[pin]

Am supposed to start work around 5 Feb in HK, however there is a chance my work visa won't come through by then.

My future employers have suggested I head over to HK on a tourist visa and get settled in (i.e. sort out bank account, start looking for flat, etc) and then when the work visa comes through I leave HK and re-enter on the work visa.

Two things. Firstly, should this be OK? Personally I can't see it as a problem and works for me (i.e. get a few days to settle in).

Second thing, if its OK, will it just be a case of popping over to Machau or Schenzen for a couple of hours and then just re-entering HK?

Many thanks!

[sunniefaith]

Originally Posted by pin

Am supposed to start work around 5 Feb in HK, however there is a chance my work visa won't come through by then.

My future employers have suggested I head over to HK on a tourist visa and get settled in (i.e. sort out bank account, start looking for flat, etc) and then when the work visa comes through I leave HK and re-enter on the work visa.

Two things. Firstly, should this be OK? Personally I can't see it as a problem and works for me (i.e. get a few days to settle in).

Second thing, if its OK, will it just be a case of popping over to Machau or Schenzen for a couple of hours and then just re-entering HK?

Many thanks!

Coming in on a tourist visa and then sticking your work visa and leaving the country and coming back again is not a prob. But you might run into trouble trying to open a bank account. Most banks would want to see your HK ID and contract as well. Not sure why though. You could look around for apartments but renting an apartment itself might be an issue as well. Some landlords may want to see your HK ID. But then again, there are people that managed to open a bank account and rent a place on tourist visa as well. It all depends at times....

[jenifa]

When we came over our visas weren't ready, so speaking from experience, bear in mind:

You can't get a bank account without proof of address.

You can't rent a flat without an ID card (or at least the temporary ID card papers). (Obviously you can look but the agents will get a bit fed up if you can't take anything they are offering you).

You can't get an ID card without the visa in your passport.

You can't get the visa in your passport till you get your 'visa sticker' from your employers.

So you are really quite limited in what you can do until the visa comes through - though you can use the time to find areas that you might like to live in.

But in answer to your other question, yes: you simply pop over to Macau for a few hours and then come back - that's all there is to it.

Originally Posted by pin

Am supposed to start work around 5 Feb in HK, however there is a chance my work visa won't come through by then.

My future employers have suggested I head over to HK on a tourist visa and get settled in (i.e. sort out bank account, start looking for flat, etc) and then when the work visa comes through I leave HK and re-enter on the work visa.

Two things. Firstly, should this be OK? Personally I can't see it as a problem and works for me (i.e. get a few days to settle in).

Second thing, if its OK, will it just be a case of popping over to Machau or Schenzen for a couple of hours and then just re-entering HK?

Many thanks!

[back2HK]

You can't get a bank account without proof of address.

Technically, true. But, you don't need to be a HK resident to have a bank account tin HK.

HSBC HK can open a bank account for a HK person in a HSBC in OZ/NZ/UK/Sing etc. If I remember correctly you are moving from London. You should have or be able to provide a proof of address, utility bills, a reference letter from employer etc in the UK. Use that to open an HSBC account in HK with your London address and then transfer the address when you are here.

Not much you can do about the ID card and the other issues - though you can definitely look for apts for a couple of weeks without committing to a place.

Good Luck with the move..

[PDLM]

I'm reasonably sure that when I was internally transferred here (8 years back) I was able to open an HSBC PowerVantage account with my address as c/o my office address, simply on production of my employment contract and a specific letter of referral from my employer. (And $500 in cash to deposit). Maybe things hvae changed...

[pin]

Hi

Thanks for the replies.

I can sort out the HSBC situation from the UK (well kind of). I get the forms filled out in the UK, visit a UK HSBC branch to get my ID verified and then the application is sent of to HK.

My visa application was submitted on 6 Dec, so should hopefully be approved within a few days of me arriving.

I guess it will give me time to just check out the areas I would consider moving to and just get my bearing, deal with jet lag, etc.

[back2HK]

Originally Posted by PDLM

I'm reasonably sure that when I was internally transferred here (8 years back) I was able to open an HSBC PowerVantage account with my address as c/o my office address, simply on production of my employment contract and a specific letter of referral from my employer. (And $500 in cash to deposit). Maybe things hvae changed...

Me too, on day 1 of arriving in HK. But that was even earlier than PDLM and I did have an employment visa. However, I was living in a hotel and obviously did not have an ID card..

All the "know your client" procedures have been tightened after 2001, but no reason why one can't open it from abroad..

[HKChigger]

Hmmm how come everyone is worried about the banks? I have never had a Hong Kong Work Visa to this day. I have never had proof of address, and no prior HSBC accounts.

I went to a local HSBC office. Showed them my passport and DL and now I have a bank acct. Did that around 2 months ago or so.

[jenifa]

Wow - you were lucky. My local HSBC won't even let us open a joint account because all the utility bills etc are in my husbands name - so only he's allowed an account.

Though HSBC are really *£"£$£ us off at the moment, so we might just move to another bank anyway.

Originally Posted by HKChigger

Hmmm how come everyone is worried about the banks? I have never had a Hong Kong Work Visa to this day. I have never had proof of address, and no prior HSBC accounts.

I went to a local HSBC office. Showed them my passport and DL and now I have a bank acct. Did that around 2 months ago or so.