How to Gee Up A Hong Kong Visa Application That Is Taking A Long Time To Process

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Family Visas, Your Question Answered / 6 responses

Hong Kong Visa Application That Is Taking A Long Time To Process – What Can You Realistically Do?

Updated July 2023

How to gee up a Hong Kong visa application that is taking a long time to process? Whilst this question (along with the answer provided) discusses a dependant visa application, it does set the scene nicely for me to share with you how to go about prompting a response from the Immigration Department in an effort to keep your Hong Kong visa or other immigration application moving along swiftly.

Hong Kong Visa Application That is Taking a Long Time to Process – The Answer You Need Follows Below …

QUESTION

“My husband and I submitted my application for a HK dependant visa back in August and received a confirmation of acceptance on the 25th of August.

We expected it to be processed within 3-4 weeks due to the straightforward nature of our case (in our mind) or within 6 weeks at the most, as per your website’s timelines. However, the status of the application is still “in progress”.

A little bit about our situation. My husband is a Canadian national working for a law firm in HK; he moved out there in January 2011 (before we were married; we met in July 2010) and works there on an employment visa, has his HK ID card etc.

I am a Ukrainian national residing and working in Canada. I recently received my PR in Canada and previously had a number of student, post-study work and high-value migrant type of visas.

My husband and I never shared a property in Canada (so we have no bills evidencing our prior cohabitation) and I have only been out to see him in HK once since he left. However, he comes and visits me for a week every two months in Vancouver.

We are in a loving committed relationship so we decided to get married in Canada in order for me to be able to come and live with him in HK, on a dependant’s visa.

We married on the 4th of July of this year and when he went back to HK and collected all the necessary documents (such as the rental agreement for the flat where he lives, an employer’s letter etc.)

He submitted the application (along with the necessary supporting documents posted from Canada including my part of the application form) in the second week of August.

Could you please advise what should be our next step in order to speed up the application process?”

The Process to Follow as Discussed in the PodCast Answer

1 – Call ImmD General Enquiry Hotline 2824 6111
2 – Follow the prompts to make an enquiry to speak to an officer.
3 – Quote your file reference number provided on your Official Receipt.
4 – They will then take your name and Hong Kong telephone number and connect with the Officer in charge of your case.
5 – Expect a call back from your case Officer (if you are in Hong Kong) within 48 hours.

More Stuff  You May Find Useful Or Interesting

Why Do Some Hong Kong Visa Applications Take Forever To Finalise?

Do I Automatically Qualify For A Hong Kong Dependant Visa If My Partner Has A Work Or Investment Visa Here?

Married To A PHKID Card Holder Overseas – The Hong Kong Visa Situation For The Foreign National Spouse?

What Are Your Visa Options In Hong Kong If Your Marriage Has Irretrievably Broken Down?

What Visa Options Exist For Unmarried, Trailing Partners?

VisaGeeza.Ai – Making Hong Kong Immigration A Lot Easier

Check Out VisaGeeza.Ai

All Our Know-How : All Our Experience : Fully Interactive

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PODCAST ANSWER

Podcast: Play in new window

Work in Hong Kong for 5 Years – Leave for 2 – Then Return – Will I Lose My Continuous Residence for PR Purposes?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Long Stay & PR, Your Question Answered / 3 responses

Will I Lose My Continuous Residence for PR Purposes?

Updated October 2023

Will I Lose My Continuous Residence for PR Purposes If I Leave To Work Elsewhere Then Return To Hong Kong?

It happens a lot. You stay and work in Hong Kong for 3, 4, 5 years and get over the hump en route to the magic 7 years needed for a Permanent Identity Card. Then you find yourself having to spend time away from Hong Kong to further your career, education or due to special circumstances. The issue is, however, will all this time spent in Hong Kong be lost and will you have to reset the clock once more when you eventually return after your temporary sojourn abroad?

QUESTION

“I will be leaving Hong Kong to study in Australia for the next two years. I have lived in HK for the last 5 years and would like to return after I have completed my studies.

Will I Lose My Continuous Residence for PR Purposes?

