Question on visa for HK

BenderBends · 09-05-2008, 02:32 PM

i have a question...

i have a visitor from another country (USA) visiting me here in HK. They will only be here for 2 months. I was hoping that for most of that time (since I would be working) they can spend time at my office seeing what it is we do.

they are not working for us, they are not responsible for anything, there is no contract, there is no pay...its nothing like that.

its more or less them just sitting down in my office, watching me work, and conversing with the staff.

is this legal to do if they have no visa? I obviously dont have time to get a work visa, or the resources to get a work visa by myself.... but i still want them to spend the time in the office seeing it is what I do, so they can decide if this is the right career path they are chossing when entering college.

any ideas?

climber07 · 09-05-2008, 02:38 PM

If they are not "working" i.e. earning money and are chosing to spend their holiday siting in someone's office and observing what they do...I don't see how that would be a problem.

Perhaps our local legal expert could advise....PDLM any thoughts?

BenderBends · 09-05-2008, 02:41 PM

well...i read that volunteers and non-paid workers and training people need visas....but again...this really isnt anything like that.

they are in college, and about to finalize their major...and i want them to see what its like to be in this field...

since i cant get him the work visa...he will not be working, or going to china with me on field visits...he would simply sit and chat and see what it is i do...a few days a week...for 2 months while he is here. the rest of time he will be travelling and enjoying hk.

on rare occaisions, i may ask him to do something small in the office as a favor..but again...he is not technically working for me, and im not paying him, and there is no contract...and he doesnt need to call in sick or anything like that

PDLM · 09-05-2008, 02:43 PM

My gut feeling is that this is OK within the terms of a visitor visa.

From ImmD

"2. In general, unless a person has the right of abode or right to land in the HKSAR, he/she requires an entry visa/permit to work, study, establish or join in any business, take up residence or to stay in the HKSAR as a visitor longer than the allowed visa free period."

Unless you argue that what they are doing is studying then I can't see a problem.

But [email protected] or 2824 6111 for the definitive answer.

You might also want to check out your company's insurance policies, just to confirm that they would be covered in the event of an accident on the premises.

BenderBends · 09-05-2008, 03:51 PM

thanks guys.... called immigration and they said pretty much word for word what you said...so it should be ok as long as they dont do any real "work"

daypd2 · 16-05-2008, 02:27 PM

How many times can you enter hong kong on a tourist visa, i am getting married in september and i have gone to macau and back once already, my visa is 180 days an i will need to extend it again can i go to macau again to do this?

wtbhotia · 16-05-2008, 02:49 PM

Originally Posted by daypd2:

How many times can you enter hong kong on a tourist visa, i am getting married in september and i have gone to macau and back once already, my visa is 180 days an i will need to extend it again can i go to macau again to do this?

go to shenzhen for 1 night and come back the next day. dont just do a quick cross over the border and come straight back, also try to go a few days before your hk visa expires. less suspicions that way.

the immigration people are quite strict and fussy when it comes to passport holders of asian/africian people, not so fussy about westerners unless your passport is full of visa runs to macau/china.

PDLM · 16-05-2008, 02:51 PM

It's at the discretion of the Immigration officer on entry. If you have a confirmed wedding date and can show all the details to Immigration then you might be better off going to them and requesting an extension on your current visa.

hullexile · 16-05-2008, 03:08 PM

Originally Posted by PDLM:

It's at the discretion of the Immigration officer on entry. If you have a confirmed wedding date and can show all the details to Immigration then you might be better off going to them and requesting an extension on your current visa.

Though as the poster has already had a six month visa extended once (so one year) and is now looking for another extension, they may well wonder how he is supporting himself on a tourist visa for so long and what he is doing with his time.