Posted by
marcusboy
15 yrs ago
I will have spent 7 years in HK comes January and was wondering what are the advantages (aside from not requiring a work permit from an employer) to applying for PR status in HK? What documents might be required for an application?
And would it be diffciult to get PR?
Thanks for the advice.
Please support our advertisers:
First thing to remember is your visa extension, you'll need to do that first. PR can only be granted after you have spent 7 years here continuously on a visa which allows you residence (apart from student, DH, etc) which means you would apply pretty much one day after. You will still need to be on a legitimate visa while this process goes on which can take up to 2 months. So renew your visa first.
Once you get PR from a legal standpoint you cannot be deported for any criminal offenses, you are entitled to vote and you are entitled to social services payments / public housing should you require it. On top of that certain things become more simple, loans with banks, mortgages, credit cards some of which are different rates if you are PR.
Please support our advertisers:
evildeeds is our PR go to guy!!
Please support our advertisers:
Someone told me that within the past year the rules for PR have changed and if you own a property with a valuation of more than USD1m then you can apply for PR without having completed seven years. This applies even if there is a mortgage on the property (apparently). Have looked on immigration website but cannot find any info. Does anyone know if this is true or an urban myth?? Thanks!
Please support our advertisers:
Please support our advertisers:
definitely a myth...you can't 'buy' permanent residency
Please support our advertisers:
Even with the investment scheme you need to "reside" in Hong Kong for 7 years before you can apply for PR.
Please support our advertisers:
"First thing to remember is your visa extension, you'll need to do that first. PR can only be granted after you have spent 7 years here continuously on a visa which allows you residence (apart from student, DH, etc) ..."
Actually student status counts as residence. Only DH visa holders are excluded from the 7 year rule. I was on a student visa during the 3 years immediately before my PR application and got it without problems.
Please support our advertisers:
I heard from a pretty reliable source that it is possible to obtain PR by buying an apartment at a sizable HK$ amount. The catch, or so I heard, is that you must apply for PR within 6 months of making the purchase. In any case, it's certainly worth looking into.
Please support our advertisers:
seb - you're right. I was confusing the PR issue for student visas with the fact they are unable to sponsor dependant visas.
Cucaracha - no, that is not the case. You cannot buy PR at all. You can certainly apply for an investment visa if you bring enough money into HK including house / apartment purchases but it will not give you PR. Sorry, your friend is very wrong.
Please support our advertisers:
Hi
Is there a definition of 'Continous 7 year' I am finishing the 7th year, but over the past one year I have travelled a lot away from HK (while maintaining employment visa, a house and the family in HK) Is there a minimum number of days I must be in HKSAR in a year to satisfy the continuity condition?
Thanks
Please support our advertisers:
Interesting Q Shayne. My situation is tougher than yours. Have paid tax in HK for 7 consec years but had to leave for 13 mths to deal with my son's education (so dont have 7 consec yrs of leases). Have heard that Immigration can be sympathetic to the 7 yrs continuous living rule but am not sure. Would love to hear of any experience in this regard.
Please support our advertisers:
@ shayne
@ jollybee
your visa should be of continuous 7 years, not necessarily your presence in HK
immigration will ask reason for periods of long absence, if you can justify it then certainly you will get PR.
also lease or tax dont count, as long as you were on a valid visa for 7 continuous years.
i know of people who never had any lease in their name nor paid any tax but they got PR because they were on a valid visa for 7 year duration.
Please support our advertisers:
Steve.m
no
you have access to health care after you are on any valid visa except tourist visa
tax refund is same, you get a refund if you over paid, otherwise nothing
with PR you can apply for Govt housing if your income is below a certain level, which most of the expats would hardly be eligible.
Please support our advertisers:
healthcare is subsidized, but PR is not a condition to access it, every resident have access to it.
6000 HKD is not a tax refund, it is one time payoff, and only PR are eligible, but this 6000 HKD is not given every year.
this is one time display of stupidity by HK Govt.
Please support our advertisers:
You must be logged in to be able to reply.
Login now
Copy Link
Facebook
Gmail
Mail