Overcoming Employment Obstacles in Hong Kong: Finding a Credible Visa Sponsor

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

A credible visa sponsor? What is the best way for someone to prove their expertise in a unique musical instrument without formal certification, in order to obtain a work visa and open a school in Hong Kong?

This question as regards finding a credible visa sponsor relates to a highly unique musical instrument that I am not naming in order to protect the identity of the person asking the question. It’s incredibly esotoric!

Challenge 1: Documenting Your Unique Skills and Experience For A Credible Visa Sponsor (Assuming One Exists)

The first challenge you may encounter is documenting evidence of your unique skills, knowledge, and experience in relation to your specialized musical instrument. This documentation plays a crucial role in supporting your employment visa application. Not only should you highlight your proficiency in playing the instrument, but you should also showcase any additional qualifications, awards, or recognition you have received. This will help demonstrate your expertise and suitability for employment in Hong Kong.

Challenge 2: Finding a Credible Visa Sponsor …

The second challenge, and perhaps the more crucial one, is finding a credible sponsor to support your employment visa application. A credible sponsor is typically an established company in Hong Kong that meets specific criteria set by the Immigration Department. They should have a profitable track record and be recognized as a legitimate business entity.

They must be ‘well-established’.

Unfortunately, having unique skills alone does not guarantee a successful application. The sponsor must also demonstrate the justification for hiring your services, which can be challenging in your case.  How to prove your skills? An audition at the Immigration Department is very unsual and highly unlikely. It is going to be difficult to find a well-established company in Hong Kong able to sponsor your visa, especially if the market demand for your specialized musical instrument is small or unclear.

Exploring Alternative Options

Given the challenges in finding a credible visa sponsor, you’re going to want to consider alternative options for pursuing your employment goals here. One alternative is to explore the possibility of applying for a business investment visa as an entrepreneur. This would involve setting up your own school to teach the unique musical instrument. However, it is essential to weigh the risks and benefits of this approach, as it requires substantial investment and a thorough understanding of what it takes for visa approval. I would expect the very small demand for the instrument would mean ImmD would conclude your contribution to the economy of Hong Kong would not be substantial enough all told.

Ultimately, it is important to assess the feasibility of  all your options and consider alternative pathways that align with your skills and aspirations.

Consider QMAS, Top Talent Pass or a Working Holiday Visa (at least to start).

For more information on the Hong Kong investment visa process and the application approvability criteria, refer to this resource.

If you are looking for guidance on employment visa sponsorship where the company is not ‘well-established’, this article provides insights.

Remember, finding a credible sponsor is crucial for an employment visa application in Hong Kong.

Consider your options carefully.

If you’re seriously planning to pursue the Entrepreneur visa, please refer the following resources:

1. Importance of Financial Projections in a Hong Kong Business Investment (Entrepreneur) Visa Application

2. A Detailed Business Plan for Your Hong Kong Entrepreneur Visa?

3. Hong Kong Visa Handbook – The Startup Visa And Getting Accredited

4. Hong Kong Visa Handbook – Business Investment (Entrepreneur) Visa

More Stuff You May Find Useful or Interesting

Is There A Minimum Number Of Days You Need To Be In Hong Kong In Order To Maintain Your Entrepreneur Visa?

Is There Such An Animal As An Employment Visa For An Independant Contractor In Hong Kong?

Business Investment (Entrepreneur(Visas) – A Leg-Up For Start-Ups In Hong Kong

How To Apply For A Hong Kong Business Investment (Entrepreneur) Visa – Without Any Professional Help!

 

Check Out VisaGeeza.Ai

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

100% FREE!

STOP PRESS!! Hitler’s Hong Kong Passport Application Has Been Rejected – What Can He Do Now?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Family Visas, Feature Article, Investment Visas, Long Stay & PR, Musing, Refusals & Appeals, Special Programmes, Visitor Visas / 26 responses

Hong Kong Passport Application – Poor Mr Hitler …

First Published November 13, 2013 – Updated July 2023

Continuing the meme parody of Hitler in the bunker, this time responding to the news that his Hong Kong passport application has been denied.

Hong Kong Passport Application – Visa Types Referenced In This Video

Hong Kong passport application in the hands of Mr Adolf Htlier. Topics referenced in the video are the Hong Kong investment visa, employment visa, dependant visa, prolonged visitor visa and the Right of Abode.

And of course, the parody is all about Hitler – not about the great professionals of the Hong Kong Immigration Department who really are Wanchai’s Finest!

