Enter HK on tourist visa, get married there = dependant visa?

Dear all,


I would very much appreciate your advice. I've already posted in another section and you've all been so helpful.


It's clear from this forum that couples MUST be married to obtain a dependant visa in HK. My situation is as follows:


- I'm a British national and have been offered a job in HK starting 1st October.


- My fiance is a Chinese national (mainland China) currently living in the UK.


My fiance is also pregnant - the baby is due in December. Therefore we really don't want to be separated during this important time as she obviously needs my support.


We probably don't have time to get the COA (certificate of approval) -to marry a foreign national in the UK.


1. Is it possible for me to enter HK with my work visa and my Chinese fiance to enter on a tourist visa and for us to get married in HK then transfer her visa to a dependant visa? If so how long would it take for us to complete the paperwork and get married in HK?


2. What if we get married in mainland China then move to HK I assume the marriage certificate will enable my fiance to obtain the dependant visa in HK? Any idea how long it will take to sort out the necessary paperwork to get married in mainland China? any idea if I can do it on a tourist visa?


3. I'm currently looking into the possibility of marrying in an Anglican church in the UK so that we don't need the COA. Has anyone on this forum married a non-British national in the UK in an Anglican church?


Unlikely but you never know :)


Are there any other options that anyone can think of?


Thanks so much for your help. This is really stressing both of us out.

My sister came to HK on a tourist visa with the specific purpose in mind of marrying her now-husband who was here on an employment visa. It might not make that much of a difference - although I fear otherwise - but she was not from mainland China. From memory they had to give 3 months notice of intention to marry to the Registry (administered by the Immigration Dept, and as mentioned above there is a lot of information available on the Dept's website). They did that while she was here on a previous visit, and then she went back home again. She then arrived back in HK about a week before the wedding, and when they came back from their honeymoon she applied for a dependant's visa which took almost no time at all. They found everyone extremely helpful, although from reports that hasn't always been the case. maybe the difference was that my sister's husband had done all the research beforehand and had all bases extremely well covered. Good luck.

Why don't you call the Immigration Department Hotline and ask? 2824 6111

Have you enquired at the UK registry office to see if you can marry there, as even if you can marry in any kind of denomination church you will need a registrar present to legalise the marriage.

As your job would be starting 1st October, and the baby is due in December you would also have to check whether it would be safe for your fiance to fly, as most airlines put a 35week limit on fitness to fly, plus when you and hopefully fiance/wife by then arrive here you would have to book her into a hospital very quickly, for the delivery. Thttp://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visitingtheuk/gettingmarried/certificateofapproval/ The following link may help Good luck

There is no problem to enter into HK on a tourist visa, get married and change the visa to dependent - have done it, however, there is a big BUT your future spouse is a mainlander and they are in a whole different category of visas to everyone else and I have no knowledge if this will affect the outcome for you. Assuming it will not - to get married in HK is realllllly simple, turn firslty you'll need to get an appointment you can either book online or turn up in person - you need to book ahead by 15 clear days although you are likely to get a slot on the 16th day - relatively easily as long as you don't pick a "lucky" date. on your appointed date turn up at the marriage bureau with your documents (passports are ok) and your two witnesses with their documents and hey presto you are done and dusted with 15 minutes, blink and you'll miss the ceremony.


As soon as you are married take the marriage certificate to an immigration centre and they will immediately cancel the limitation of stay and issue you a new one based on dependence visa. Length of time they will allow for the dependent visa, will be slightly dependent on how long your visa is for, but as a general rule they tend to issue them first time round for one year, then second time for three years round.


http://www.gov.hk/en/residents/immigration/bdmreg/marriage/gettingmarried.htm


If your intended is granted a via she then becomes a HKID card holder and can use the excellent government services for giving birth essentially for free unless you have a very good health insurance policy that will cover pregnancy, as the alternative private options are rather pricey.

Dear all,


Thanks very much for your useful advice and kind words.


Fingers crossed we should be ok :)