Hong Kong Visa & Immigration Topics

General Employment Policy vs Admission Scheme For Mainland Talents & Professionals (GEP vs ASMTP)

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Musing, Special Programmes / 12 responses

How Does The Admission Scheme For Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP) Differ From GEP? Over 13 years ago, on June 6th, 2013 I was interviewed by five law students from the Chinese University of Hong Kong about my experiences practicing immigration here over the last 20 years. More than 13 years on, in 2026 as I […]

Will My Hong Kong Employment Visa be Compromised If I Leave My Job Due to Intolerable Working Conditions?

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

Hong Kong Employment Visa Lost If You Have A Terrible Boss & Want To Leave? What’s The Risk To Your Hong Kong Employment Visa? Should you be worried that your employment visa status in Hong Kong might be undermined if you choose to leave the employ of an unsavoury employer? Practice Update 2026 – This […]

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Do I Really Need An Employment Visa If I Get 6 Months’ Visitor Status Upon Arrival Intend To Work In Hong Kong For A Maximum Of 2 Weeks?

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

Visitor Status Upon Arrival Intend To Work In Hong Kong? Is it ever legal to work in Hong Kong – especially on a short term basis – with  Visitor status – without the permission of the Director of Immigration? Practice Update 2026 – This content must be read in light of changes to ImmD practice […]

Lame Excuses Won’t Cut It If You’re Caught Working In Hong Kong Without An Employment Visa

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Feature Article, Investment Visas, Musing, Refusals & Appeals, Special Programmes, Visitor Visas / 2 responses

Caught Working In Hong Kong Without An Employment Visa? If you are working in Hong Kong (paid, unpaid, or temporarily transferred in) without lawful authorization to work, you are committing a breach of condition of stay under the Immigration Ordinance. You face a fine of up to HK$50,000 and up to 2 years’ imprisonment, as […]

Can I Sponsor Myself For Freelance Work ‘On-the-Side’ Whilst Working For My Current Hong Kong Employment Visa Sponsor?

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

Employment Visa Holder Working ‘On-the-Side’ in Hong Kong This is joining in a side business albeit in another name…and a solution for certain types of Hong Kong Employment Visa holders thinking about freelancing in Hong Kong PRACTICE UPDATE: How the content must now be read in light of current ImmD policy: The advice regarding securing ImmD permission […]

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How Does Your Prior Immigration Record In Hong Kong Impact On Future Visa Applications Here?

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

So, how does your prior immigration record in Hong Kong impact on future visa applications? Do the Hong Kong Immigration Department cross-refer previous applications for a visa to current application for a visa? QUESTION Hello! I have a question regarding to my working visa. Previously I have been working in Hong Kong in the skin […]

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

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Family Visas, Investment Visas, Long Stay & PR, Special Programmes, Your Question Answered / 4 responses

Hong Kong is a small place with borders on our doorstep so how much time do you need to be physically in Hong Kong to retain your Hong Kong investment visa? PRACTICE UPDATE: How the content must now be read in light of current ImmD policy: This article addresses the common scenario of mobile entrepreneurs […]

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How Do You Prove To The Hong Kong Immigration Department That You Have Tried To Recruit Locally?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Your Question Answered / 1 response

Excellent question earlier this week. Great opportunity to slay a few sacred cows. QUESTION Hi, one of the requirements for the work visa application is a proof of genuine vacancy. What if a sponsoring company doesn’t do job ads? What can he present? He does recruit locally via his network since he is just a […]

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

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Musing / 6 responses

Applying for a Hong Kong Employment Visa? You’ve been offered a job in Hong Kong and you need an employment visa. But your new employer has no experience about the process, so what do you need to tell them? 1. Firstly, there’s the approvability test – namely – you need to possess special skills, knowledge […]

I Know The Immigration Department Website Is A Black Hole For Denied Hong Kong Visa Applicants So How Can I Appeal A Decision?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Hadley Says…, Refusals & Appeals / 39 responses

So, your Hong Kong visa application has been refused, no matter the type – and the letter you received from the Immigration Department says nothing about opportunities to appeal. So you go to the Hong Kong ID website. But shock, horror, even that is silent – so what can you do now? Certain types of […]