[3bg]

I will be working in HK this summer, and I plan to stay for 3 months. I understand that tourists can only stay 15 days, so when I arrive, should I say that the purpose of my trip is leisure? If I declare employment, will I need to show them a work visa?

I'm asking because I'm not sure if my application for a work visa has been approved, and once it is - am I supposed to have this documentation before I enter HK, or can I show it later?

[ingenue]

Originally Posted by 3bg

I will be working in HK this summer, and I plan to stay for 3 months. I understand that tourists can only stay 15 days, so when I arrive, should I say that the purpose of my trip is leisure? If I declare employment, will I need to show them a work visa?

I'm asking because I'm not sure if my application for a work visa has been approved, and once it is - am I supposed to have this documentation before I enter HK, or can I show it later?

Not that I'm condoning it, since working in HK without a valid work visa is completely illegal, but depending on what passport you hold, you may be allowed to stay up to three months as a tourist. Generally, they don't ask any questions.

Once in HK, if you are awarded the work visa, all it takes is a quick trip to Macau and upon reentry, your visa is stamped and validated.

[hello_there]

It is completely illegal for a non-resident to work without a work (or dependent) visa. If you tell the immigration authorities that you are here to work without a proper visa you will very likely be denied entry. Its best to sort out your visa issues before you take up any employment inside HK, or you risk deportation, fines and possible jail time. Ingenue is right that its fairly easy to switch from a tourist to a work visa with a quick trip to Macau, but working with the tourist visa is a bad, bad idea.

[3bg]

I'm not planning to work without a valid visa - I'm just wondering how to enter HK before mine is approved. Since my trip is 3 months I just want to know if I should
1) pretend it's leisure and hope they don't suspect the long duration
2) tell them I will be working - but not for a couple of weeks and definitely not before my visa is approved

If I pick 2 (the honest route), will they refuse me entry?

[sunniefaith]

Husband arrived in HK on a tourist visa, no questions asked. I met him and we got home, left luggage went right to Macau and there we stuck the dependant's sticker in his passport and came back into HK. The next day, he was at his new job.

[hello_there]

Agreed. If you don't have your work visa when you arrive, just tell them you are here as a tourist, don't work, do some sightseeing, and once you get your work visa take a quick trip to Macau and re-enter HK with the work visa. If you tell immigration that you will be working, but not until you get a visa, you still risk being denied entry.

[sunniefaith]

Arriving on a tourist visa is fine....Not an issue at all. Just make sure you get your work visa before you start work. Some are willing to take the risks but some are not to work without a work visa...it really depends on you. But don't be stupid and tell the immigration officer that you're here to work but you don't have your work visa yet.

[3bg]

Thanks to you both - that was very helpful :]

Sorry to ask another stupid question, but what is the importance of going to Macau to get the stamp?

[sunniefaith]

Originally Posted by 3bg

Thanks to you both - that was very helpful :]

Sorry to ask another stupid question, but what is the importance of going to Macau to get the stamp?

You need to get out of the country to 'activate' your working visa. You could go either to Macau or Shenzhen. But it's more a hassle to go to Shenzhen because for some, they need to get a visa.

[3bg]

Thanks for the information! You just saved me a huge headache 1 month from now