[eclair7]

Hi!

I have been hired by a company in HK and they will be getting an employment visa for me. My question is, can I go to HK as a tourist while the application is being processed?
I'm arranging my flight booking and would like to know if I need to wait for the visa to be approved before I can enter HK or not.

Hope you can help.

Thanks in advance.

eclair7

[shri]

I think the answer is yes. Once the visa is approved you have to leave the country (Go to macau or shenzhen) and re-enter with the new visa.

[eclair7]

thanks shri!

[HKFella]

Be careful - during your stay on tourist visa, legally you shouldn't be working at your new job. That must wait till you've entered on your employment visa.

Has the submission been made already or will it be done when you arrive, as the forms are different.

If you come on a tourist visa then apply for a working visa. If approved then you don't have to leave and come back in again.

[eclair7]

thanks for the warning.

[eclair7]

hi emigra,

when i arrive in hk, the application will have been submitted. it takes at least 4 weeks to get an approval, right? i was thinking if i can go to hk and just wait for it. will it be better if i just wait until the visa is approved?

can you please expound more about the two forms that will be used?

also, i didn't quite understand this: "If you come on a tourist visa then apply for a working visa. If approved then you don't have to leave and come back in again."

thanks for your help!

eclair7

[shri]

if you're in HK -- call or stop by immigration. They'll walk you through the process -- in excruciating detail.

If you're outside of HK .. try emailing them. They're pretty helpful. When it gets to specifics.. you're better of dealing with immd directly.

enquiries@immd.gov.hk

[eclair7]

great! thanks, guys.

"also, i didn't quite understand this: "If you come on a tourist visa then apply for a working visa. If approved then you don't have to leave and come back in again."

This means if you are in Hong Kong and you have a tourist visa, then you apply for an employment visa. Once it is approved you do not have to go out of Hong Kong and come back in again you can just stay in Hong Kong.

Takes around 4-6 weeks on average but can vary on a case by case basis.

Sorry, but you would have to initiate the case with our company for us to go into detail about the documents that you require and the details of the documentation required.

If you want to talk further you can always send me a PM