[chuliu]

I know this has been asked many tmes but I cannot find the exact situation as mine.

I am holding a dependent visa and my wife is a PR of HK. I am currently working in HK. Just wonder if it is possible to change to work visa and what is the process. Do I need my current employer to agree to sponsor me?

Also, this is my 2nd year holding a dependent visa. If I do get work visa, do I have to be on it for 7 years more to become a PR?


Thanks.

[PDLM]

I know couples where one was on an Employment Visa and the other a Dependant who switched when the one on the employment visa got made redundant; this was no big deal, but yes, the person moving from Dependant to Employment has to get their employer to sponsor them. But I don't know of someone doing it when married to a PR. ImmD are likely to be suspicious since there is no good reason to do it unless you intend to divorce the PR. In that case they are likely to look at the initial marriage and review whether it was one of "convenience".

But if you do manage to do it then you don't have to reset the clock on PR - you have to be legally resident continuously for 7 years, but your Visa status can change within that period.

[Flat Hunter]

PDLM hit the nail on the head. Why would you want to change visas? You have the best visa as it is not employer specific and as PDLM also said, red flags will go up at Immigration as to why you want to change. To them it will be very suspicious.

[meemiathai]

PDLM always post good posts!

[chuliu]

Thanks for the reply.

I just asked because my boss was surprized that I didn't ask the HR to apply the work visa for me when I accepted the offer. But I think the fact I have no visa requirement to work was one of the reason I got the offer anway.

[jaykay]

As mentioned above there is no reason whatsoever to change. With your visa you can work for who you like, work part time, work multiple jobs, run your own business. Changing to an employment visa when you are already a dependent of a PR is a backwards step!