelly Truong for their efforts.
The book, he said, is not only a guide on visa procedures but also includes cultural insights and religious customs of Malaysia's three major ethnic groups.
Dr Mah added that Wa is considering similar guides for other nationalities, depending on demand.
'There is a significant number of Vietnamese women married to Malaysians, especially in the Kinta Valley,' said Dr Mah, who is also Perak MCA chairman.
'Adjusting to a new country can be stressful, especially when dealing with socio-economic and family challenges.'
Truong herself faced similar difficulties when she got married in Malaysia, and now helps by teaching Bahasa Malaysia to fellow Vietnamese nationals.
'In some unfortunate cases, those unable to cope ended up leaving the country, which can lead to further social issues,' said Dr Mah.
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