Marrying someone from China

[ToyDesigner#1]

Hi,

I am a Canadian working in HK and my girlfriend lives in China. Does anyone have any experience on what the process is for an expat to marry a citizen of China ? We are very much in love and hope to start a new life together.

Thanks,

0(~_~)0

[hullexile]

Do you mean the process of getting married or the immigration process? Are you getting married in HK or China?

[slimpig]

Go to the Marriage Registrations Department right next to Pacific Place - third floor Counter 20 and get the info from them. You need her ID card/Passport, divorce certificates (if applicable), details of both sets of parents, your HKID Card and passport. Once you apply (fee is about HK$350) then you can get married about 21 days later (HK$700). She does not need to attend until the day of the ceremony.

To get your girlfriend out of China and into HK to go to the ceremony you need to get an onward ticket (honeymoon destination) then she can go to HK, get married and fly out... and hopefully live happily ever after!!

Then you can start work on getting her citizenship.

[taihunggao]

dunno where you might be settling back to, but... take lots of dated photographs of you together. uk immigration ask to see that sort of thing, no kidding.
get her to hold a copy of that day's SCMP in every snap from now on, you'll be fine :-)
PS congratulations!

[ToyDesigner#1]

Thanks everyone for your replies.
I'm in the process of getting my documents ready and hopefully hers will be in order as well. I haven't exactly proposed yet, but we have talked about getting married.
I am keeping records of all our photos with dates.

How long does it take to get a HKID card ?

Also, any suggestions on where/how to propose in HK ?
Does getting down on one knee still apply or is that a western tradition ? My girlfriend is from China so I don't want her to think I'm just tying my shoelaces which happened to a guy I read in another thread. LOL

[carang]

the immigration process for a mainlander is COMPLETELY different to any one else,regarless to whom they are married. there's no getting around the racist policy.

it will take a VERY long time for her to be able to live in HK.

good luck!

[ToyDesigner#1]

So a mainlander can't leave China very easily due to Chinese immigration ? or
they can't come to live in HK due to HK immigration laws ? What do you mean by racism ?

Otherwise I am willing to move to China to be with her.

[carang]

it is difficult for them to live in HK... check out the HK immig website for more details.

i wish you the best of luck and a very happy marriage!

[david_f4ng]

as far as i know, for mainlander to live in hong kong after marrying hk permanent resident needs 5 years to have her hk id, rather different from another country which needs only several months to get hk id, after having hk id card they should stay in hong kong for 7 years to have permanent residence. while waiting for her hk id she can go to hong kong everytime she wants by applying visa in mainland