Hong Kong Visa & Immigration Topics

Why Would You Choose Unconditional Stay After 7 Years Residence in Hong Kong When the Right of Abode is Available Instead?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in 60 Second Snapshot, Long Stay & PR, Special Programmes / 9 responses

  Unconditional stay and the right of abode are 2 very different immigration statuses but they both have one thing in common. Namely, you need to have been continuously and ordinarily resident in the HKSAR for at least 7 years in or to qualify for either of these immigration consents. But, whilst the right of […]

Legal Champion of Immigration Rights in Hong Kong – Mark Daly Talks at the FCC (VIDEO)

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Long Stay & PR, Musing / 2 responses

I have known Mark Daly (and his partner Peter Barnes, no relation) since their time with (sadly departed) Pam Baker in the 1990’s. I have the utmost respect for Mark and Peter and in fact these are the only 2 lawyers in Hong Kong that I refer clients of the Hong Kong Visa Centre to […]

Will Any Time You Spend in Hong Kong as a Visitor Count Towards the Magic 7 Years for the Right of Abode?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Hadley Says…, Long Stay & PR / 24 responses

To get the Right of Abode in Hong Kong you need to: – Spend seven years continuously resident in the HKSAR – Have taken Hong Kong as your only place of permanent residence – Be obviously settled here, and – Have no outstanding taxation liabilities Moreover, you need to have held a resident visa in […]

Hong Kong Unconditional Stay Status vs. the Right of Abode for CIES Visa Holders

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Investment Visas, Long Stay & PR, Your Question Answered / 9 responses

The Capital Investment Entrant Scheme is a really neat visa for those well-off enough to be able to afford it. Permanent residency is available at the end of 7 years continuous ordinary residence, but it is not sufficient just to hold the visa – you have to have lived here too… QUESTION “Hi Stephen, I […]

10 Must-Have Resources for a Successful Hong Kong Permanent Residency Application

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Long Stay & PR, Musing, Resource, VG Front Page / 91 responses

Download the slides from my accompanying talk here. Watch my accompanying talk here. Now that you’ve lived in Hong Kong for a minimum of 7 years continuously, you’ll no doubt be turning your attention to your eligibility for the right of abode and making preparations for a permanent residency application. To help guide you  in […]

Time Spent Outside of Hong Kong With Work – the Impact on Your Right of Abode After 7 Years

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in 60 Second Snapshot, Employment Visas, Long Stay & PR, VG Front Page / 8 responses

You, like many foreign nationals working in Hong Kong, may quickly adopt the place as your long term home and, naturally enough, will be keen to maintain your residence status here to allow you, subsequently, to go on to secure the Right of Abode. So the question is begged as to what you can do […]

If I Am an Overseas Chinese and My Mother Holds a HKSAR Passport and a PHKID Card Do I Have the Right of Abode in Hong Kong?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Long Stay & PR, Your Question Answered / 11 responses

The question of permanent residency in Hong Kong is one of the most complex areas of immigration practice and this question is helpful in that it speaks to the situation of ethnically Chinese foreign nationals with Hong Kong parentage. QUESTION “I am a mother of three children. I hold a Permanent Hong Kong Identity card […]

7 Years Residence in Hong Kong Under the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme – What Permanent Residency Options Exist?

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Investment Visas, Long Stay & PR, Your Question Answered / 2 responses

The Capital Investment Entrant Scheme has been a god send for reasonably well off people who have always fancied the idea of residence in Hong Kong but who were reluctant to start an operating business to be able to accomplish this. The following question raises the issue of how to disentangle yourself from the visa, […]

Podcast: Play in new window

The Hong Kong Immigration Department – What an Efficient Organisation They Really Are!

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Long Stay & PR, Musing / 11 responses

It’s not often that I am required to physically present myself at the Hong Kong Immigration Department these days. My staff usually take care of the administrative aspects of the Hong Kong Visa Centre case load and I have not been in to see the operations of the HKID myself for a couple of years […]

Winning a Hong Kong Right of Abode Approval in Record Time – Just 4 Days!

Posted by The Visa Geeza / in Case Study, Long Stay & PR / 10 responses

The Hong Kong Immigration Department come under fire, in our view somewhat unfairly quite often times, when in reality they truly are a customer-focussed governmental agency. In June of 2012 we had a client who needed to secure his Hong Kong Right of Abode in a hurry. A combination of factors conspired to work against […]