Need Advice on Visa to Stay with boyfriend in HK

On the rejection of the work visa made by your hoped-for employer the key thing that Immigration looks at is whether or not the job can be performed by a local. Unless you have a special skillset that is a requirement for the job then the chances of a work visa are remote. The employer should have been aware of that and either not proceeded to the point of applying for a visa, or should have made up a better story in the documents supporting the application.


Depending on what passport you hold I'm thinking that the best bet would be to come here on a tourist visa for at least the first visit, stay close to the maximum and then exit and re-enter for another maximum period. And during that time try to get a job while you are here. The same visa requirements will apply, but it should be easier while you are here. If you do find someone willing to sponsor your visa then you'll probably need to exit HK while the application is being processed.

If you are travelling on a British Passport and you are under 30 years old you can apply for a 'working holiday' visa and can gain employment under that visa. Not sure but I think this visa ony allows you to work for 12 months with the same employer. One of my friends did it this way and after the 12 month limit with the one employer mananged to get a full working visa with another company who played on the necessity of having a Native English speaker employed.


Check it out on the Immigration website.

Ceeh, actually with working visas you're only allowed to work for the same employer for 3 months maximum, not 12.

Actually you are correct Shoe Girl. My friend managed to stay the 12 months in the same job as the parent company changed her employment each 3 months to one of it's subsidaries. After 12 months they had exhausted their avenues and were not prepared to apply for a work visa so she moved on.

I see. I think the reason they do this is to stop people coming over and getting a full-time job which ordinarily would go to a local HK person. And a working holiday implies that the person is going to go back to their country of residence.