CentreO Blog

Let’s say that you and your partner got married in California. Then one of you gets a promising career or business opportunity in Hong Kong and would like to move. Under standard circumstances, your married partner should be eligible for a dependent visa, right?

Unfortunately, Hong Kong still does not recognize same-sex marriages and your partner will not be a able to get a dependent visa.

So what are the options?

First – your partner can get a job in Hong Kong and apply for an employment visa.

Second, if your finances allow this, you can set up a company in Hong Kong and apply for two investment visas under the same company.

Whichever option you choose, make sure you talk to a visa consultant to be fully aware of all requirements and possible complications.

We’d be happy to help – sales@centreo.hk

What happens if you have the right of abode in Hong Kong and got married to someone from mainland China. Would they be able to get a dependent visa?

Unfortunately – no.

Under current immigration policy. Having the right of abode in Hong Kong, means you are treated as a local person. So you will be unable to apply for a dependent visa for your mainland Chinese wife in Hong Kong. She will need to apply for a single permit from mainland instead.

Please note: it will take much longer to get a single permit than a dependent visa

 

 

So, the situation is this: you are divorced and the child is living with you. You are considering a move to Hong Kong and are applying for an employment visa. Is your child eligible for a dependent visa to come along and stay with you in Hong Kong?

The answer is YES. However, you will need to submit supporting documents, showing that:

–        your ex-spouse has no objections to you taking the child abroad

–        you are the guardian of your child, as stated in the relevant divorce papers

Additionally, your child has to be 18 or below years of age or studying full time.

What happens if you get divorced with the person who is the sponsor of your dependent visa?

So you came to Hong Kong with your loved one, have applied and received a dependent visa. But things did not go the way you have planned. And now you are getting a divorce.

So what are your visa options in Hong Kong?

Unfortunately, you can not prolong your dependent visa, since you no longer have a relationship with your husband (your visa sponsor).

The possible option is getting a job in Hong Kong and applying for an employment visa.

Have questions? – email us at sales@centreo.hk

Let’s say you are in a happy relationship with the love of your life and you have a child together. However you have not yet been officially married.

You then decide to follow an opportunity in Hong Kong and have to move there.

You get a working visa, but what about your de facto family?

You would naturally want them to get dependent visas and stay with you I Hong Kong.  But it may not be that easy.

Unless you have a marriage certificate, your de facto wife will be unable to get a dependent visa. However, she can apply for prolonged visitor visa, which would allow her to stay with you in Hong Kong.

As for your child, you will need a birth certificate, certifying that you are a parent of your child. As long as this is in order, your child will be able to get a dependent visa.