Hong Kong Visas Made Easy

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?

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

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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)

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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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Hong Kong working visas – is it possible to build a new business here relying solely on highly specialist foreign national skills and talent?

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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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Fresh Graduates, Working Holiday Visas & the Chances of a Hong Kong Employment Visa Subsequently

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Feature Article, Your Question Answered / 4 responses

Chances of a Hong Kong employment visa? Is it feasible to come to Hong Kong on a working holiday visa and then swap to an employment visa subsequently?

Yes but…

QUESTION

Hi. I would like to go work in Hong Kong (I am Australian and have just finished my business degree).

Just wondering if I should arrive in Hong Kong with a 90 day visitor visa or a 1 year working holiday visa to start my job hunt.

I’ve tried searching online with no luck so far.

Your advice would be greatly appreciated.

I would like to work and live in Hong Kong and eventually attain PR as I really like the culture and environment there.

Thank you! 

More Stuff  You May Find Useful or Interesting

Can you undertake freelance work or start your own business on a Hong Kong working holiday visa?

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I want to live in Hong Kong with my boyfriend – is the working holiday visa a good option?

Hong Kong Travel Pass used to keep an extended family together – quite lawfully!

Hong Kong visa information, help and guidance on your mobile – 100% free!

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Which is Better – Apply for a Hong Kong Investment Visa Directly or for an Employment Visa First then after Approval Become a Shareholder in Your Own Business?

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

It hardly matters how you skin this cat, ImmD will approach it in exactly the same way… as a new business situation.

QUESTION

I plan to start a business with three other partners. Two of these are Hong Kong permanent residents and one of them is in the same situation as myself: recently unemployed and staying on an employee work visa.

My question is, as far as maximizing the chances of getting and retaining a visa to work in Hong Kong, would it be beneficial to apply as employees and wait until visas are granted before becoming partners in the company, or to run them as Hong Kong investment visa applications?

I have taken into consideration that:

1. I trust my permanent resident partners, and

2. Both myself and my colleague likely have better cases for employee work visa renewals (i.e. unique skill sets and experience and not a lot of cash).

Thank you very much for your help in these regards.

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The anatomy of a ‘slam dunk’ Hong Kong investment visa approval taking just 7 weeks to approval

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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Hong Kong Employment Visa Holder – Join in a Side Business or Change Visa Category to a Full Investment Visa – Which is Better?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Investment Visas, Your Question Answered / 2 responses

 This question raises quite a number of issues surrounding a decision to go into business for yourself in Hong Kong whilst presently holding an employment visa sponsored by a third party employer (and it’s only the immigration parts which I am qualified to address).

QUESTION

Hello Stephen,

I have an employment visa for the remaining two years (post which I will complete 7 years and apply for PR).

Currently, I wish to open a company in Hong Kong, which may or may not be the sponsor to my own visa, as I am happy to retain the current employment or give it up.

My current employer is flexible and has no conflict no matter what way I choose.

For my own company setup, can you please inform:

(1) Is there a way to work for both companies without having to go through ‘Change of sponsorship‘ or ‘Investment visa‘ process. I prefer to be on the employment visa by my current employer while still being able to contribute to my own company.

(2) In case if above is not workable and I cannot work for my own company, is a proprietorship structure fine if I need an entity to book revenues resulting from my own business activities? Can such a company have offshore/zero employees except for a company secretary?

(3) In case, I choose a limited liability company and seek a change of sponsorship of my employment visa under my new company, can they reduce my existing visa to 1 year (from 2 years which is the case now), if the new company is subject to a Business Review. Have such cases happened?

(4) Given that I have no visa concerns or conflict/flexibility concerns regarding my current employer,  would you recommend a Hong Kong incorporated company or a BVI company for basic revenue booking needs?

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Are such facilities as virtual offices, incubators, serviced offices & co-working spaces deemed ‘suitable business premises’ for the purposes of a Hong Kong business investment visa application?

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