HK company and work visa question ...

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  1. #1

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    HK company and work visa question ...

    Hey guys,


    Hopefully someone can help me out a bit, as for a newcomer in Hong Kong it is sometimes difficult to see the legal possibilities one has here.

    I have recently registered a Hongkong Limited company through an accountancy firm. They also provide the HK secretary which seems to be necessary. We are up and running since this month …

    The plan is to move all my business from my European (one man) company to this new Hong Kong limited company.

    Business is going well, so i can immediately move a fair amount of business to Hong Kong (and therefore create tax revenue for Hong Kong.).

    It is however a one man company now and i don’t really need to employ people. I prefer to use other companies for certain work, instead of employing staff myself. Gives me a bit more flexibility.

    ⇒ The questions :

    1. Apparently it is necessary to get a work visa, that my company must employ people. How many people am i expected to employ ?? Is one enough ?? Two people ?

    2. And how fast am i supposed to hire somebody after applying this Visa ? Can I wait 8 months for example ?


    3. Finally, is it actually necessary that i get a work visa ? Maybe i can live off my savings for a year, while i’m in Hongkong and do my business (without giving myself an income from this company!!).

    = Keep things separate. Even if you own a company, you and the company are 2 separate legal entities in HK as i have been told. Then live on my 90 day visa. Is it legal ? Hong Kong would get tax revenue for me, and i can wait a year to see how I like Hong Kong (and vice versa :P )


    Hope to get some clarity on this :-)


  2. #2

    Join Date
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    Why don't you get professional help? They can take care of everything for you.


  3. #3

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    Drop Sam at VisaPro a line. They've helped a few of our members in very similar situations ( overseas company / new setup in HK / one or two man shows ).

    If they think they can help you get the visa, they charge you a fee with a money back assurance.

    [email protected]


  4. #4

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    Quote Originally Posted by chimo:
    Why don't you get professional help? They can take care of everything for you.
    I will and I do. But professional help often direct their answers towards something they can bill.

    Of course my Visa agent will advise me to go for a certain visa procedure even it's not advisable or completely necessary. See question 3 above this.

    And, if you let a lawyer a bit loose, see what bill you get Lawyers also have kids to feed.

    I like a forum like this, because you can get non biased and more independent answers.

  5. #5

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    Forgot .. you should also consider meeting with InvestHK to go see how they can help you. Their mandate is to increase overseas investment in HK (i.e. opening a company / office / hiring people ) - which you will be doing if you're setting up a legit shop in HK.


  6. #6

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    >> my Visa agent will advise me to go for a certain visa procedure

    Loose them if there is no money back guarantee.


  7. #7

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    Quote Originally Posted by KnowItAll:
    >> my Visa agent will advise me to go for a certain visa procedure

    Loose them if there is no money back guarantee.

    Good point ! I'll keep that in mind. I'll definitly do that. Thanks.

    But i still wonder if it's really necessary if I don't pay myself a wage for a year and leave all the income (after taxes) in the company. A visa agent won't be able to give me an objective answer to this though.

  8. #8

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    InvestHK can be really helpful. As can your chamber of commerce depending on where you came from. You will find live difficult without a visa because you need a visa to get an ID card, and you need an ID card for EVERYTHING ... mobile phone, tv, renting appartment, marine boat licence (this was my urgent need, not so common!), helps with the bank account (although not 100% essential there) etc etc. Probably worth the effort!


  9. #9

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    I guess another possibility is the skilled migrant visa - there is another thread on that today you might find interesting (called Quality Migrant Admission Scheme - Help). Or another one for people bringing loads of money into HK (I cannot remember the details, I know they do it in Aus and NZ and I thought I saw it in HK.....). You might want to browse the visa website as they have alot of different categories.

    Last edited by MovingIn07; 27-06-2008 at 04:56 PM. Reason: added thread

  10. #10

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    Quote Originally Posted by KnowItAll:
    Drop Sam at VisaPro a line. They've helped a few of our members in very similar situations ( overseas company / new setup in HK / one or two man shows ).

    If they think they can help you get the visa, they charge you a fee with a money back assurance.

    [email protected]

    Thanks for the info guys, and i'll think i'll have a talk with this Sam as well. Moving in 2 weeks

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