[BenderBends]

I have a slight dilemma...and was wondering if anyone else has this problem.


I have a HKID (resident) and a USA Passport.
I travel into China at least 3-4 times a week.
Every time I go into China and back into HK, I get 5 stamps in my passport (2 from China, 3 from HK).

I thought the idea of the HKID was to avoid the stamps in passport, but it seems they dont even care about the ID card. I also can not use the e-channel

so...my passport is getting filled up very fast.
what can i do to avoid this?
are they gonna make me go back to USA to get a new passport everytime it fills up?

is there a way to get a new passport while remaining in HK...like at the consulate office or by mail?



edit: to add...i have already added pages to my passport..and have added double the amount...which is most allowed to be added...thats a lot of adding.

i also want to mention that at this rate...every 3 months or so...i will have to get a new book.

[Sazzy]

Yes, there is an American Consulate in Hong Kong - they can either add pages to your existing passport or issue you a new one. http://hongkong.usconsulate.gov/consular/acs.htm

[sylvesterjay]

Had the same problem with my Canadian passport, stamps and the whole page visas suck up the space fast. Just got a new 48 pager here in HK

[martyn]

Originally Posted by mattstewart

I have a slight dilemma...and was wondering if anyone else has this problem.


I have a HKID (resident) and a USA Passport.
I travel into China at least 3-4 times a week.
Every time I go into China and back into HK, I get 5 stamps in my passport (2 from China, 3 from HK).

so...my passport is getting filled up very fast.
what can i do to avoid this?
are they gonna make me go back to USA to get a new passport everytime it fills up?

is there a way to get a new passport while remaining in HK...like at the consulate office or by mail?

How to avoid this? When coming back to HK (or leaving HK), dont show your passport. Immigration probably just assume you want a stamp in your passport.

[benjaminlo]

Originally Posted by mattstewart

I have a slight dilemma...and was wondering if anyone else has this problem.


I have a HKID (resident) and a USA Passport.
I travel into China at least 3-4 times a week.
Every time I go into China and back into HK, I get 5 stamps in my passport (2 from China, 3 from HK).

I thought the idea of the HKID was to avoid the stamps in passport, but it seems they dont even care about the ID card. I also can not use the e-channel

so...my passport is getting filled up very fast.
what can i do to avoid this?
are they gonna make me go back to USA to get a new passport everytime it fills up?

is there a way to get a new passport while remaining in HK...like at the consulate office or by mail?



edit: to add...i have already added pages to my passport..and have added double the amount...which is most allowed to be added...thats a lot of adding.

i also want to mention that at this rate...every 3 months or so...i will have to get a new book.

I have a HKID and a Canadian passport. Since you are a Hong Kong resident, you can qualify for a Hong Kong return visa, which is basically another hongkong idcard sort of thing that only works between immigration btw hong kong and china, and requires no stamps, and it's much faster in the immigration lines. Also, as a hong resident, you can get the Hong Kong SAR passport, which works worldwide, and in some countries, you don't need to obtain a visa.

[BenderBends]

Originally Posted by martyn

How to avoid this? When coming back to HK (or leaving HK), dont show your passport. Immigration probably just assume you want a stamp in your passport.

nope..sorry...

first time i had my HKID...i was all excited to skip on thru the e-channel....but to my surprise...its not excepted.

e-channel is only for permanant ID cards...not resident cards.

so then i went to the HK resident line....hand them my HKID...nothing else....they say where is your passport? they hand me my HKID card back and take the passport to stamp it.

from then on....they always ask for passport, and dont care about my ID card. if i try to hand them the HKID...they glance at it...and then grab my passport.

[Mat]

just renew your passport...I had 4 passports in 3 years, all renewed in HK..no big deal. At least for french passport holder..but I guess it is the asme for US, just ask your consulate.

[martyn]

That's weird, I am an HK Resident too and have never been asked for my passport coming into HK.

[PDLM]

martyn and benjaminlo are both describing the situation for *** Permanent Residents (which means, essentially, HK resident Chinese citizens plus a few stateless people). Non-permanent residents and non-Chinese Permanent Residents are not entitled to "home return visas" and hence need a passport to enter China.

Non-chinese Permanent Residents will only get stamps from China though, not Hong Kong.

[BenderBends]

yeah...thats what i thought.

i am told once i am here for 7 years, I can apply for the HK Permanant ID, as well as the China ID Visa, which means i will not need my passport at all. Both customs will just check the ID cards.

woohoo...only 6 years 9 months 12 days 34 mins and 18 seconds