[betty boo]

On my recent return to HK, airport immigration warned that in order to continue staying with my girlfriend (who is sponsored) we must marry. The officer strongly implied that they would prefer if once married I left HK to wait for the response.

A quick call to immigration to confirm that they would prefer if I left during the process resulted in them insisting it makes no difference to my application.

I've heard many people say leaving HK during the process does help. Can anyone say whether they know this to be true as we are not sure whether I should leave once our application has been submitted.

Also I have had two rejected visa applications. Would this affect a dependant visa application once we are married?

Thanks

[Pekkerhead]

I do know there are 2 ways to apply for a Dependent visa. One is to apply from abroad and you have to remain outside the country for the duration of your application process.

The other is to come to Hk and change your visa status, which i what I have done. Came as a tourist and changed my visa to dependent whilst here. In this latter case you must remain in HK while your visa application is being processed.

The major difference with me is that I am married. I am not sure whether applying for a dependent visa needs you to be married you the person as the application just asks if they can support you financially etc. But perhaps some kind of familial relationship is required?

I suspect someone else will be able to answer that part of the question. By the way you don't say what type of visa you hold, is it just a tourist one?

[PDLM]

Originally Posted by Pekkerhead

I am not sure whether applying for a dependent visa needs you to be married you the person as the application just asks if they can support you financially etc. But perhaps some kind of familial relationship is required?

Yes - you need to be married, or a dependent child. In same circumstances a dependent parent is also possible.

[betty boo]

Thanks for the advice guys.

I currently have a tourist visa and have done so since first arriving in mid 2005. I imagine this is why immigration stopped me at the airport.

Marriage has always been on the cards but my being questioned brought it forward...we do have proof of our relationship before arriving such as holiday photos, including families meeting, joint bank account statements and tenanacy agreemant and bills from the UK.

We are still just very nervous they may refuse as it is a registry wedding without family present and I have had two failed application - of course not dependants visas

It does sound like leaving is not going to make much difference though I may still do this before we give in the application. If I did do this would the application have to be done through me or my wife? And who do we set as the point of contact with immigration? Would it be me to prove I am outside of HK?

Thanks

[carang]

a marriage is a marraige is a marriage, so long as it is legal and to a member of the opposite sex.

they won't care if it's at the registry or at a church. i believe that the majority of marriages in HK are at the registries anyway.

so long as your future spouse can prove that she can financially support you, there's no reason why they should turn down your application. especially if you can prove that the relationship was pre-existing.

when i married my local hubby, and applied for PR, i included photocopies of such evidence with the application, even though it wasn't required.

[meemiathai]

Originally Posted by Pekkerhead

Came as a tourist and changed my visa to dependent whilst here. In this latter case you must remain in HK while your visa application is being processed.

I don't think so. My wife did leave HK and came back as a tourist while waiting for a dependant visa. But that was in 2000.

[Gatts]

I'm planning on applying for dependant visa and waiting in HK. I do have to be in China for 2 days, will this be a problem?

[carang]

when you apply, tell them that you need to leave to china for a few days. they'll let you know what you need to do.

[Sunfire]

I got married to a local and we then lived for a while elsewhere. When we wanted to move to HK, we called the immigration and asked if we needed to get the papers started before arriving, they said no. When I then applied for the dependant visa after arrival, I was asked to write a declaration of why I didn't apply for the visa before arrival.

[meemiathai]

Originally Posted by Sunfire

I got married to a local and we then lived for a while elsewhere. When we wanted to move to HK, we called the immigration and asked if we needed to get the papers started before arriving, they said no. When I then applied for the dependant visa after arrival, I was asked to write a declaration of why I didn't apply for the visa before arrival.

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