change of work visa to dependent visa

[Hobbit]

Hi all,

I have been working as an English teacher in Hong Kong since May. My work visa is sponsored by the agency that I work through.

My fiance also holds a work visa and we are getting married in October. After that I would like to have the option of working through other agencies and would like to start doing some private tutoring as well.

Will I be able to do this if I change my work visa to a dependent visa? Am I able to change my visa straight after we get married if my work visa is still valid until May next year? Does anyone have any idea how long it would take to change my visa and what the process involves?

Thanks!!!!

[Jtangxx]

Hey Hobbit

You have 2 options:

1) If you have secured a new job by working for an agency (before your visa expiry date), you can simply change your employer sponsorship on your current work visa. This normally is done before you start your new job and takes 2 weeks to get it done. Sometimes could be longer if Immigration dept is busy and also depends what passport you hold too. I am not too sure if you do private tutoring as you would have no employer to sponsor your stay in HK? I guess you would need to check on this part.

2) You can change to a dependent visa in October by forfeiting the work visa (congrats on the marriage btw). Your work visa will be voided and your expiry date will follow your wife's. Under dependent status, you are permitted to work. You would need to submit a new application again as Immigration says takes between 4 to 6 weeks to process.

Hope this helps.

PS The visa application forms are changing now and would recommend you to check the website [url=http://www.immd.gov.hk]Immigration Department |

[Jtangxx]

Hi Hobbit,

I think you have 2 options:

If your current work visa expires before your wedding in Oct, I would suggest looking at option 1. However, if you don't secure a job then, renew for 2 years with your existing employer and then gives you more time to think

1. Changing your employer sponsorship on your current work visa once you have secured a new job with an agency. It is normally a 2 week process to do. However, am not entirely sure what you need to do if you want to do private tutoring since you wouldn't have a new employer to sponsor you (in fact, you would be the new employer entirely), right? Pls check on this part.

2. Changing over to a dependent visa in Oct. Congratulations on the wedding. However, you will need to forfeit your current work visa. This means, your work visa will no longer be valid and your expiry date will follow your wife's. You can still work under dependent visa. Her employer would have to help you renew your visa at the same time as hers so she would need to ask permission (as employers need to pay for renewals - anyways, not that expensive). You would need to file a new visa application which would be between 4 to 6 weeks to process. Her company would need to help in this.

Hope this helps.