To this end, I am wondering if it is possible to maintain my residency in Hong Kong if I returned every 4 months.  I have a work visa here that is valid until next September but will be leaving for school in July. I am hoping to get my Permanent Residency here and would like to have the five years that I have lived here count towards that instead of having to start all over when I return.

Is this possible or will I lose my continuous residence for PR purposes in these circumstances?  

Thanks.”

Will I Lose My Continuous Residence for PR Purposes? Here Is The  Ordinary Residence Test For Approval

You need to have been continuously and ordinarily resident in Hong Kong for a period of not less than seven years where any absences from Hong Kong in that time – be they of long or short duration – are of a merely temporary nature as evidenced by what you leave behind in Hong Kong to return back to at the end of each temporary stay abroad. You need to have held back-to-back residence visas throughout the seven years claimed as ordinary residence in Hong Kong; must be no security objection to being granted the Right of Abode; must be no outstanding taxation liabilities in your hands in Hong Kong at the time that you’re applying for Right of Abode. And you need to have been in Hong Kong for a settled purpose. Your settled purpose is a function of the visa type that you hold.

“Will I Lose My Continuous Residence for PR Purposes” – Podcast Answer Below

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The 7 Things Your Employer Needs To Know About The Immigration Process When Applying For An Employment Visa For Hong Kong

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PODCAST ANSWER

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The Ultimate Guide to the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals: Key Requirements and Documentation Tips

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Musing / No responses

Guide to the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals – All You Need To Know

Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals: Documentation Essentials

When applying for an employment visa under the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals, it’s crucial to submit the necessary documentation to support your application. In this guide, we’ll cover the required documents, how to optimize your application, and tips for a successful submission.

Required Documents for Application

To apply for the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals, you must submit the following case-crucial documents:

1. Graduation certificates
2. Proof of other academic qualifications
3. Testimonials and references from previous employment

These documents will help validate the claims made in your CV and substantiate the special skills, knowledge, and experience needed for the overall approvability test.

Evaluating the Sponsoring Employer and Applicant

The Immigration Department will assess both the sponsoring employer’s merits and activities and the applicant’s special skills, knowledge, and experience, as well as how they will be applied to the job in question. To support your application, provide extensive and detailed information on the business, including its website, to establish its bona fides as a suitable and credible sponsor.

The Immigration Department will, you see, evaluate carefully both the sponsor and the applicant. If the applicant is replacing a previous employee, make a like-to-like argument, highlighting the role’s changes since the previous appointment and how the new candidate fits the position perfectly. Include additional documentary evidence to support these contentions.

The Cover Letter: A Key Document

When submitting your application, a cover letter addressed to the Director of Immigration is essential. This letter should outline how your case satisfies the provability test in its entirety. For guidance on structuring this letter, refer to the list of application templates provided.

Conclusion: The Importance of Attention to Detail

Applying for an employment visa under the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals requires careful attention to detail and a thorough understanding of the documentation needed to support your application. By providing clear and detailed information on both the sponsoring employer and the applicant, you can increase your chances of a successful outcome.

More Stuff You May Find Useful or Interesting

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Am I eligible for an extension to my Hong Kong Dependant visa if my PHKID holding spouse doesn’t actually live here right now?

How flexible is the Admission of Mainland Talents & Professionals Scheme in enabling Chinese nationals to come and work in Hong Kong?

What can be said to constitute ‘Ordinary Residence’ for the purposes of a Hong Kong Right of Abode application?

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VisaGeeza.Ai | Hong Kong Immigration Ai | Coming Very Very Soon

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Ai, Hadley Says…, Musing, Resource, VG Front Page / 4 responses

Over the Last 8 Months we Have Moved Our Hong Kong Immigration Ai Activities Forward Significantly

Resulting in what we have called VisaGeeza.Ai, our Hong Kong Immigration Ai has turned out to have been a huge endeavour. It was much more involved that we original anticipated as it’s all new and there’s no one to copy or emulate (yet).

VisaGeeza.Ai – Our Hong Kong Immigration Ai Will Encompass the Following 3 Components:

(1) A completely free-to-use Hong Kong Immigration Ai large language model that delivers highly accurate output against any given set of client facts and circumstances. We needed to develop this from scratch (and which is now complete).

