[will-aus]

Hi

I have applied for a company-sponsored working visa.
Will i have any trouble at hk immigration if i come early on a tourist visa ? i just intend to wait for the working visa, find an apartment etc.

[HKChigger]

You will have no problem coming in as a tourist at all unless you show that you are planning to work right away or something. Just give them your passport/entry card and they will stamp it.

Keep in mind you will need to leave HK and come back in order to activate your work visa. So you will need to be prepared to travel either to the mainland, macau or other port outside of HK.

[Jawni Hingh]

I'm going to be in the same situation -- applied for employment visa but will be arriving early to HK as a tourist (I don't need a tourist visa as a US citizen). So you're saying all I need to do when I secure my work visa is go to Macau or someplace and return to HK using my new 'identity'? Sorry, I don't even know what an employment visa is exactly... is it an ID, a set of documents, what? Do I use my employment visa papers to get a HKID and once I have that, use it to go in and out of HK?

[nikasp]

That's exactly what I did just now. I came here with a truckload of stuff for a 3,5 month stay and entered as a happy tourist. I've lost a lot of weight and don't really need new clothes at all so I brought a lot with me. If you feel like renewing your wardrobe it's quite cheap with T-shirts and also tailor made stuff here. No problems at all with immigrations but you can of course not say that you intend to work and that you are waiting for your visa.

I was aiming for Macau but for some idiotic reason we went to Shenzen, mainland. We just went to a big mall where people would pull on your arm trying to sell "- copy watch, DVD" etc. Not going there again but I got the visa activated when entering HK SAR again.

Shenzen is a 45 minute train ride + up to one hour wait to get a visa for China and get through customs/immigrations. When going the other way you just place the sticker you got, when your visa was approved, in the passport before entering.

[HKChigger]

Originally Posted by Jawni Hingh

I'm going to be in the same situation -- applied for employment visa but will be arriving early to HK as a tourist (I don't need a tourist visa as a US citizen). So you're saying all I need to do when I secure my work visa is go to Macau or someplace and return to HK using my new 'identity'? Sorry, I don't even know what an employment visa is exactly... is it an ID, a set of documents, what? Do I use my employment visa papers to get a HKID and once I have that, use it to go in and out of HK?

Your visa is a sticker you will put in your passport after approval from IMMD. Make sure to place it in your passport when you are in Shenzhen/Macau and then use Resident channels to re-enter Hong Kong (as apposed to tourist channels) Show your passport and advice you have working visa. They will stamp your passport that you are able to stay one year and purpose is employment.

Once activated you can go to any registration or persons office in HKSAR and apply for a HKID Card. You will get a temp. paper one for two weeks while they make your ID card. You then pick up your ID card and are eligible to use it for all kinds of cool stuff including e-channels when you pass through immigration.

nikasp - Not a good area to shop in Shenzhen. Sorry you had to experience that area.

[Jawni Hingh]

Originally Posted by HKChigger

Your visa is a sticker you will put in your passport after approval from IMMD. Make sure to place it in your passport when you are in Shenzhen/Macau and then use Resident channels to re-enter Hong Kong (as apposed to tourist channels) Show your passport and advice you have working visa. They will stamp your passport that you are able to stay one year and purpose is employment.

Once activated you can go to any registration or persons office in HKSAR and apply for a HKID Card. You will get a temp. paper one for two weeks while they make your ID card. You then pick up your ID card and are eligible to use it for all kinds of cool stuff including e-channels when you pass through immigration.

nikasp - Not a good area to shop in Shenzhen. Sorry you had to experience that area.

Got it. Thanks for the explanation! Hopefully my work visa will go through without a problem.

[nikasp]

Yeah, I know was waiting for us. I was mainly there for the visa and to get a coat copied (on recommendation). They could not do it fast enough so I had to get something I felt. Ended up buying about 70 DVD's with my colleague. They were pretty crazy compared to anything I have ever experienced. They just want your money over there. Period.

Originally Posted by HKChigger

nikasp - Not a good area to shop in Shenzhen. Sorry you had to experience that area.

[HKChigger]

Originally Posted by nikasp

Yeah, I know was waiting for us. I was mainly there for the visa and to get a coat copied (on recommendation). They could not do it fast enough so I had to get something I felt. Ended up buying about 70 DVD's with my colleague. They were pretty crazy compared to anything I have ever experienced. They just want your money over there. Period.

True, but at least they don't care how much of it they take You can get some real bargains in Shenzhen. I got a flipping three hour massage, 1 hour foot and 2 body for 56RMB!!!! What a deal. Here it is 90 minutes for $300+