Posted by
petecr
13 yrs ago
Hi, sorry if this issue has been hashed through before, but I thought I would ask.
My date of entry to Hong Kong on my visa is May 11, 2005. This year -- May 11, 2012 -- will be my 7th year in Hong Kong. The issue is that the 7th year is EXACTLY on the day my visa expires.
I will not be renewing this visa with my sponsor, so am wondering if there's some solid advice on how to go about applying for permanent residency.
Called the Immigration Department and they said that I could file an application a few weeks before the expiry date, and also said I could apply for an extension of my visa based on the fact that this application is in process.
Any other general advice, or anything I should keep in mind? Anyone have any idea how early I should apply for the PR card? Thanks a million.
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kalra
13 yrs ago
Hi, You should apply for 8 weeks in advance, the right option would be to send it by post as they may not accept it that early if you submit it personally.
If you plan to start a business, you can go for a business registration and apply for a visa extenstion for a year based on you your business plan and will simplify things for you and will eliminate any risk.
Other advise: if you have been out of HK> 6months for during any year - be ready with solid reasons and supporting documents, rather attach them with the form.
Good Luck.
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Thanks. I have not been out of HK for anything longer than 6 weeks at a time, so I hope that's not an issue. I don't feel too worried so much about the application for PR -- as I have tax and salary receipts for all 7 years and have nothing in arrears. Is there anything that could HELP that I haven't thought of?
I guess my worry is mainly the timing -- I guess I just need to be reassured that I shouldn't worry about messing up the timing, but I get paranoid about these kinds of things. Because it will be 7 years to that very day.
I'm not starting a business but considering it down the line.
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It's perfectly normal to worry about very important things you're not sure of. But your case shouldn't be a problem, just follow the advice from immigration. Personally, I would put in my application personally within 2 months of your visa expiry and if they don't accept it as it's too early (which I doubt they will), then you can send it in by post.
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Just thought I would ask in case there would be other examples of how this worked for someone else
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