(2) A wider platform of ‘actionable content’ including such content assets as application checklists for print-out, podcast discussions, videos, case studies, how-to-guides and SEO-ready posts for publishing in the propagation of documented know-how on the web (which we have been publishing for more than 10 years by now).

(3) A means to ‘bring Ai to life’ humanizing the Hong Kong Immigration Ai encounter for the user whilst at the same time creating the conditions for the Ai to self-learn with each and every interaction a user has with (1) and (2).

VisaGeeza.Ai includes or anticipates all three.

Here is a summary of what we have learned so far.

Context Setting: Delivering Accurate Hong Kong Immigration Ai Narrative Output

One of the key challenges in developing a language model for immigration clients is the need to accurately understand and incorporate context. To address this challenge, we have meticulously engineered our model to consider the context of each query, ensuring that the generated responses are relevant and precise. By training the model on a vast amount of Hong Kong immigration-specific data, we have enhanced its ability to understand the intricacies of the immigration process, resulting in more accurate and reliable information for clients.

Bringing Hong Kong Immigration Ai Narrative Output to Life

An essential aspect of VisaGeeza.Ai is the inclusion of specific wider links to support and enrich the AI narrative output. We understand that immigration clients require more than just textual information – they need a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter.

By providing relevant and carefully curated external links to our existing platform of website content, we are able to bring the Ai narrative output to life. Clients can access additional resources, D-I-Y kits, case studies, and real-life examples to gain a deeper understanding of the Hong Kong immigration process and make more informed decisions.

Just as importantly, they can ask us questions orally free of charge via VisaGeeza.Ai allowing us to humanize the Ai experience with a considered response and a Voicemail reply. This ongoing interaction enables the following:

(4) A human-to-human point of contact with our practice; a means to win new client relationships in real life.

(5) The means to continue the training of the language model in real life and in real time making it constantly improving and always up to date.

(6) The enabling of trust from the Ai encounter in an area of professional activity where command of the facts and the correct application of immigration law is completely mission critical to the expertise and value being imparted.

Immigration Know-How and Logic: Accurate Query Responses

Our goal is to empower immigration clients to seek accurate information and answers to their queries. To accomplish this, we identified the key elements of immigration know-how and logic and engineered our language model specifically to this end.

By training VisaGeeza.Ai on extensive Hong Kong immigration expertise, developing an immigration-specific matrix of prompts and incorporating complex decision-making algorithms, we have enabled VisaGeeza.Ai to provide users with precise and relevant answers to their queries.

This ensures that the information provided is not only correct but also tailored to the specific circumstances and goals of each client.

Hong Kong Immigration Ai Final Phase I User Experience

Having perfected the prompt engineering, we are now making steady progress towards the Final Phase I user experience. This phase focuses on fine-tuning the model’s performance and enhancing its usability for Hong Kong immigration clients.

We continuously improve the user experience and address any issues that may arise. Our ultimate goal is to create a seamless and intuitive interface that allows clients to easily access the Hong Kong immigration know-how they need throughout their immigration journey.

Future Development: Phase II and Phase III

Looking ahead, we have already outlined our plans for Phase II and Phase III development activities. Phase II will focus on the use of the language model to produce high quality content in a variety of media in order to populate the landscape of the internet and dominate search in our niche.

This entails API-interfacing to create natural language SEO ready WordPress posts, voice cloned podcast, video avatar immigration updates and mid-journey type graphical output. All generated programmatically and all the most technically accurate material found anywhere on the web.

This can be done at scale and we anticipate publishing up to 5000 pieces of such content in the next 12 months to complement our already 10,000 strong contents asset platform.

Phase III will involve integrating our language model into our backend case management platform RIVeng, enabling our Immigration Consultants to both assess their understanding of the law against the client facts in hand and also generate all the necessary output at every stage of the process, including the case argument.

The video above provides a short overview of VisaGeeza.Ai language model in action.

It also indicates the prospective UX which is now being engineered for prior to formal launch in the next few weeks.

Interested In Buying Our Immigration Ai Capability?

If our Ai activities are of interest to you, please get in touch.

You could have the very same capability in your non- Hong Kong practice very quickly, as it is our intention to sell our technology and know-how to one partner in every jurisdiction.

