Like Tree4Likes

more QMAS questions

Closed Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
  1. #1

    more QMAS questions

    I'm sure you guys get these questions regularly, but hopefully mine are a bit more unique as I haven't managed to find these answers.

    1) What are the requirements for visa renewal if we immigrate to HK through QMAS? We are successful entrepreneurs and have no need to seek employment, so what is required of us? We would be willing to start a local company if we need to, but if that is the case, what would be expected of our company in terms of local economic investment? Would it be the same as just applying for the business visa from the get go?


    2) What is the time frame for immigrating if we are awarded the visa? We actually do not wish to move until summer of 2021, so should I wait some time before applying or will we be able to delay acceptance if we are awarded?


    3) My wife and I both score fairly well on the General points test, but I don't believe there is any joint application or way for this to be demonstrated in a beneficial way, right? Other than we both can apply and double the odds that one of us is selected?

    Thanks!
    Max


  2. #2

    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Posts
    182

    From my experience I'd say it takes up to 1 year to get approved. After you see your application was selected in published quarterly list - you need to visit HK within 3 months to get entry visa. Entry visa needs to be activated within 3 months since issued. So approval time is unknown, but once approved, you need to move in within 6 months. Extension is easy, similar to work visa - show that you're employed/have business, paying taxes + MPF statements.


  3. #3

    Thanks for sharing! I appreciate it, especially for your first post! So if targeting summer 2021 for relocation then I should probably wait til around summer 2020 to apply, assuming nothing has really changed in the process.


  4. #4

    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Hong Kong, from UK
    Posts
    3,838

    I agree on the timing, but as for your other questions...

    You need to be running a local business, or working, but it doesn't necessarily need to be a big company - I successfully applied as a solo freelancer, and that was acceptable enough to for them to renew it long enough to get me to Permanent Resident, albeit I had to argue with them slightly a couple of times when they asked for things like an office lease or employee list to prove I had a real business. There is no joint application, but you do get 5 points extra if you are bringing a degree-holding spouse.

    I should probably mention that after they shook up the points test a few years ago, I doubt I'd qualify if I applied now, particularly since my degree is from a top-200 university, but not top-100... The usual warnings about it being a genuinely slow and complicated process, relatively few successful applications and (historically) the majority of successful applications being from mainland China should be inserted here.

    shri likes this.

  5. #5

    Thanks vmlinuz! I wasn't going to get into all the nitty gritty questions here, but it seems there is quite a wealth of knowledge available in this forum so I'll give it a shot.

    First of all, I must say that I think I benefit a great deal from the way the questions are selected/worded. My wife, who I am certain is far more suitable for what IMMD is seeking, scores lower than I do. With the new scoring system, I am either at a 135 or a 140, the difference being whether I can count my foreign language proficiency (I have tested at an advanced level for French but that was 17 years ago and for all practical purposes I have lost all proficiency). I could probably also claim to have one of the talents from the talent list but it has never been a serious role for me and I also feel bad since I have no intention of serving that field/duty if we relocate to HK.

    My wife's score is a 115, but again could be manipulated higher depending on perspective/guidelines. She had 8 years of specialist level work experience and 3-4 years in a senior role in corporate America, before she quit to start our small business in an entirely different industry. So she definitely qualifies for 30 points in work experience but if her 5 subsequent years running a small business can be seen as senior level work experience then I suppose she could actually claim 40 points.

    So I suppose a few questions here:

    1) What are our individual chances given baseline scores of 135 and 115? Is it better to stay conservative with these numbers or stretch for higher at the expense, perhaps, of appearing to be gaming the system?

    2) Should my wife's small business experience qualify her for 40 points?

    Thanks again for reading and helping clarify a rather opaque process!!

    Edit: So after posting I realized that my wife's university is actually also considered a renowned institution. It is outside the top 100 for 3 of the 4 lists but just makes the cut in 1 of them. So for now (don't know whether they would accept it if it drops next year) her score would actually be minimum 145 to my 135.

    Last edited by projectmaximus; 13-04-2019 at 01:48 AM. Reason: written at bottom of post

  6. #6

    Join Date
    Sep 2018
    Location
    香港特别行政区
    Posts
    2,841

    I came to Hong Kong on the QMAS a few years ago and I have a couple of insights

    1. Points - I really don't think the immigration department care about this. They may use low points to automatically disqualify people who shouldn't be applying but if you score enough points that will not automatically qualify you.

    2. Reason for coming to Hong Kong - you have to have a very good reason for coming to Hong Kong and, preferably, have some kind of experience or network here. This visa is for people who want to settle in Hong Kong permanently (there is the GEP and Investor visa for other people). If you cannot convince the immigration department that you are coming in for the right reasons then you are probably not going to get the visa.

    3. Demographics - anecdotally the vast majority of people who come in on the visa are from the mainland. The other few percent are from South Asia (usually India and Pakistan). It is very rare that a European will be issued this visa.

    4. Desired skills - the main criteria for selection is the industry that you are in. There are a few key areas that HK is looking at improving the locals skills in (currently mostly Data Science, Blockchain, Fintech). The full list is here: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/...8082800360.htm do you have any of these skills?

    So, ignoring the score aspect. Why do you want to come in to Hong Kong and why are you specifically applying for this visa type?

    shri and projectmaximus like this.

