[purpleLover]

Hi,

I am a US citizen and planning to marry my boyfiend who is a HK permanent resident next year.

After we are married, I can then apply for a dependent visa. My question is how long does it get to get arroved and can I stay in Hongkong after the the visa is approved? The reason I ask is becuz I can only stay in HK for around 3 months without a visa. I hope that I do not have to go back to the states while waiting for the dependent visa.

Sorry if this is a dumb questions.

Thanks a lot.

[freeier]

4-6 weeks ?
anyway u can stay in hk while u applying for a visa. there is a different form for ppl to change their staying status. but for this type of application form u need to submit your passport with the form at the immigration department.

i suppose if u have submited such an application they wld try to give it to you before your visa expires...

[purpleLover]

Thanks for the reply.

It seems to be hard to get talk to someone from Immigration over the phone. My bf has tried all day yesterday without any success.

Thanks again for the info!!

[PDLM]

Email seems to be the best way to communicate with ImmD remotely. enquiry@immd.gov.hk

[TaLL|dUdE]

you can also download the form you need on their website.

http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/public_7.htm

[jaykay]

Originally Posted by purpleLover

Hi,

I am a US citizen and planning to marry my boyfiend who is a HK permanent resident next year.

After we are married, I can then apply for a dependent visa. My question is how long does it get to get arroved and can I stay in Hongkong after the the visa is approved? The reason I ask is becuz I can only stay in HK for around 3 months without a visa. I hope that I do not have to go back to the states while waiting for the dependent visa.

Sorry if this is a dumb questions.

Thanks a lot.

I have done this so I hope the following helps.

In my case I applied for the dependant visa straight after I got married and it took about 6 weeks to come through. But the visa has to be validated, so I had to leave and re-enter HK (you have 3 months in which to do this) and I was given 12 months from that date, not the date of visa issue. When I came to re-new it was re-newed from that date of re-entry. Until that visa has been validated you are here on a tourist visa so in theory cannot breach those terms given as a tourist.

[purpleLover]

Thank you guys for the useful information. Now I have a better idea on the dependent visa.

Thanks a lot again!!