Hong Kong Passport Application – What An Application Actually Entails …

To qualify for a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passport as a Permanent Resident (PR) of Hong Kong, there are certain requirements that must be met. Here is an overview of the qualifications and process:

1. Hong Kong Permanent Residence: To be eligible for an HKSAR passport, you must have acquired permanent residence in Hong Kong. This typically requires a continuous period of ordinary residence in Hong Kong for at least 7 years or, in some cases, 3 years if you are a Chinese citizen born outside of Hong Kong and have a Chinese descent.
2. Age Requirement: There are no specific age requirements to apply for a Hong Kong passport, but applicants under the age of 16 must have the consent of a parent or legal guardian.
3. Application Process: To apply for an HKSAR passport, you need to complete the relevant application forms and submit the required documents, including proof of identity, proof of permanent residence, and any other supporting documents as requested by the Immigration Department.
4. Citizenship and Nationality: Individuals applying for an HKSAR passport must be Chinese citizens who are HKSAR permanent residents. If you are not a Chinese national, you are not eligible for an HKSAR passport.
5. Travel Documents: If you currently hold a valid travel document, such as a passport from another country, you may be required to surrender it when applying for an HKSAR passport. The issuance of an HKSAR passport generally requires that you renounce any other nationality or citizenship, as China does not recognize dual citizenship.
6. Background Checks and Security Clearance: As part of the application process, the Immigration Department conducts background checks and security clearance to ensure the applicant’s eligibility and suitability for a Hong Kong passport.

More ‘Related’ Immigration Stuff  

The Hong Kong Visa Handbook – Now Available In Good Book Stores Everywhere!

Hong Kong Employment Visa – When All Else Failed We Appealed To The Chief Executive – And Won!

Must Read: True Story Of A Deluded Foreign National Trying To Sue His Way To A Hong Kong Employment Visa

The Reality Behind The Hong Kong Immigration Department’s ’4 Weeks’ Visa Application Consideration Time Frame

How Onerous Is The Sponsorship Role In A Hong Kong Investment Visa Application?

 

Check Out VisaGeeza.Ai

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

100% FREE!

Hong Kong Visa Requirements – It a Good or a Bad Sign That ImmD Keep Coming Back With Further Requests for Information?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Family Visas, Investment Visas, Refusals & Appeals, Special Programmes, Visitor Visas, Your Question Answered / 3 responses

Hong Kong Visa Requirements – What Does It Mean When ImmD Make Repeat Requests?

This question seeks to understand what you should make of repeat requests for information from the Hong Kong Immigration Department (ImmD) during the course of your visa application.

Hong Kong Visa Requirements – Generally

Visiting Hong Kong requires certain documentation and conditions that are applicable to all visa applicants. The Hong Kong visa requirements for other types of visa differ significantly depending on the type of visa you’re applying for. Here are some general requirements for Visitors …

1. Valid Passport: All visa applicants should possess a valid passport with at least six months of validity remaining beyond the intended duration of stay in Hong Kong. A photocopy of the passport’s relevant pages may also be required.
2. Completed Application Form: Applicants need to fill out the appropriate visa application form accurately and completely. This form contains personal information, purpose of visit, and other relevant details.
3. Photographs: Applicants usually need to submit recent, color passport-sized photographs. The specific size, format, and number of photos required may vary depending on the visa category.
4. Supporting Documents: Depending on the purpose of the visit, additional supporting documents may be necessary. These may include proof of financial stability, invitation letters, employment documents, accommodation details, or travel itinerary. It is advisable to ascertain the specific requirements for each visa category before submitting the application.
5. Sufficient Financial Means: Visa applicants should demonstrate sufficient financial means to cover their stay in Hong Kong, including accommodation, transportation, and daily expenses. Bank statements or financial guarantees may be requested as evidence.
6. Travel Itinerary and Accommodation: Providing a detailed travel itinerary and proof of accommodation in Hong Kong is often required. This may include confirmed flight reservations, hotel bookings, or invitation letters from relatives or friends residing in Hong Kong, depending on the purpose of the visit.

These are some general requirements that apply to visa applicants when visiting to Hong Kong. However, it is essential to note that each visa type has additional specific requirements that should be thoroughly reviewed.

Hong Kong Visa Requirements During An Application – QUESTION

” Good day.

In the course of what would appear to be a straightforward application, two sets of requests for further information have been sent by the Hong Kong Immigration Department.

One would have thought that they would have put all the relevant questions in one letter.

Is is usual to receive multiple requests like this?

Thanks “

Hong Kong Visa Requirements During An Application –  ANSWER BELOW

The Podcast Answer can be found at the bottom of this page.

More Stuff You May Find Interesting Or Useful

The Industry Secret Most Hong Kong Immigration Consultants Don’t Want You To Discover

100% Hong Kong Visa Application Success Rate? Take It All With A Pinch Of Salt!

Do Immigration Consultants Add Any Value To The Hong Kong Visa And Immigration Process?

Social Media Keeping Hong Kong Immigration Consultants On Their Toes – Scary Stuff!

Why Pay For Professional Help In Your Hong Kong QMAS Application When You Really Can Do It All By Yourself

 

Check Out VisaGeeza.Ai

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

100% FREE!

 

Hong Kong Visa Requirements During An Application – ANSWER HERE

PODCAST ANSWER

Podcast: Play in new window

Hong Kong Top Talent Pass – USD320,000 In Annual Salary Income Or World Top 100+ University Graduate?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Feature Article, Musing, Special Programmes, VG Front Page / 6 responses

Hong Kong Top Talent Pass

If you’re a big earner (USD320,000 in the last 12 months) or one helluva smart cookie (top 100+ world university Bachelor degree holder) the Hong Kong Top Talent Pass visa could be for you!

Updated November 13, 2023

Top Talent Pass Visa Conditions

The Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) is a relatively new immigration program in Hong Kong designed to facilitate the employment of the creme de la creme of talent from around the world, as defined by earning power and alma mater.

There are three categories of eligibility for the TTPS.

Category A includes individuals with an annual salary income of at least USD320,000 in the 12-months immediately preceding the date of application submission.

Category B consists of bachelor degree graduates from one of the world’s top 100+ universities with three or more years of work experience.

Category C is for recent graduates from a top 100 university, but with less than three years of work experience.

Category C has a limited annual quota. Category A applicants need to prove their salary income, while Category B and C applicants must demonstrate their educational qualifications and work experience.

Top Talent Pass Limit of Stay

Successful applicants are granted an initial stay of 24-months, during which they can start businesses, change jobs and travel freely in and out of Hong Kong without a re-entry visa.

Top Talent Pass Extension of Stay

Visa extensions for 3-years require proof of employment or business establishment. Top Talent Pass visa holders can apply for a six-year extension if they show that they have earned at least HKD2 million (USD260,000) in taxable salary income in Hong Kong in the fiscal tax year prior to the year of the expiry of the first 2-year TTPS visa.

Top Talent Pass Eligibility for PR

Once they have maintained continuous ordinary residency in Hong Kong for seven years, holders of all Categories of TTPS visas and their families are eligible to apply for permanent residency.

Top Talent Pass Accompanying Family

Legal spouse and unmarried children under the age of 18 qualify. Dependents are allowed to work, study or conduct business in their own right under their dependant visa status. Parents over 60 qualify for dependant visas once the sponsor has secured PR.

Proof of Income Under Top Talent Pass Category A

To apply for the TTPS, Category A applicants must submit the necessary supporting documents to prove their income reached HKD2.5 million or above in the immediate past 12-months (USD320,000).

These documents may include a notice of salaries tax assessment from a local competent authority (e.g., taxation office or revenue department), documentary proof issued by the applicant’s employing company specifying the value of stock options granted to the applicant, and/or documentary proof of the financial standing of the applicant’s self-owned companies (e.g., the latest audited financial report, trading profit and loss account, or profit tax return) if applicable.

If an applicant’s income is not denominated in Hong Kong dollars, they can choose from 17 other major currencies available in the online application service. After selecting the currency, the computer system will automatically convert the applicant’s income into Hong Kong dollars. If the applicant’s income is not denominated in Hong Kong dollars or one of the 17 foreign currencies (such as RUB), there is an offline RMB-RUB cross- conversion mechanism available to convert their income into Hong Kong dollars or one of the 17 foreign currencies uploading the relevant supporting documents to the Immigration Department for assessment.

Proof of Graduation Under Top Talent Pass Categories B & C

Category B consists of bachelor degree graduates from one of the world’s top 100 universities with three or more years of work experience.

Category C is for recent graduates from a top 100 university, but with less than three years of work experience. Category C has a limited annual quota.

Top Talent Pass Documents Required

Category A Applicants: Proof of income as detailed above.

Categories B & C Applicants: Official transcript of academic records, graduation certificate or supporting letter from the degree awarding institution showing the applicant’s attainment of a bachelor’s degree at any eligible universities/tertiary institutions which are listed on the aggregate list of the world’s top 100+ universities,  detailed CV covering at least the last 5 years’ work experience, confirmation in writing from the official employers detailed in 3 of the last 5 years included in the CV.

All Applicants Generally: High-quality scan copies of passport bio details page, accompanying children’s birth certificates, marriage certificate, colour passport size photographs for all.

Documents do not need to be notarized or apostilled.  However, birth and marriage certificates not in English or Chinese need to be certified-translated by an officially sanctioned translator.

Top Talent Pass Criticism

There are 2 core criticisms:

(A) Only Bachelor Degrees from the world’s top 100+ universities qualify: post-grad qualifications don’t count.

(B) Processing time – most applications are taking longer than the 4 weeks cited. Especially those with less than straightforward eligibility documentation in play. 10-12 weeks is the norm in our experience.

Hong Kong Top Talent Pass – 160,000 Applications & Counting?

As of the publishing of this post, the noise is that more than 160,000 applications have been received with 100,000 having been approved.

More Stuff You May Find Useful or Interesting

When There Really Is No Need to Spend Any Money With A Hong Kong Immigration Consultant

The Foibles of Hong Kong Visa & Immigration Applications That Only Experience Can Fully Appreciate

Why Don’t Hong Kong Immigration Consultants Typically Help Aspiring Employees Find Jobs Here?

Why Pay For Professional Help In Your QMAS Application When You Really Can Do It All By Yourself?

100% Hong Kong Visa Application Success Rate? Take It All With A Pinch Of Salt

 

Check Out VisaGeeza.Ai

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

100% FREE!

How Onerous is the Sponsorship Role In A Hong Kong Entrepreneur Visa Application?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Hadley Says…, Investment Visas / 10 responses

Sponsorship For A Hong Kong Entrepreneur Visa?

When a foreign national intends to start a new – or join in an existing – business in Hong Kong he needs a sponsor for his Hong Kong entrepreneur visa (aka a business investment (entrepreneur) visa.

Hong Kong Entrepreneur Visa – Joining In, Or Starting, A Business?

Applying for a Hong Kong Entrepreneur Visa? If the business is already well established, then the partners in that business will most typically serve as the sponsor of the application.

But if the business is brand new and where the shareholders and directors of the business are not permanent residents of Hong Kong, the question is begged as to who can serve as a valid sponsor of an investment visa application – and what the consequences of sponsorship actually entail.

Hong Kong Entrepreneur Visa –  What Does Sponsorship Actually Entail?

Ideally, any permanent identity card holder should serve as a sponsor of an investment visa application.

Preferably, someone who has a business or other relationship which can add value to the applicants’ commercial activities and has a positive nexus and interest in the application outcome.

The rules say the sponsor needs to be acquainted with the applicant.

Hong Kong Entrepreneur Visa –  Is ‘Professional Sponsorship’ Available?

If you are planning to make an application for an investment visa using professional advisors, then quite often the consultancy you work with will agree to serve as your sponsor – but often for a fee (this IS Hong Kong after all!).

Whoever agrees to sponsor your application though, is effectively putting their neck on the line to meet the costs of your repatriation or removal from Hong Kong in the event that your residence here goes awry for any reason.

Hong Kong Entrepreneur Visa Sponsorship –  A Neck On The Block

So, the sponsorship question can be a tough one if you’re new to Hong Kong and don’t have any close connections to ask.

So it might be worth seeking professional help if you find yourself without any real option to cover the sponsorship question.

More Stuff You May Find Interesting Or Useful

Statistically, What Are The Chances Of Your Hong Kong Entrepreneur Visa Application Being Approved?

How Is The  Hong Kong Entrepreneur Visa Process Typically Experienced By A Foreign National Applicant?

1o Must Have Resources For A Hong Kong Entrepreneur Visa Application

Hong Kong Entrepreneur Visa Wrongly Applied For – Clearing Up The Confusion – Getting The Correct Work Visa Instead

Hong Kong Entrepreneur Visa Applications – What’s Actually Involved?

 

Check Out VisaGeeza.Ai

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

100% FREE

The Hong Kong Entrepreneur Visa – Is It Good For A Single Client Business Only?

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

Have you got an opportunity to be an independant contractor rather than serving as a full time employee and wondering if you can get a Hong Kong entrepreneur visa with a single client only?

Understanding the Limitations of the Hong Kong Entrepreneur Visa

The Hong Kong Entrepreneur Visa is primarily designed for foreign nationals aspiring to conduct business in Hong Kong, thereby significantly boosting the territory’s economy. A crucial part of the overall evaluation of the Hong Kong Immigration Department focuses on sustainability and the quality of the proposed business.

A Hong Kong Entrepreneur Visa With A Single Client Only?

However, a significant challenge arises when intending to use a Hong Kong Entrepreneur Visa to cater to single client opportunities. This strategy falls short in terms of sustainability – lose the client, lose the business. Moreover, a business centered around a single client doesn’t engage in wider commercial activity, nor does it present opportunities for creating local employment or procuring dedicated business premises.

