Marriage/Work Visa... Please help!

Closed Thread
  1. #1

    Marriage/Work Visa... Please help!

    Hi everyone,

    I'm look for ideas/suggestions/help! ...here's my situation - I'm leaving for Hong Kong in a few days to live with my girlfriend (who is a Hong Kong citizen/national). She's got a job, and an apartment for us, etc... I'm going in on a 3 month tourist Visa (from Canada) but of course I'll need to find work sooner than later. (I'll probably be looking to teach English).

    As far as I can tell, my options are this:

    1) Find an employer to sponsor me
    2) Marry my girlfriend, and get Resident status

    Which route would be the fastest to get me legally working? Can I work with a marriage certificate as proof of my residency application, or not? Or if I take the employer sponsorship route, can I work while my visa application is being processed? Please - any help on this subject would be very much appreciated.

    Thanks so much!
    Eric


  2. #2

    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    位置位置位置
    Posts
    50,601

    If you're married, you automatically can get a dependant's visa (a few formalities are required... and assuming that your wife can prove that she can support you).

    Read the forums, plenty of stuff here from people in similar situations.


  3. #3

    So how long do you think it cake?

    I really appreciate the info... Just a couple of last questions ... If we do go the marriage route, I can work as soon as I have a dependent visa (my sponsor being a permanent resident), right? How long after the actual marriage would I be legally allowed to work (assuming we put through all the paperwork as fast as possible?)

    Thanks so much in advance for your help!
    Eric


  4. #4

    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    位置位置位置
    Posts
    50,601

    You would have to ask immigration this ... [email protected] their processing times can vary and can take over a month or two, if they need more information.

    By the way, the dependant visa is not automatic. Your wife does have to document that she can support you as a dependant.