Home Return Permit success rate for those born overseas

[itsblitz]

Here are my qualifiers/dis-qualifiers:

- Born overseas (US) to HK Chinese citizens
- Lived in HK for 7 years
- HKPIC holder (***AO)
- HKSAR passport holder
- Foreign passport holder

It would be great if someone could shed some light on my eligibility or my ease of being approved for an HRP. I applied for one in 2009, but was turned away because I didn't have an HKSAR passport, which I now have. I plan to return to HK for a week to reapply for an HRP before making my way to the mainland. Is a week in HK a good amount of buffer time if I apply for the five business day rush permit? Will I be rejected outright? I think my experiences with CTS has made me a little wary and rather paranoid of the system.

Thanks.

[London2HK]

I think as long as you were able to get the HK passport, its pretty much guaranteed as that was my only obstacle. Not sure how long it will take but 1 week is quite short, can you apply from abroad or have someone here in HK apply on your behalf?

[itsblitz]

nah, i'm arriving in hk in a week or so, and i don't want to trouble anyone i know in hk to do it on my behalf as they are pretty busy. probably should have researched this more in advance, but everything came at such a rush.

also, do the people at the HRP counter speak english? i don't think my extensive chinese food vocabulary will get me very far at the CTS.

[London2HK]

English shouldn't be a problem as most of the people applying for the visas will only have English but different centres may obviously vary. I've not had problems with my half Canto/English and I applied in the New Territories so I would assume somewhere central would be even better.

You should read other posts on this (there are lots of links below) to gauge how long it normally takes. They rejected my application but they did refund me which was shocking they rejected me because I'm unable to get the HK passport so you should be fine.

[emmie]

As said, with your HKSAR passport, along with your type of HKID, to show them when asked, applying for an HRP and getting the permit card's no problem.

Is a week in HK a good amount of buffer time if I apply for the five business day rush permit?

One week (i.e. via their 5-working-day's processing option) in your case, is very likely NOT enough "buffer time" because of the upcoming public holiday rush (New Year's Day, even though Monday's not an official 'day off').

A friend, in no rush applying for her HRP, used the ordinary fortnight route (i.e. 10 working days) and because during that time there would be a public holiday, CTS marked on her collection receipt that she should return for her HRP 16 days later. So maybe you should add another day or so more... just in case.

also, do the people at the HRP counter speak english? i don't think my extensive chinese food vocabulary will get me very far at the CTS.

Again, as said, try the more central branches, coz heard that CTS counter staff are fantastic frowners and waste no time trying to communicate and understand if their English and your Cantonese are not quite up to scratch. And get some help filling in the form in Chinese where it specifies - and addresses ordered Chinese style - 'else another frown while they go through 'correcting' with a big thick pen.

By the way, most of the 'Home Return Permit Service' centres are now different from the run of the mill China visa & travel application ones (i.e. separate counters/sections), so CTS staff handling only HRPs expect most applicants to speak and write Chinese.

No probs, otherwise. Best luck.

[User]

Your HKSAR passport and HKPID must show your name in Chinese language, otherwise you will not be able to get an HRP.

Here are my qualifiers/dis-qualifiers:

- Born overseas (US) to HK Chinese citizens
- Lived in HK for 7 years
- HKPIC holder (***AO)
- HKSAR passport holder
- Foreign passport holder

It would be great if someone could shed some light on my eligibility or my ease of being approved for an HRP. I applied for one in 2009, but was turned away because I didn't have an HKSAR passport, which I now have. I plan to return to HK for a week to reapply for an HRP before making my way to the mainland. Is a week in HK a good amount of buffer time if I apply for the five business day rush permit? Will I be rejected outright? I think my experiences with CTS has made me a little wary and rather paranoid of the system.

Thanks.

[PDLM]

So how does a naturalised Chinese citizen of Hong Kong who doesn't have a Chinese name enter China?

[User]

Either apply for new HKID and HKSAR passport with Chinese name, or apply for a visa on your foreign passport (illegally).

So how does a naturalised Chinese citizen of Hong Kong who doesn't have a Chinese name enter China?

[niossap]

Here are my qualifiers/dis-qualifiers:

- Born overseas (US) to HK Chinese citizens
- Lived in HK for 7 years
- HKPIC holder (***AO)
- HKSAR passport holder
- Foreign passport holder

It would be great if someone could shed some light on my eligibility or my ease of being approved for an HRP. I applied for one in 2009, but was turned away because I didn't have an HKSAR passport, which I now have. I plan to return to HK for a week to reapply for an HRP before making my way to the mainland. Is a week in HK a good amount of buffer time if I apply for the five business day rush permit? Will I be rejected outright? I think my experiences with CTS has made me a little wary and rather paranoid of the system.

Thanks.

I have almost the exact same situation as you. CTS asked for the 1.) foreign passport (specifically the passport that you used to come to Hong Kong when you were applying for the HKID. 2.) HKSAR passport. 3.) HKID.

They ask you to fill a form for the verification of you status. They will give you a paper and you have to wait for their call to tell you that the process has been approved (could vary from the current situation but mine took about a month). Once you get the call, you have to again go back to CTS to process the actual application of the Home Return Card and fill in an application form and provide the supplementary materials. You also have to provide photocopies of some documents which you can copy at CTS, as well as your picture. As soon as you finish the application they give you a claim stub and you can know the date of when you can get the Home Return Card.

As far as I know, you have to apply in person, at least for the initial process and if you want someone else to claim it for you, you have the get the complete information of that other person, quite troublesome I think. But there's no saying that you have to stay in Hong Kong during the wait. You just have to give them a valid number to be able to contact you.

It's quite a late reply but I hope it helps. Good luck!

[itsblitz]

They ask you to fill a form for the verification of you status. They will give you a paper and you have to wait for their call to tell you that the process has been approved (could vary from the current situation but mine took about a month). Once you get the call, you have to again go back to CTS to process the actual application of the Home Return Card and fill in an application form and provide the supplementary materials. You also have to provide photocopies of some documents which you can copy at CTS, as well as your picture. As soon as you finish the application they give you a claim stub and you can know the date of when you can get the Home Return Card.

Thanks so much, your reply was very helpful! I'm going into CTS this week so I've got my fingers crossed that they accept my application right away and process it in the time that I have...at least now I'm mentally prepared if they don't. blah!