PR application: sharing my experience

dmitrois · 30-09-2020, 01:46 PM

Just wanted to share my fresh experience, in case anyone might be interested in the timeline.

TLDR; PR application under para §2(d) (Non-Chinese national after 7 years), c. 5 weeks from the date of online application until the approval of eligibility. Individual application, no dependants.

My 7-year period was to be completed on 7/09/2020; collective wisdom says it's ok to apply approx. 1 month ahead.

22/08/2020 -- applied online. Of note, it's required to upload only a scan of HKID and form ROP145, no support documents. Some peculiar requirements to files -- only jpeg or tiff; multi-page pdfs are a no-go. It's possible to upload only 4 files, not more, so there you go, form ROP145 4 pages.

31/08/2020 -- received the application confirmation letter dated 26/08/2020 with the reference number. Knowing the ref no, it's possible to check application status online and upload additional support documents.

According to the guidance notes, "the burden of proving the (right to abode) claim shall lie on the applicant", so without further ado, I uploaded scans of all additional documents I could possibly think of -- starting from form ROP146, ending with the passport scans, letter from my employer and tax demand notes for 7 years. 4 individual pages at a time.

04/09/2020 -- received a letter dated 31/08/2020 requesting to submit copies of the passport's first page and form ROP146. Did nothing, as by that time I had already uploaded everything I possibly could.

23/09/2020 -- application status online changed from 'under review' to something like ' documents verification appointment invitation issued'.

29/09/2020 -- received a letter dated 23/09/2020 inviting to attend the Immigration Department with the originals of the following documents: HKID, passport. The initial appointment was for 20/10/2020, I changed it to 30/09/2020.

30/09/2020 -- the appointment was for 10am, I arrived maybe 15 min early. 25/F of the Wan Chai Immigration Tower. After registration and approx. 30 min wait (20 people were processed while I was waiting), I was seen by an officer who took my passport and HKID. Of note, the originals of the forms ROP145 and ROP146 were not even needed. The officer did not ask a single question; he browsed through something on his PC for several minutes, and then said that my application was approved. He then gave me the confirmation letter which I signed for, and also a memo reminding that the PR status lapses after 36 months of absence in HK.

The next step after the confirmation of eligibility is to apply for the new permanent HKID card. Normally it's required to make an appointment online or by phone beforehand, but I went straight through to the 8/F, and to my luck, the 'walk-in-quota' was not full for the day, so I was processed. Everything was quite fast: a form to fill, biometry taken again (thumbprints, photo), and that's it, they take the old HKID card, give an 'acknowledgement of application for HKID' (aka temporary hkid); the card will be ready in 7 working days.

Also, using this opportunity, I decided to add a Chinese name on my HKID. Also very simple process, another simple form to fill, reason of amendment -- something in the line of 'love Chinese culture'. Fee payable $460.

All in all, I spent about 2 hours there.