[olivia seet]

I have a job teaching English in HK. I am an Australian citizen. My application will be handed to immigration by my sponsor on Monday 2 Feb. Due to personal reasons, I would like to arrive in HK on 8 March. My questions are:

• How long does it take for a working visa to come through? Are there any other waiting periods involved?
• If my visa does not come through before my departure date, do I have to buy a return ticket?
• If my visa comes through once I am already in HK, do I have to re-enter the country? Is the visa in the form of a stamp or a form?
• Are there any reasons why immigration may reject a visa application?
• Do you know any good rental accommodation websites?

Thankyou in advance!

[KnowItAll]

Rental information: http://www.gohome.com.hk and various property agent sites like http://www.centanet.com

>> Are there any reasons why immigration may reject a visa application?

Your application is fraudulent or your company cannot convince them that you're uniquely talented and not replacing a local?

>> How long does it take for a working visa to come through? Are there any other waiting periods involved?

Usually 4 weeks unless you've used a specialist who can justify that the urgency. I know some IT and Finance companies who have pulled this off. I don't think they can pull this for an English teacher.

[GraemeK]

i know a number of people who entered as tourist and then once visa came through, got the correct paperwork organised.

the working visa is a sticker in passport, no need to leave and re-enter to activate it, but you'll probably go to macau or shenzen for a day or two anyway while you are here, and when you reenter they will stamp you as 'entitled to remain for work until X date' instead.

technically tourists require a return flight, but i dont think they ask for this very often, but you can always get a refundable ticket so that segment can be cancelled and re-imbursed to your credit card, contact Qantas or Cathay direct for this.

the only other waiting period is for the HKID card, for which you will have to go and queue up for twice personally; once for photo taking, fingerprinting and short interview; then a second time a few weeks later to go collect. take a book as it is a dull experience, but this is only after work visa has been issued and you are here.

[UbeJam]

As described by KnowItAll.

Got to HK with refundable ticket (from CX). THe visa was applied by my sponsor (my company) about 3 weeks earlier. When I got the visa sticker, went to Macau on a Saturday morning. Stuck the visa on a page in my passport and returned to HK in the afternoon. Smoothsailing at immigration. Refunded the ticket afterwards.

[GraemeK]

Paul - maybe your year for SmartID hasn't come around yet !

You have to give your thumbprints at first visit and use them again to verify your identity when you pick up the new card. Needless to say all the stories about doing too much washing up, and thus the reduced quality of prints, did not apply to me !