[brighton]

I'm currently based in london and I have accepted an offer to come and work in Hong Kong. My employer will apply the necessary visa for myself but for my partner (we are not married), he will come to hong kong on a tourist visa. He is not going to work in HK but will alternate his stays between Phuket and Hong Kong.

The question is, is there a limit as to how many visits you can do within a period a time? i.e. is one free to come in and out to renew the tourist visa?

[jimbo]

theres no hard and fast rule but its usually 2 trips or more and then immigration may get a bit twitchy, some people get away with more but its just luck of the draw really.

And it also depends on the passport that he is using too.

[brighton]

We have British passport.

[PDLM]

And note also that Thailand has tightened its visa rules substantially in the last month or two in an attempt to stop people on tourist visas effectively living there by doing visa runs. I believe the limit is 90 days in any 180 or thereabouts, although there is debate ongoing about how the rules will be interpreted.

[brighton]

Yes, that's right. We have annual business visa there (long story). It's going to be tricky for Hong Kong. Have anyone been rejected from entering HK based on too many visits? There must be a lot of people who come in and out of HK doing business trip with tourist visa.

[PDLM]

Yes - I know at least two people who were rejected (they generally don't turn you back, what they say is something like - this time we will give you 7 or 14 days and after that you may not return for 6 months).

[Aritaurus]

I know British Citizens get 180 days without a VISA. At least if he needs to do a VISA run, he won't have to worry about doing it too often - most other nationalities are only granted 90 days.

I left and entered Hong Kong four times before I was granted my unconditional stay in Hong Hong. Each time, I was given a new 90 days since I entered on a Canadian passport. I think if you don't make it look too apparent that it's a VISA run, there shouldn't be too many problems.

I also have an Australian friend that has pages and pages of Hong Kong entry/departure stamps. He works in Shen Zhen and he comes to Hong Kong really often. There's not a single visitor endorsement that's under 90 days.

I remember when I was in Singapore, I was granted 30 days of VISA free travel. I spent about 12 days in Singapore then left for Malaysia for another 8 days. When I came back to Singapore, I was only given 14 days -- now this is what I call strict !

[brighton]

Does having a property in Hong Kong changes the scenario?

[PDLM]

It does if it's expensive enough that your partner could qualify for a visa under the Capital Investment Entrants Scheme: http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/hkvisas_13.htm

[brighton]

Thanks again. These forums have been so useful.