Questions about entering/exiting and 'starting' a spouse visa

[northernsoul]

Hello!

Just received an HK work visa for myself and a dependent visa for my spouse in the mail today, after my soon-to-be employer applied for them, and I have a couple of questions...

1. The visas say 'good for a single journey to Hong Kong'. What exactly does this mean? Are we allowed to enter and exit the country as we like with these visas?

2. I am moving to HK on December 29 and will enter with my visa. My spouse is meeting me there for a few days before returning to the UK, as he will not be permanently joining me until March. However, he needs to 'start' his visa on or before 04/03/16 and he is not yet sure if the day of his official move will be before or after that date. Can he start the visa now by landing in HK as a tourist, going to Macau, re-entering HK and showing them the visa at the border crossing point? Would this affect his ability to return to the UK a few days later and then join me in HK in the spring?

Thank you so much!

[HK_Katherine]

Confused as to the problem. Stick them in your passports and go through immigration when you arrive. Sorted. That's your "one entry" and then you are legal and can come and go as you please. Apply for and ID card once you arrive.

[northernsoul]

Hello! Sorry - I left out a big detail! The reason I am concerned about my husband 'starting' his visa is because he is in the UK and I am in the USA visiting family. I have both of our visas and he is meeting me in HK, where he'll enter as a tourist, unable to start the visa because it's with me. If he could go to Macau and enter HK with it once I've handed it over, that would make life much easier....

[HK_Katherine]

Oh I see! Yes, in that case, you enter as a tourist and do a visa run to macau. That's what I did and it's pretty normal. Otherwise just post/courier them to him so he can stick them in - depends really on whether you want to take a trip to macau

[northernsoul]

Thank you!

I thought about mailing him the visa, but we don't have much time and it would mean spending a lot of $$ to send something from the US to the UK with the worry that it could be delayed due to the holidays and/or customs stuff.

My other question would be does it matter how long he's gone from HK once the visa has started? He has to finish up work stuff in the UK while I am in Hong Kong, so after this short visit over the new year, he'll be back in London for a bit.

[northernsoul]

Thank you!

I thought about mailing him the visa, but we don't have much time and it would mean spending a lot of $$ to send something from the US to the UK with the worry that it could be delayed due to the holidays and/or customs stuff.

My other question would be does it matter how long he's gone from HK once the visa has started? He has to finish up work stuff in the UK while I am in Hong Kong, so after this short visit over the new year, he'll be back in London for a bit.

[HK_Katherine]

No it doesn't matter how long he's gone. If it gets to a silly number (like 6 months ) you may be questioned on renewal and it may impact the date your PR clock starts. But probably nothing.