It requires investment, of course, but 6 months from now you could well be dominating your niche or jurisdiction exponentially.

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Working? How to Secure a Hong Kong Visa for Your Side Business

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Feature Article, Investment Visas, Musing, VG Front Page / No responses

Have you got a business opportunity you want to pursue on the side, in addition to working full time for your employer in Hong Kong? If so, you’re going to need to secure a Hong Kong visa for your side business.

1. Introduction

Having a side business is possible under your auspices of your present employment visa, but if you’re planning to start a side business in Hong Kong, obtaining a the permission of the Director of Immigration is an essential step. In this post, I will discuss the importance of obtaining a Hong Kong visa for your side business and provide a comprehensive guide to help you navigate the process.

2. Eligibility Criteria for a Hong Kong Visa for Your Side Business

To be eligible for a Hong Kong visa for your side business, you must first obtain the permission of your current employer. They must confirm in writing that they have no objection to you taking up the side business. You must also ensure your side business is registered to carry business with the HK Inland Revenue Department This will require a Business Registration Certificate either as a sole propritor or as a limited liability company with you as the sole shareholder and director (with some limited, case specific, exceptions).

3. Qualifying Immigration Status

There are different types of Hong Kong visas, but the one you must hold is the employment visa. This visa allows you to work for your current employer while also engaging in your side business once approved by ImmD.

4. Required Documents for a Hong Kong Visa for Your Side Business

To apply for a Hong Kong visa for your side business, you will need the following documents:

• A letter from your current employer confirming their permission for you to engage in the side business.
• A personal letter outlining your business activities, the rationale for starting the side business, and details about your sole proprietorship or other business vehicle (such as a limited liability company, as applicable).
• Completed form ID91 stating the reason for the application as ‘seeking to join in a side business’.

5. Application Process

Follow these steps to apply for a side business visa:

1. Prepare the required documents (employer’s letter, personal letter, BRC and completed form ID91).
2. Mail your application to the Residents Section, 5th Floor, Immigration Tower, Wanchai (or you can go in person with your passport and stand in line followed by a short interview to get the ball-rolling; but go very early in the morning business hours if you decide to go this route).
3. The Immigration Department will correspond with you throughout the process
4. As these permissions are essentially ‘out of policy’, the process can take time and be a bit hit and miss in the quality of the application experience (depending on the seniority of the processing case officer).

6. Visa Fees

Approval comes via letter and doesn’t entail a fee charged by the Immigration Department.

7. Processing Time for a Hong Kong Visa for Your Side Business

The processing time for a Hong Kong visa for your side business can vary, but it typically takes several weeks. It’s essential to plan accordingly and allow ample time for your application to be processed. Please see this update I got a from a website visitor I got earlier this week:

Sorry for the delay in following up. I just wanted to thank you again for your helpful advice and insight. 

After our conversation, I contacted the Immigration Office again and re-submitted all of the documents for side work (form ID91, employer permission letter, business registration cert) together with a cover letter as you advised. 3-4 weeks later I got an email and call from the handling officer again asking for more stuff related to investment visas. I explained again, resubmitted the same stuff again, and this went on 2 or 3 more times. Each time it sounded like they were going to put the documents through even though they thought it would be rejected, but in the end just kept asking me for more “evidence”.  Eventually, now into March, I got another call from the same lady in Immigration with the same questions. I finally had enough. I said I wouldn’t be submitting anything else, that they should just put the documents through as-is, and that if it was rejected I would deal later. Somehow that worked! Less than 24h later I had the request approved!  

So, thanks again! I will certainly recommend you in future!

8. Tips for a Successful Application

To increase your chances of visa approval, ensure that your employer’s letter is clear and concise, and your personal letter effectively outlines your side business activities and rationale. Please note, ImmD are looking for side business activity that is going to be beneficial to Hong Kong and not just income-supplementary to the applicant.

9. Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Failing to obtain your employer’s written permission.
• Providing insufficient information in your personal letter.
• Underemphasizing the potential economic and/or social benefits to Hong Kong of your side business.

