Need Advice on Dependent Visa!

I have been in HK for 3 years and am currently married to a HK citizen (we married in HK) and have a dependent visa. My problem is that my wife is out of the country and looks like we are going to separate. I'm not sure she is going to be cooperative. My current visa expires 23/1/08. Under HK law, we can't even begin divorce proceedings until we have been married a year (14/12/07). So, does that technically still make me her dependent until we are legally divorced? I have checked with Immigration and have found out what I need to submit to apply for an extension - part of that is signed documents from her and her HK ID card. I don't know if I can get those from her. I would like to stay as I have started my own business and would like to make a go of that. What to do?

Sorry to hear that you are in a difficult situation.


To extend a spousal dependent visa, there are two declarations that must be signed: one by the sponsoring spouse (your wife) (Declaration of Sponsor) regarding any absence from HK in the last 12 months; the other, a declaration signed by you about the state of your marital status (no change or changed by separation, divorce proceeding, etc). The forms are at: http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/este.htm#3


It sounds like, unless you can reconcile with your wife, you should either be looking for a job that will provide sponsorship or be looking into some sort of independent employment visa.

Thanks for the reply aemon! What kind of "independent employment visas" are there?