[tango1]

I am an Australian female and am potentially going to be offered a job in Hong Kong. I have a defacto boyfriend who has been living with me for a few years. I know that he can get a prolonged visitor visa only, not a dependent visa unless we are married, which is not something we want to do just because of immigration. He won't be wanting to stay in Hong Kong twiddling his thumbs, and I am wondering what his chances are of entering Hong Kong on a visitor visa and then possibly getting sponsored to work..... or should he try get a working holiday visa instead? Also, should he enter Hong Kong on the prolonged visitor visa (i.e. what are the chances of him getting a work visa while on this visa) or should he enter on a tourist visa and leave HK every 3 months if need be?

[Sazzy]

Hey, I was in a similar position in that my boyfriend was offered a job in Hong Kong and I was the one not wanting to twiddle my thumbs. I am a British citizen, which means that I get 6 months on a tourist visa. I entered Hong Kong on a visitor visa and just renewed my visa as when I needed to.
In order to get a job in Hong Kong, you need an employer to sponsor your visa application. If your boyfriend can find work before he comes to HK, then great! What kind of work does your boyfriend do? I found work once I was in HK and getting a work visa was no problem.
You should know that the job market is quite slow in HK at the moment and finding a job can be quite slow and difficult. I am a lawyer and it took me 8 months to find a job. I taught English to pass the time. The problem was that I do not speak Cantonese or Mandarin plus the employer has to prove to Immigration department that the position can not be filled by a local HK person.
I hope this helps and good luck!

[tango1]

Hey thanks heaps for you response. He works in advertising, doesn't speak Cantonese..... but i must say he has the gift of the gab so fingers crossed he will find something!

[Sazzy]

Start sending CVs/resumes now - plus join some employment agencies. Yes, fingers crossed.

[CamaronKazi]

I would try the working holiday visa, assuming your boyfriend is eligible. At least that gives him a year to find a suitable employer to sponsor him.

[hkkm]

If you go for a visitors visa, keep in mind that there's only a limited number of times that he can go in and out before immigration will say "this is your last time", or even just give him a 2-week visa instead of 3 months. I was in a similar situation coming here with my fiance, and I was really nervous when I went to Macau in order to renew my visitors visa.We got married soon after that :-)

[CXkate]

From a Not Married but in a defacto relationship living in HK for 3 years,

Have been renewing my visitors visa every 3 mths for the past 3 years without any trouble.

No need to travel to Macau, Shenzhen is closer.

[berryplucker]

Then you are one of the fortunate ones. Many people have not been so fortunate.

[Caroline P]

Originally Posted by berryplucker

Then you are one of the fortunate ones. Many people have not been so fortunate.

Is there really a possibility that eventually Immigration will refuse a longer visa? Have you actually heard of this happening "in real life"?

[sabi]

My experience has shown that what works is this sell: You don't need them, you are not going to "take" anything from them, rather the opposite. Look how they all try to woo tourists with dollars to spend. Well, you are a long-term tourist of preferably independent means with no intention of settling or working illegally. Be self-assured, confident when dealing with them, the more senior the officer the better. Reassure them as it is their job to question, that You are the Creme de la Creme of visitors to HK so they can feel good about you. The immigration staff here are great and they do respond well to responsible transparent behaviour. It is rather akin to a job interview - sell yourself.