[salomon7]

I might soon be moving from the EU to work in Hong Kong. I am living with my girlfriend, but we have no plans of getting married yet. Can she come and live with me in Hong Kong? If yes, can she then try to find a job?

Hello

She can live with you but would only be granted a visitors status as you are both not married. Therefore she will have to leave Hong Kong each time to renew her visiting status. You can apply for a prolonged visitors visa to extend the period of stay, if you are engaged this will support the application.

On a visitors status your girlfriend can look for employment, but must apply and have an approved employment visa before she starts work. Application for an employment visa is better if it is made whilst the applicant is overseas, but incountry filing is possible.

[Peapea]

Hi

My boyfriend and I were in exactly the same position until about a month ago, when I started working -
We had no problems with it, I just crossed the border to China every 6 months and when i came in got another 6 months visitors visa. It took a bit of time to find someone who would sponsor me for the working visa, but that was due to personal circumstances so just a word of reassurance that you should have no problems.

[Valentine]

Hello

My boyfriend has just been advised that he is required to go and work for his British employer in HK for two years from November. We live together, and have advised his employer that we are eventually planning to marry.

I am lucky enough to have my own well paid job in London, but of course I can't imagine NOT going with him to Hong Kong. From reading the forums, it seems that I will be treated as a visitor and that he will have to support me, so effectively we are losing 60% of our current household income by moving to HK. Can this be right? Would it be fair to ask him employer to take this into account when finalising his relocation package?

Many thanks for your insights.

[Peapea]

Yep, that's right. As I understand it - unless you're married, in which case you'd be given a dependent visa (which I believe doesn't automatically give you the right to work anymore anyway) - you'll have to enter on a 6 month visitors visa.

I'm not sure about the situation with your partner's job as our situation was different, it wasn't a transfer. But you can find a job in Hong Kong and then re-enter on a work visa, which is what I had to do.

[Caroline P]

Originally Posted by Emigra

Hello

She can live with you but would only be granted a visitors status as you are both not married. Therefore she will have to leave Hong Kong each time to renew her visiting status. You can apply for a prolonged visitors visa to extend the period of stay, if you are engaged this will support the application.

On a visitors status your girlfriend can look for employment, but must apply and have an approved employment visa before she starts work. Application for an employment visa is better if it is made whilst the applicant is overseas, but incountry filing is possible.

Emigra, hello!

I have been offered the opportunity to have a prolonged visitors' visa here as I am staying with my fiance, who has been granted an employment visa. However, I have to sign a letter stating that I will not look for work here. In fact, I AM looking for a company to sponsor my work visa - if I accept the prolonged visitor visa does that mean that immigration will NOT approve my future employment even if the job meets their criteria?

Thanks for your input.

[nivantj]

As far as i understand, when you sign a letter saying 'you will not look for work here' should read 'you will not take up any employment on VISITOR's visa'. On the other hand, if the prospective employer can successfully prove you eligible, the letter should not matter at all..