Dependent visa change to Work Permit - Please help

Dear all,

I've been looking through this forum- very helpful. Unfortunately I haven't been able to locate the exact info I'm looking for.


Here's my situation...


I'm working in Hong Kong as Customer Service - Vietnamese Speaking in finance company via dependent visa sponsored by my Singaporean husband who is working here in Hong Kong.


But my spouse's working permit is concluding early June 2012 and would not be able to sponsor my stay here in Hong Kong. So if my current company is willing to sponsor me, is it relatively easy to change a dependant visa over to a work visa , if yes, i would love to apply for work visa by Jan 2012?


A little background information about me:I'm holding Vietnamese passport and Singapore Permanent Residence. I have a part time degree cert from Hong Kong, higher diploma from Singapore. I just join this current jobs from early Nov 2011 with starting salary HK $17000, before that I worked as Marketing Executive for 2 year in another company also in Hong Kong.


I'm trying to figure out Is it possible for me to change from Dependent visa to Work Permit? If yes, please advice any doc. that need to submit?



Any help would be most appreciated.


Thanks & Regards

First off, you're allowed to work in Hong Kong until the expiry of your dependent visa (June 2012).


Before it expires, you can ask your current employer to sponsor your working visa. You can ask them now, and they can start the application as soon as they can. You cannot do it by yourself (convert from dependent to work visa). (See other threads about work visa sponsorship).

thanks Punter,


Can i apply for working visa early in advance bfore it expires as in case I cant get it then my husband still have time to looking for another job here?

Since this is a life altering decision (?) in your case, I will suggest that you go to the immigration department and ask. After all, each case is different and the Immigration department handles each case differently.


After having said that, I believe that it is possible for you to be sponsored by your employer at anytime. When your work visa is approved, and your husband has no work (for example), he can then apply for a dependent visa (you're now his sponsor). That actually makes it better for him because he can work for any company then (just like you right now who can work for any employer without applying for a work visa).


Hope that helps.

thank punter,


Now I am getting worried because of this paragraph in the Guidebook:

I.

Introduction

(...)

6. The above entry arrangements do not apply to nationals of Afghanistan, Albania, Cambodia, Cuba, Laos, Korea (Democratic People's Republic of), Nepal and Vietnam.


what should i do?