Hong Kong Visa & Immigration Topics

Interview: Do Mainlanders Typically Enjoy the Same Kind of Immigration Experience as Other Foreign Nationals Do in Hong Kong?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Family Visas, Investment Visas, Long Stay & PR, Musing, Special Programmes, Visitor Visas / 19 responses

First Published July 24, 2013 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. We covered a great deal of ground in the 90 minutes we spent together and over the next few weeks I […]

Right of Abode in Hong Kong For Foreign Domestic Helpers – It Was All So-Inevitable Really…

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Long Stay & PR, Musing, Refusals & Appeals / 1 response

First Published March 27, 2013   The Court of Final Appeal quashed the hopes of 1,067 long stay foreign domestic helpers(“FDHs”) earlier this week when they ruled that time spent in Hong Kong as a foreign domestic helper is not ‘ordinary residence’ for the purposes of a right of abode application. Putting the human dimension […]

Considerably Heightened Diligence by ImmD on All Types of Hong Kong Visa Applications

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Employment Visas, Family Visas, Investment Visas, Long Stay & PR, Musing, Refusals & Appeals, Sherpa, Visitor Visas / 2 responses

First published March 6, 2019 and updated May 8, 2019. UPDATE:  8.5.2019 – ImmD are now routinely 2-3 weeks behind their normal case consideration time frames, even as late as May with the Summer Rush just around the corner to boot.  This is borne out by our own dealings with ImmD day-to-day and also the […]

The Hong Kong Immigration Department Official Video – Almost 10 Minutes of “Why Bother”?

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

The Hong Kong Immigration Department official video was released in June of 2012. As of the date of this post, their video had 35,000 views. This video is a typical government work of art – which begs the question as to why they produced it in the first place? Lots of smiling faces, stirring music […]

What is the Condition Precedent for Defacto Spouses In Securing a Prolonged Visitor Visa for Hong Kong?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Family Visas, Hadley Says… / 3 responses

First Published 27th June 2013 In Hong Kong, unmarried heterosexual life partners who share their lives as defacto spouses can’t apply for a dependent visa for the non principal visa holding partner. Instead they have to reply on a positive act of discretion of the Director of Immigration via an application for a prolonged visitor […]

Business Review – The Sword of Damocles for Successful Hong Kong Investment Visa Applicants

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Investment Visas, Musing / 1 response

If your investment visa has been approved but the Hong Kong Immigration Department believe your application was marginal, you can expect your visa to be subject to Business Review the first time that it comes up for extension. This works as follows: During your original application the HKID may not have been completely persuaded of […]

Am I Eligible for An Extension to My Hong Kong Dependant Visa if My PHKID Card Holding Spouse Doesn’t Actually Live Here Now?

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

The Hong Kong Immigration Department grant dependant visas on the basis of family reunion in Hong Kong. Where, however, the sponsoring spouse is no longer resident in the HKSAR, the question is begged as to whether or not an extension will be available for the sponsored dependant visa holder? QUESTION I currently live in Hong […]

Podcast: Play in new window

How Does a Prior Bankruptcy Impact on Getting a Hong Kong Employment Visa?

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

Will previous financial difficulties experienced ‘in another life’ outside of Hong Kong impact on your ability to secure an employment visa here? QUESTION I’ve dreamed of living in Hong Kong for much of my life, but I have a bankruptcy in my past and don’t know if it will affect my plans to find a […]

Podcast: Play in new window

What Is the Bare Minimum Income & Accommodation Arrangements to Suitably Sponsor a Hong Kong Dependant Visa?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Family Visas, Your Question Answered / 115 responses

Today’s question relates how the Hong Kong Immigration Department respond to requests for dependant visas from permanent resident sponsors, particularly those families who are relocating back to Hong Kong some years after the marriage commenced overseas. QUESTION Thank you for your wonderful website! My wife and I are planning on applying for a Dependant visa […]

Podcast: Play in new window

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?

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

In a blended family situation, the question often arises about how to secure Hong Kong immigration status for children from a previous relationship… QUESTION I’m a Korean married to a resident here, so eventually will have a dependant visa. The question is, what is the process for getting a dependant visa for my 16-year old […]

Podcast: Play in new window