  7. #7

    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Posts
    182

    1. Points. I do agree that high points don't matter.
    2. Reason for coming to Hong Kong. Yes you need to have good reason and motivation letter. Also this program is designed to attract "fresh blood/new talents", so I don't think Immigration would favourably consider people who have/had normal employment visas for HK.
    3. Demographics. It should not stop you from applying. I guess just statistically they get more applications from Mainland. I'm European and not a rock star, but got this visa
    4. Desired skills. It correlates with 2nd point though.
    I'd suggest projectmaximus to consider whose application (you or your wife) will be stronger in terms of 2. and 4. File 1 joint strong application (mentioning that both of you could apply and giving enough details about both of you). It's not about the numbers. I think you just need to convince immigration that you can get a good job or start successful business.

    projectmaximus likes this.

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Hong Kong
    Posts
    6,317

    Given the time required to get the qmas (9+ months). I would say to get an employment visa is a better way to go. You never know you might come here and hate it and want to leave right away.


  9. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by aw451:
    I came to Hong Kong on the QMAS a few years ago and I have a couple of insights

    1. Points - I really don't think the immigration department care about this. They may use low points to automatically disqualify people who shouldn't be applying but if you score enough points that will not automatically qualify you.

    2. Reason for coming to Hong Kong - you have to have a very good reason for coming to Hong Kong and, preferably, have some kind of experience or network here. This visa is for people who want to settle in Hong Kong permanently (there is the GEP and Investor visa for other people). If you cannot convince the immigration department that you are coming in for the right reasons then you are probably not going to get the visa.

    3. Demographics - anecdotally the vast majority of people who come in on the visa are from the mainland. The other few percent are from South Asia (usually India and Pakistan). It is very rare that a European will be issued this visa.

    4. Desired skills - the main criteria for selection is the industry that you are in. There are a few key areas that HK is looking at improving the locals skills in (currently mostly Data Science, Blockchain, Fintech). The full list is here: https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/...8082800360.htm do you have any of these skills?

    So, ignoring the score aspect. Why do you want to come in to Hong Kong and why are you specifically applying for this visa type?
    Thank you for your explanation and this makes a lot of sense. We probably do not fit what they are seeking then. We wish to come to HK because we like the city quite a bit and want a place that can be our "home" in Asia. But we're only thinking to live there for 3-5 years tops before we return to the US before our kids are teenagers. Eventually we would probably move back at least part time after the kids are adults so this is a longterm vision but likely not the way QMAS is intended.

    Also btw, as time has progressed I think we are leaning much more towards Taipei instead of HK.

    Quote Originally Posted by GotIt:
    1. Points. I do agree that high points don't matter.
    2. Reason for coming to Hong Kong. Yes you need to have good reason and motivation letter. Also this program is designed to attract "fresh blood/new talents", so I don't think Immigration would favourably consider people who have/had normal employment visas for HK.
    3. Demographics. It should not stop you from applying. I guess just statistically they get more applications from Mainland. I'm European and not a rock star, but got this visa
    4. Desired skills. It correlates with 2nd point though.
    I'd suggest projectmaximus to consider whose application (you or your wife) will be stronger in terms of 2. and 4. File 1 joint strong application (mentioning that both of you could apply and giving enough details about both of you). It's not about the numbers. I think you just need to convince immigration that you can get a good job or start successful business.
    Thank you as well. I'll keep this in mind if we come back to targeting HK. It is my second choice after all and my wife's third choice, though she definitely loves it there and has lived there in the past. But we think Taipei will suit our family and our goals a little better.

    Quote Originally Posted by MandM!:
    Given the time required to get the qmas (9+ months). I would say to get an employment visa is a better way to go. You never know you might come here and hate it and want to leave right away.
    You're totally right that we may find we dont want to stay, but an employment visa doesnt make sense since we do not plan on taking up employment, and the 9+ months wait is fine since we are shooting for moving in about 27 months.

  10. #10

    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    island east
    Posts
    455
    Quote Originally Posted by GotIt:
    1. Points. I do agree that high points don't matter.
    2. Reason for coming to Hong Kong. Yes you need to have good reason and motivation letter. Also this program is designed to attract "fresh blood/new talents", so I don't think Immigration would favourably consider people who have/had normal employment visas for HK.
    3. Demographics. It should not stop you from applying. I guess just statistically they get more applications from Mainland. I'm European and not a rock star, but got this visa
    4. Desired skills. It correlates with 2nd point though.
    What are the main determinants, especially if I have a job offer from a HK company? Will have an existing Visa cross you off the list? I will be getting a work visa from a sponsor in HK. I do like the idea of having the QMAS as a backup to stay and do other things.

    I'm not European / not mainlander. ABC (Australian Born Chinese).
    I self assessed and got 150 points (mainly from two separate masters from two different top 100 schools and undergrad from top 100 school).
    Plus work in CyberSecurity / FinTech for last twenty years (cyber and fintech seems to be an in demand field).
    Some points for work (mainly individual contributor - did get a patent as part of team). I didn't count overseas secondments working on fintech/banking projects outside of home-base.
    Plus and some minor points for kid and wife with masters degree.

    So does the quote get filled by mainlanders (up to 80 points cutoff), then whatever left out of the 1000 spots go to everyone else?

Closed Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast