Hong Kong Visas Made Easy

My Hong Kong Visa Application Was Closed by ImmD After Correspondence Was Lost – What Happens Now?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Refusals & Appeals, Your Question Answered / 3 responses

Sometimes, correspondence gets lost and ImmD might close an application believing it has been abandoned when they hear nothing further from an applicant. Meanwhile, the applicant is on tenterhooks awaiting the outcome. What can you do to rectify this ultimate disconnect?

QUESTION

The company that is sponsoring me applied for an employment visa for me at the beginning of November. After waiting almost two months and hearing nothing from the Hong Kong Immigration Department I was shocked to see on the internet that the working visa had been denied.

My sponsor then visited Immigration Tower and spoke to one of the Officers who told my sponsor that they had faxed us some questions about myself and the company and there had been no reply. My sponsor explained that, due to the massive amounts of advertising that was sent they often turn the fax machine off.

The officer then handed my sponsor the required questions. They needed a reference from me and had several questions concerning the company. My sponsor handed the required documents about two weeks ago at the reception in Immigration Tower plus a letter about the fax problem and if we could be notified by post in future.

Can you give me any feedback about my situation now. How long should we wait etc? 

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If My Hong Kong Training Visa Application is Denied Will I be Precluded From Visiting the HKSAR Subsequently?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Refusals & Appeals, Visitor Visas, Your Question Answered / 1 response

What happens if your application for a Hong Kong training visa gets refused – will you be able to arrive and visit Hong Kong subsequently – or not?

QUESTION

I’ve been accepted into a startup accelerator in Hong Kong.

It’s not one of the “pre-approved” ones for the so-called Start-up visa so I’ve been recommended to apply for a training visa for the duration of the program.

What I’d like to know is if I don’t get approved for the training visa, does that prevent me from entering Hong Kong in the future on a standard visitor visa (I have an Australian passport).

I’m asking because I know in the US, a visa denial prevents you from visiting on the visa waiver program. Is that the same for Hong Kong?

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Do you have a business plan template I can use in my Hong Kong investment visa application?

How to ensure you’re not breaking the law by operating a business in Hong Kong as a Visitor

Are there any advantages to being an existing Hong  Kong resident when you make an application for a Hong Kong investment visa?

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I Am a Multi-faceted Artist – What Type of Hong Kong Visa Suits Me Best?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Investment Visas, Special Programmes, Your Question Answered / No responses

First Published November 23, 2017

What type of Hong Kong visa do you turn to when you have an eclectic mix of artistic talent and capabilities?

QUESTION

I am a Canadian Artist, Designer and Model at present I have been creating lots of project around Asia, and am looking at basing my self in Hong Kong as it is so central to all my markets.

Currently I have a few exhibitions lined up late this and next year, as well as a few event firms wanting me to do some creative consulting for them in a freelance capacity.

I also have just been signed with a Hong Kong and mainland based modelling agency who offered to support me with an Entertainment visa.

I have looked at the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme and have more then enough points to apply, but not one single employer.

 But what I am wanting to know as a Designer, Artist and Model what is the best visa to apply for?

If I go with the Entertainment visa will I be able to work as an artist? Or will this cause problems?

Or is there a dedicated Arts visa?

Your help would be much appreciated.

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Foreign national entrepreneurs starting up in Hong Kong or China – where is better for visas?

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Can I Extend My Hong Kong Employment Visa if I Have No Job Presently But a Baby Born in Hong Kong?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Family Visas, Long Stay & PR, VG Front Page, Your Question Answered / No responses

First Published November 19, 2017

Complex immigration scenarios sometimes present themselves with unforeseen consequences – which I am grateful to be able to explore in this excellent question just in…

QUESTION

I am Canadian and have lived in Hong Kong for almost 6 years.

I recently quit my job and my working visa will expire by the end of December this year.

I have a question – what are my options to extend my stay here if I a have baby born in Hong Kong?

I live with my fiancé (she has a working visa in Hong Kong) and our baby (who has a dependant visa sponsored by her.)

We also have a domestic helper living with us, as my employee.

Our marriage is in process but unfortunately will not be finalized until after my visa expires.

I am, at the same time, looking for a new job in Hong Kong.

Is there any way I can be permitted to remain in Hong Kong in my circumstances?

I would be very grateful for your answer so I know what to do and what my options are

Thank you!

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How easy (or hard) is it for a Chinese spouse resident in the Mainland to secure a dependant visa for Hong Kong?

Divorced? How can you prove that you have lawful custody of minor children if you wish to bring them to Hong Kong to live with you?