10. Conclusion

Obtaining a Hong Kong visa for your side business is an essential step in staying compliant as you pursue an entrepreneurial venture here ‘on the side’. By following this guide and avoiding common mistakes, you can increase your chances of  ImmD approval and get your side-gig moving.

More Stuff You May Find Interesting or Useful

What Exactly Do You Need to Include in a Visa Application to Join in a Side Business in Hong Kong?

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Should I Change My Hong Kong Visa Category From Sponsored Employment to Business Investment or Seek Permission to Join in a Side Business Instead?

Joining in a Side Business in Hong Kong – An Obvious Visa Solution for Certain Types of Employed Professionals

Can I Work on the Side Under a Hong Kong Work Visa (Can I Have a Side Job)?

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Swapping From A Training Visa To An Employment Visa For the Same Employer – Possible?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Hadley Says… / 5 responses

Swapping From A Training Visa To An Employment Visa in Hong Kong – Yes Or No?

Updated October 2023

 Swapping From A Training Visa To An Employment Visa – A Common Misunderstanding

Swapping from a training visa to an employment visa? Many foreign nationals and the companies which bring them to Hong Kong to receive training on a short term basis, believe that it is possible to go on to change over to an employment visa once the prescribed period of training has been completed.

Yet 99% of all such applications are rejected by the Hong Kong Immigration Department.

Consequently, the training visa should not be construed as a back-door pathway into an employment visa for Hong Kong.

Swapping From A Training Visa To An Employment Visa – Not So Easy

In gaining the original permissions for the training visa, both the sponsoring company as well as the training visa holder himself, made express undertakings as to the rationale for the temporary deployment to the HKSAR and that, once the training is over, the foreign national would leave Hong Kong to go back to what he was doing before his time as a trainee in Hong Kong commenced.

Swapping From A Training Visa To An Employment Visa – You Likely Need To Leave In Any Event

So, you might be able to finagle up to a one year period of stay as a trainee in Hong Kong, but once your time is up, it’s time to leave

Almost without exception!

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Remaining On Hong Kong Visitor Visa Status After Employment Visa Expires

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Feature Article, Musing, VG Front Page, Visitor Visas / No responses

If you’re wondering if you can stay in Hong Kong as a visitor after your employment visa expires, I discuss the process of converting your status from an employment visa holder to Hong Kong visitor visa status and how to go about making this transition.

Converting Your Status to a Hong Kong Visitor Visa

When your employment visa limit of stay is due to expire and you don’t have a continuing reason to remain in Hong Kong as an employee, you will need to convert your status to  a visitor. This process is generally not problematic, and there are two ways to go about it:

Option 1: Apply for a Visitor Visa Extension at the Immigration Department

You can visit the Immigration Department’s visitor extension section and apply for a visitor visa extension. This process may take up to three-quarters of a day, and you could be granted a maximum of a two-week visitor visa extension upon request (depending on your nationality).

Option 2: Travel to Macau and Return to Hong Kong (aka the Shenzhen Shuttle)

On the final date of your current limit of stay as an employment visa holder, you can take the 11 o’clock evening ferry to Macau and return to Hong Kong on the next ferry, which will bring you back after 12 midnight on the following day. Upon your return, the Immigration Officer will grant you a visitor visa, as your employment visa will have expired the day before. The length of stay as a visitor will depend on your nationality.

Useful Resources To Transition To Hong Kong Visitor Visa Status

For more information on staying in Hong Kong as a visitor after your employment visa expires, check out the following resources:

• Can I Remain in Hong Kong as a Visitor After My Employment Visa Expires?

• Overstayed Hong Kong Employment Visa: What Happens Now?

• Hong Kong Visitor Visa Information – Fact Sheet

• Hong Kong Immigration: What Does It Mean – Shenzhen Shuttle?

Do You Know About The 3-Year Hong Kong Visitor Visa?

3-Year Hong Kong Visitor Visa Information – The Travel Pass

Hong Kong Travel Pass Used to Keep An Extended Family Together – Quite Lawfully!

Applying for a Hong Kong Travel Pass – Video Presentation

Documentation Checklist For A Hong Kong Travel Pass Application

 Is The Travel Pass as Good as a Hong Kong Employment Visa?

 

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