Vietnam and the United States of America have had something of a tumultuous yet astonishingly close relationship as economic forces can drive these two nations together in many ways. This is certainly true in the context of the present time of this writing. Therefore American legal representation internationally, in the context of Vietnam, can be costly while simultaneously often difficult to find. As a result, some opt to retain attorneys geographically practicing, whilst also residing, on the continent of Asia.
It would appear that there will be significant economic growth in the context of China, Southeast Asia, and the Greater ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region; to say nothing of specific nations such as the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Kingdom of Thailand, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. For this reason, amongst others, many individuals, companies, and organizations are seeking a business presence in Vietnam, if for no other reason than to maintain a close proximity to competitive labor markets. Those wishing to conduct business in Vietnam are well advised to retain the services of a licensed attorney in order to ascertain the legalities of any activities conducted in an unfamiliar jurisdiction.
There are many issues pertaining to United States Immigration that may arise in the context of Vietnam. There are many Lawful Permanent Residents in the United States who are of Vietnamese extraction. Concurrently, many such Lawful Permanent Residents eventually opt to naturalize to American Citizenship. Meanwhile, Vietnamese-American children born within the jurisdiction of the United States are vested with automatic American Citizenship regardless of the nationality of the parents. As can be gleaned from the information above, there are many in the United States who trace their roots back to Vietnam. Immigration law might seem straightforward at first blush, but this apparent simplicity belies tremendous complexity in some circumstances. For example, those who acquire American citizenship pursuant to the provisions of the Child Citizenship Act may see many obstacles in their quest to secure their privileges and immunities. The same could also be said for those Vietnamese-Americans who wish to bring their spouse or fiance to the United States of America on a travel document such as the CR-1 visa, the IR-1 visa, or the K-1 visa
Retaining an American lawyer in Asia can be a somewhat perilous endeavor especially as many "fly-by-night" operators portray themselves as attorneys when in fact they have no qualification to make such a claim. For this reason, it is always prudent for prospective clients to ascertain the credentials of anyone claiming expertise in American immigration matters or American legal matters generally. A legitimate attorney ought to be able to produce a valid license to practice law before the Supreme Court of at least one sovereign American State or a Federal jurisdiction. Licensure to practice law may also be proved by producing a valid Bar Association membership card. In any case, individuals seeking the services of a legal professional are well advised to verify the credentials of anyone claiming expertise as an American attorney.
For further information pertaining to legal services in Southeast Asia please see: Legal