Hong Kong Visa & Immigration Topics

Can I Employ Myself by Getting a Hong Kong Business Investment Visa?

Posted in Employment Visas, Investment Visas, The Hong Kong Visa Geeza, Your Question Answered /

This is a typical question about what is really a Hong Kong business investment visa application – but most often people don’t know, understandably enough, how to couch it… First Published April 21, 2012   QUESTION “Hello, I’m interested in getting HK residence permit (working visa). Please advise what’s the easiest, fastest and cheapest way […]

Do You Really Need to Set Up Your Own Office if You Have a Hong Kong Investment Visa?

Posted in Investment Visas, The Hong Kong Visa Geeza, Your Question Answered /

Once you have persuaded the Hong Kong Immigration Department of your ability to make a substantial contribution to the economy of Hong Kong and have been granted an investment visa, can you then argue, after the fact, that actually, you have no practical need to establish office premises of your own after all? QUESTION I […]

Podcast: Play in new window

Hong Kong Employment Visa Holder – Join in a Side Business or Change Visa Category to a Full Investment Visa – Which is Better?

Posted in Employment Visas, Investment Visas, The Hong Kong Visa Geeza, Your Question Answered /

 This question raises quite a number of issues surrounding a decision to go into business for yourself in Hong Kong whilst presently holding an employment visa sponsored by a third party employer (and it’s only the immigration parts which I am qualified to address). QUESTION Hello Stephen, I have an employment visa for the remaining […]

Podcast: Play in new window

As a Visitor Living in Hong Kong Do You Need to Get An Investment Visa if You Freelance Here But All Your Income is Sourced Overseas?

Posted in Investment Visas, The Hong Kong Visa Geeza, Visitor Visas, Your Question Answered /

First Published September 30, 2018 What is the law about visitors working in Hong Kong as freelancers but not engaging in the local economy? QUESTION Hi Stephen, I’ve lived in Hong Kong for 2 years and now I’m freelancing and getting all of my income from overseas. I wish to stay in HK, so am […]

Podcast: Play in new window

What Happens to My Girlfriend’s Hong Kong Employment Visa if She Quits Her Job and We Get Engaged – Can She Carry on Working on the Strength of Our Relationship?

Posted in Employment Visas, Family Visas, The Hong Kong Visa Geeza, Your Question Answered /

Does being formally engaged to be married to a Hong Kong Permanent Resident materially impact the work permissions available to an employment visa holding fiance? QUESTION I am a permanent resident of Hong Kong working here and I met my girlfriend who is currently employed and on a working visa. However she no longer wants to […]

Podcast: Play in new window

Is There Such an Animal as a Hong Kong Employment Visa for an Independant Contractor?

Posted in Employment Visas, Investment Visas, The Hong Kong Visa Geeza, Your Question Answered /

Hong Kong Employment Visa for an Independant Contractor? The General Employment Policy anticipates that foreign national Professionals seeking to work in Hong Kong are subject to a formal employer-employee relationship. So what’s the situation if the employer wants to engage you as a contractor? Is it do-able? QUESTION Dear Stephen,  I got a working visa […]

Podcast: Play in new window

Hong Kong Employment Visa Self-Sponsorship – the Reality for Entrepreneurs Masquerading as Employees

Posted in Employment Visas, Investment Visas, Musing, The Hong Kong Visa Geeza /

First Published May 1, 2012 There really is no such thing as visa self-sponsorship if you are an entrepreneur seeking permissions to join in your own business in Hong Kong. You either work for an independent third party employer, or you are working for yourself (or possibly in partnership with one or 2 others). Let’s […]

Business Review – The Sword of Damocles for Successful Hong Kong Investment Visa Applicants

Posted in Investment Visas, Musing, The Hong Kong Visa Geeza /

If your investment visa has been approved but the Hong Kong Immigration Department believe your application was marginal, you can expect your visa to be subject to Business Review the first time that it comes up for extension. This works as follows: During your original application the HKID may not have been completely persuaded of […]

Hong Kong Business Investment Visas – the Catch 22 for Foreign National Entrepreneurs

Posted in Investment Visas, Musing, The Hong Kong Visa Geeza /

  There are 2 pathways you can follow to apply for a business investment visa for Hong Kong. 1. You can be in Hong Kong as either as resident or a visitor seeking to adjust your immigration status to join in an existing, or establish a new, business; or 2. You can apply prospectively for […]

Freelance Consulting in Hong Kong – Can You Get a Visa?

Posted in Employment Visas, Investment Visas, The Hong Kong Visa Geeza, Your Question Answered /

Visas for one-man consulting businesses figure constantly in our enquiries Inbox. This post will attempt to put to bed this question once and for all…..