What is the bare minimum income and accommodation arrangements to suitably sponsor a Hong Kong dependant visa?

Should you ever get married just for Hong Kong visa purposes?

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Do You Really Need to Set Up Your Own Office if You Have a Hong Kong Investment Visa?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Investment Visas, Your Question Answered / No responses

Once you have persuaded the Hong Kong Immigration Department of your ability to make a substantial contribution to the economy of Hong Kong and have been granted an investment visa, can you then argue, after the fact, that actually, you have no practical need to establish office premises of your own after all?

QUESTION

I started a business and got a Hong Kong investment visa 2 years ago. During that period, I have worked as an independent consultant for the same financial services company. I work full time on-site at this office. I have not had my own office during this period.

I have reapplied for a Hong Kong investment visa successfully twice, and each time Immigration only granted me a one-year visa, each time subjecting me to business review the following year (including this year). They warned me I need to better prove I am contributing to the local economy, by having my own office and hiring local employees.

My question is this – do I really need to rent an office? I will actually never use the office, so for me, it would be a waste of money. Or, instead of getting my own office, would you suggest I share an office, find a cheap service office, or even get a virtual office?

My friends who also own businesses in Hong Kong say I shouldn’t worry about getting an office. I am highly skilled, and Hong Kong needs people with my skills. I also have plenty of cash in my business account.

I can also get strong referral letters, including one from my main client, who will describe how I provide necessary ‘independent’ analyst for them.

More Stuff You May Find Useful or Interesting

How extensive should my business plan be in order to get a Hong Kong investment visa?

Do you have a business plan template I can use in my Hong Kong investment visa application?

How to ensure you’re not breaking the law by operating a business in Hong Kong as a Visitor

Are there any advantages to being an existing Hong  Kong resident when you make an application for an investment visa?

Why do Hong Kong investment visas get denied?

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The Ongoing Indian QMAS Visa Agency Scam, Rip Off, Fraud

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Feature Article, Special Programmes, VG Front Page, Your Question Answered / 1 response

The Ongoing Indian QMAS Visa Agency scam, rip off, fraud has been going on for so long now that it’s time I produced an answer to this question finally.  I have literally received dozens of these types of questions in the last 2-3 years that I will deal with it definitively now. So here we go…

QUESTION

Dear Visa Geeza,

I have recently got a call from an immigration consultant stating that there is a need of teachers in Hong Kong in the government schools. They have asked for 47,200/- INR. They has said that interviews will be arranged by them after I get the visa. Visa process will take approx. 2-3 months. If I am selected I will get an accommodation. This will be a family visa. Salary will be approximately 30,000 HKD. I have to show good funds in my bank account for visa process. If I do not get a job through them them my money will be refunded. I want to know the genuineness of this

Thanks. Awaiting your reply. 

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Newcomers guide to getting a Hong Kong employment visa (Infographic)

Can I employ myself by getting a Hong Kong investment visa?

Sometimes large employers experience Hong Kong employment visa application refusals – why might this be so?

The merits of applying for the Reconsideration of a refused Hong Kong visa application

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What Does the Hong Kong Training Visa Actually Allow and What Do the Immigration Department Expect of the Parties to the Application?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Your Question Answered / 8 responses

The Hong Kong training visa is an oft-misunderstood animal so I am grateful for this question that allows me to clear up some of the confusion.

QUESTION

Hi, congrats on the website, it’s very helpful!

I just arrived in Hong Kong and my new potential employer is worried about the following:

(a) That if I finish my 3 month training visa and then just go back home for 2 or 3 weeks but then come back to Hong Kong and look for another job (while on a visitor entry – German passport) then this will reflect badly on his firm’s chances of being granted work visas in the future.

(b) What do the Hong Kong Immigration Department mean by “going back”. Is it OK if I physically go away for a couple of weeks but then come back as a Visitor or on another work/trainee visa?

(c)  Lastly (and separate from the topic above), my new potential employer doesn’t know whether giving me a work visa for 3 months only will be accepted by the Immigration Department if he pays me a minimum amount (e.g HKD 5,000 per month). Is there a minimum at which the Immigration Department would raise some eyebrows? 

Thanks for your help!

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Can a Hong Kong training visa be used as a stepping stone to any sort of  full employment visa subsequently?

Is 7 weeks a long time for the Hong Kong Immigration Department to finalize a training visa application?

Is it ever possible to extend a Hong Kong training visa?

What are the chances of swapping from a training visa to an employment visa for the same employer once the period of training is over?

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