[Emuse]

I'm working a stretch up here in Tianjin, China and I'll be moving back to Hong Kong in August. I was previously teaching for a government school in HK and I expect I'll do the same when I come back. I'm not a HK resident, I'm a sponsored USA citizen. I met a wonderful girl while I was up here. What hurdles do I face regarding immigration if I bring a Chinese girl from the Mainland back to HK? Advice, experience to share?

[carang]

there are huge hurdles to overcome bringing a mainland wife to HK....check out the immig website.

the local men married to mainlanders sometimes have to wait for YEARS before their wife and children are allowed to join them here.

[Emuse]

I'm not local, perhaps it makes a difference. If married in the USA, she should become a US citizen after the extensive paperwork. First, or secondhand knowledge on this specific scenario?

[carang]

makes no difference if you are local or not. there are exceptions to almost every immigration rule when it comes to mainlanders.

it would probably be easier for her if you did do what you said and get married in US then if she can get a US passport, she'd be able to come as a dependent.

[carang]

this was posted on another website by someone in a similar situation (except he's already married and his wife is expecting a baby)

For anyone interested, here are some applicable excerpts from the immigration law (basically setting up admission for everyone except Afghans, Albanians, Kim Jong Il, Fidel Castro, and my wife)

--------------------------
39. For a sponsor who has been admitted into Hong Kong to take up employment (as professionals, investors or for training) or study, or who is permitted to remain in Hong Kong as a capital investment entrant or an entrant under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, the following dependants may apply to join him/her for residence in Hong Kong:

his/her spouse; and
his/her unmarried dependent child under the age of 18.

40. An application for entry to take up residence as a dependant may be favourably considered if:

there is reasonable proof of a genuine relationship between the applicant and the sponsor;
there is no known record to the detriment of the applicant; and
the sponsor is able to support the dependant's living at a standard well above the subsistence level and provide him/her with suitable accommodation in Hong Kong.

41. This entry arrangement does not apply to:

Chinese residents of the Mainland (except for those whose sponsors have been admitted to take up employment or full-time tertiary study under schemes or arrangement catering for Mainland residents or whose sponsors are Mainland residents admitted as entrants under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme)
Former Mainland Chinese residents residing in the Macau SAR who have acquired residence in the Macau SAR through channels other than the One-way Permit Scheme; and
Nationals of Afghanistan, Albania, Cuba and Korea (Democratic People's Republic of).

[penguinsix]

Originally Posted by Emuse

I'm not local, perhaps it makes a difference. If married in the USA, she should become a US citizen after the extensive paperwork. First, or secondhand knowledge on this specific scenario?

US Citizenship will take years after marriage. Y e a r s. First she needs to get a green card permanent residence, and then there is a 3 year waiting period (while she lives in the US) before she can become a citizen. There are a few technical exceptions (designed for brides of military personnel and some others overseas) but it is a very long and drawn out process.

There are people in the US who have married Americans, gotten their green card, waited the three years, and now are waiting upto an additional three years to get citizenship, due to post 9-11 security check changes.

[Emuse]

carang,

Despite the disheartening reality, I greatly appreciate your reply and ecspecially your thoroughness. I suppose I'll have to stay here in China. Shanghai isn't quite so run-down as Tianjin, is it? Oh well, I quite like Hong Kong

[bobinhk]

Get your wife to live in Shenzhen and travel daily. May be a bit of a hassle but then you can get the best of both worlds.

[carang]

so sorry the news isn't any better!

there's a HK resident, foreigner with a work visa, who's married to a mainland woman. she comes and goes on a special (two-way permit, i think it is). anyway, she is preggers with baby #2. now, the HK immig will not let her back into HK if she is more than 7 months unless she has pre-booked a hospital appt. not only that, but they have DOUBLED the price at the public hospitals for women from the mainland to give birth here!

i think that it has as much to do with the status of the children born here to mainlanders as it does with mainland women running out on unpaid hospital bills.

so, again, i'm very sorry that it's so difficult for you.
good luck!

[Emuse]

How much of a hassle is it to go back and forth to Shenzhen? I suppose there is no "fast-pass" to get through Immigration for those that must do it everyday