[pcor529]

My husband's dependency visa will be up for renewal in June ( I am a HK PR with HKSAR passport). The thing is I am not working at the moment and hence I am not quite sure whether I need to be gainfully employed in order to sponsor my husband in his renewal application. I was told that the renewal thing is just a matter of formality and as long as the marriage is still on foot renewal will be granted. Is that true?
If not I will have to get a job right now!!

[geo-seb]

Don't worry. It is just a simple formality. All you have to present to immigration are your passports/HKIDs and two declarations. One declaration is that there was no change in your relationship and the other one is that you were not absent from Hong Kong for more than 180 days during the previous 12 months.

[MXZ]

Hi,

My first dependency visa is about to run out (well expires in August). I need to renew it but the problem is that I have been out of HK for more than 180 days.

It has taken considerably longer than anticipated to wrap up my affairs in the UK. After reading the last post, I'm a bit worried that there might be a problem getting a renewal.

Will this be a problem? I am still most definitely married and I will be in HK on a permanent basis from 1st of June...

Any advice would be great :-)

---UPDATE---

Looks like just the sponsor has to sign the doc saying they haven't been away for more than 180 days. As the dependent I just have to sign to say that we're still married.

Even so... will the lack of time spent in HK count against me? How soon can I apply for an extension?

[PDLM]

I believe that they accept applications for extensions from 6 weeks before expiry (that was the case for Employment Visas when I had one), so you can't do anything until you arrive in June.

[pcor529]

My hubby and I went to immigration 2 days ago to renew the dependency visa. The whole process is pretty straight forward--submit the form ( together with two declarations, one from the sponsor and one from the applicant), wait to be called, checked ID cards and passport, then the officer gave us a piece of paper telling us to come back on the specified date and time to collect the visa. thats it. No fuss no mess!!

[Pekkerhead]

you need to fill out form ID91, ID481A and ID481B (latter is the 'no change in marital status' form, so not applicable to dependant children). And take them, plus your passport and ID card, to the 5th floor of Immigration (extension section). Actually, if this is not your first application you should be able to book at one of the provincial immigration departments, if it's more convenient. First time applicants need to go to Wanchai.

You can only do this from 4 weeks before the expiry of your current visa.

More info here:
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region - Immigration Department