In light of these shortcomings, the Immigration Department discourages leveraging the Hong Kong Entrepreneur Visa for supporting single client opportunities. Consequently, an Entrepreneur Visa application based solely on a single client opportunity is likely to face rejection. Indeed, assuming a pseudo-employee role vis-a-vis a single client under an Investment Visa is practically unfeasible.

Better The Employment Visa Not The Hong Kong Entrepreneur Visa

An Entrepreneur Visa dressed up as in the clothes of a single-client independant contractor is not the best way to work in Hong Kong. There’s an alternative. If a client is interested in engaging your services, they should pursue the formal processes of hiring you as an employee, assuming you’re eligible to apply for an employment visa, sponsored by them. This approach often proves to be the most effective for securing a visa to work in Hong Kong.

Additional Resources for Hong Kong Entrepreneur Visa Applications

The Hong Kong Entrepreneur Visa is not designed to cater to single client opportunities. Such a circumstance fails to meet the Immigration Department’s expectations for a sustainable, high-quality business that promotes local employment and the allocation of dedicated business premises. Therefore, it would be more appropriate to secure an Employment Visa, sponsored by the client, to secure a work visa in Hong Kong. To learn more about the Hong Kong Entrepreneurt Visa and crafting a strong business plan for approval check out the following resources:

1. Importance of Financial Projections in a Hong Kong Entrepreneur Visa Application

2. A Detailed Business Plan for Your Hong Kong Entrepreneur Visa?

3. Hong Kong Visa Handbook – Startups And Getting Accredited

4. Hong Kong Visa Handbook – Entrepreneur Visa (aka Business Investment Visa)

More Stuff You May Find Useful or Interesting

How Important Is A Good Set Of Financial Projections In A Hong Kong Entrepreneur Visa Application?

Is There A Minimum Number Of Days You Need To Be In Hong Kong In Order To Maintain Your Entrepreneur Visa?

Is There Such An Animal As An Employment Visa For An Independant Contractor In Hong Kong?

Business Investment (Entrepreneur(Visas) – A Leg-Up For Start-Ups In Hong Kong

How To Apply For A Hong Kong Business Investment (Entrepreneur) Visa – Without Any Professional Help!

Check Out VisaGeeza.Ai

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

100% FREE!

Visa Processing Time Hong Kong – The Reality Behind The “4 Weeks” Application Consideration Time Frame

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Family Visas, Hadley Says…, Investment Visas, Long Stay & PR, Special Programmes, Visitor Visas / 84 responses

Visa Processing Time Hong Kong – What’s The Actual Reality?

Visa processing time Hong Kong? When you make most any type of Hong Kong visa or immigration application, you will find yourself in the Hong Kong Immigration Department’s infamous 4 Weeks Zone.

Visa Processing Time Hong Kong – Is It Really 4 Weeks?

When it comes to visa processing time in Hong Kong, you see, the Immigration Department (“ImmD”) cite that they need 4 weeks to finalise an application once they have received from you all of the documents they need to  decide on your case.

What is not stated, of course, is the time that is required to undergo the inevitable requests for information and documentation to enable the Department to enter into the 4 Week Zone.

Unless you are adept at reading between the lines in the official correspondence of ImmD, it is easy, therefore, to conclude that it should take just 4 weeks for an application to be finalized.

Visa Processing Time Hong Kong – Better Set Your Expectations For 6-8 Weeks

In fact, it’s usually more like 6 – 8 weeks from case submission to case finalization by the time the Immigration Department have on hand everything they need and, in the instance of a business investment (entrepreneur) visa application, more than 12-16 weeks.

Visa Processing Time Hong Kong – ImmD Do Not Usually Take Their Time …

However, in fairness to the Department, if the application is readily approvable once they have all the documents in hand, they more often than not do not need the full 4 weeks to finalise your case and the reality is that Immigration Officers genuinely do try their hardest to get cases completed in the quickest time possible.

They do, in reality, provide a truly excellent, cost effective service!

More Stuff  You May Find Useful Or Interesting

Checking The Status Of Your Hong Kong Visa Application On Line – Yeah Right!

The Hong Kong Immigration Department Are Out To Refuse – Not Approve – Visa Applications (Aren’t They?)

Immd – What An Efficient Organisation They Really Are!

Winning A Hong Kong Right Of Abode Application In Record Time – Just 4 Days!

How To Gee Up A Hong Kong Visa Application That Is Taking Too Long To Finalise

 

Check Out VisaGeeza.Ai

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

100% FREE!