CentreO Blog

You’ve probably heard the phrase “pin it” a million times. And we are sure you’ve heard of Pinterest. But just in case these words have not peaked your curiosity, we are happy to give you a short tour.

Started in 2010, Pinterest is a virtual…well, pin board. And just like a pin board in the offline world, Pinterest allows you to “pin” something you like – but in this case – something you like on the web. You can then organize your pins into  various categories: “Cool Looks”, “Items on Sale”, “Funny Pictures”. The best feature here is that Pinterest saves the source of the pin, giving you the option of going back to the original website later in the day)

Signing up for Pinterest is quick and easy. So, try it out and share your finds!

 http://www.pinterest.com

A few days ago I heard and interesting piece of advice that I would be happy to share. The advice was – wake up one hour earlier. Does not sound too fun, does it?

But think about getting one extra hour in your day and using it for something that will help you prepare for all the work ahead:

–       listen to your favourite music

–       learn a few new words in a foreign language you are studying

–       have a nice slow breakfast in your favourite coffee shop

–       think what you would like to get of this day

–       or read your favourite blog)

And think about how much you are gaining from this one hour! By the end of the week, your whole perspective on life and work may be different. And all it takes is just one hour a day)

 

Who can you invite to Hong Kong as your dependents?

If you hold the Right of Abode or unconditional stay – you can bring to Hong Kong:

–       your legal spouse

–       unmarried dependent children under the age of 18

–       and your parents who are 60 or older

If you hold any other visa (employment/investment/training/capital investment/student/etc) you can bring to Hong Kong:

–       your legal spouse

–       and dependent children under 18

Approvability Test

Basically, you will have to demonstrate that you can provide for your dependents and put a roof over their heads and convince the immigration officer that your relationship is true and valid.

Officially, it sounds like this

• There is reasonable proof of a genuine relationship between the applicant

and the sponsor

• There is no known record to the detriment of the applicant; and

• The sponsor is able to support the defendant’s living at a standard well above the subsistence level and provide him/her with suitable accommodation in the HKSAR.

 What will you need to pass the approvability test?

You will have to establish the legality of family connections (birth and marriage certificates), show at least a modest bank statement and copies of your tenancy agreement.

Applications of this nature tend to be purely administrative and everything should go through without a fuss.

Potential pitfalls: if your certificates are not in English or Chinese. Then you will require official translations from the Consulate of the issuing country.

No doubt, traveling between Hong Kong and China is quite common among HK expats.  So it is important to stay up to date with all the entry and exit policy changes.

And speaking of the devil, the State Council of the People’s Republic of China has announced new immigration  regulations, effective as of September 1^st, 2013.

The KEY changes are:

• Professionals – High-level foreign professionals and individuals with talent in high demand will receive a new R-visa.
• Family Reunion – Any Chinese national with a family member or adopted children will receive a new Q-visa.
• Relatives – A spouse, parents, parents-in-law and children under 18 related to a long-term staying work visa holder in China will receive a new S-visa.
• During the entry visa application process, China authorities may request a face-to-face interview.
• China authorities shall acknowledge visa extension and visa re-issuance applications within seven days. While the authority is withholding passports and travel documents during the application process, the applicant will have a valid immigration status.

• Local Public Security Bureau (PBS) may retain biometric identification, such as fingerprints, during the application process.

• When submitting a Residence Permit application of over a one-year duration, a medical examination report must also be submitted, completed within a six month period of application.
• China authorities shall acknowledge Residence Permit extension, replacement and re-issuance applications within 15 days.

• PBS may access any application via phone interview, face-to-face interview, on-site audit and audit of any means to verify the validity of information provided. Applicant and local sponsoring entity must cooperate with the PBS.

At the same time, make sure to not “overstay your welcome” in China:

1. Overstay in China after the visa period.
2. Overstay in China after the visa free period.
3. Visa holder is acting beyond the condition of stays.

So you are considering a change of jobs? And you already have your next dream position or have even decided to start your own business? No matter how excited you are about your new prospects, there are visa issues to think about.

You will need to undergo what is known as sponsorship application before you start working for anyone else in Hong Kong, including yourself!

You have to look at it as an entirely new visa application. The “employment” stamp in your passport is not a carte blanche to work for just anyone you like and you have to consider legal ramifications.

So what will you have to do?

If you are seeking to work for another employer you have to pass the employment visa approvability test.

If you are seeking to work for yourself – or in partnership with someone else – you have to pass the investment visa approvability test.

For more detailed instructions on getting those, we recommend visiting the Hong Kong Visa Handbook.

You should expect the process to take between 4 and 8 weeks or even longer, depending on

–       the quality of your application

–       the overall length of your stay in Hong Kong

–       and whether or not you have already breached your conditions of stay by taking up an unauthorized employment or embarking on a business venture of your own

Remember: it is illegal to work for an employer other than your current visa sponsor. There is no such thing as a “flexible” working visa in Hong Kong.

Every new employment or business activity proposed must be cleared first by the Director of Immigration and you could find yourself in some very hot water if you do not comply with Hong Kong’s immigration laws.

 

 

 

 

Remember: ignorance is no defense!