HK ID card appointments not available

[angeluscomplex]

If you are in HK. just bite the bullet and turn up at the Immigration Department in Wan Chai and join the queue. I did that recently because I dropped my wallet and my ID Card needed replacement. I was told to return in an hour, luckily got a slot after 60 minutes because someone failed to show up for their slot and had to got it sorted in 3 / 4 hours.

[timonoj]

If you are in HK. just bite the bullet and turn up at the Immigration Department in Wan Chai and join the queue. I did that recently because I dropped my wallet and my ID Card needed replacement. I was told to return in an hour, luckily got a slot after 60 minutes because someone failed to show up for their slot and had to got it sorted in 3 / 4 hours.

I thought people mentioned being turned away from walk-in and only online worked...

[angeluscomplex]

I thought people mentioned being turned away from walk-in and only online worked...

At smaller centres like Cheung Sha Wan, strictly no walk ins. Wan Chai you can still chance your arm. Key is EARLY.

[waiming]

Last week I took someone to Wanchai at 8:30am, and they were refused walk-in, being told it was no longer possible. The staff member advised them to open the online booking webapp before midnight and then keep hitting reload until a vacant slot appears.

Trying this, it seems like a slot occasionally appears after, say, 50 reloads. However they seem to disappear very fast, before it's possible to click through and book.

Furthermore, sometimes it offers slots in the past, e.g. 13 March 2023.

The whole process seems pretty insurmountable. Though I imagine at least this could constitute a defence in court, if someone were to be prosecuted for not obtaining an ID card within 30 days, as normally required by law.

[VillanElle]

Try late afternoons til 2100. No queuing. From 2200 and midnight there are queues for 30-45 min.
I don’t think there will be fines if you just tell that you’re working on it and being turned away at those 4 branches.
I did notice that banks are more sensitive. The counter staff completed my new ID info into the system.

[timonoj]

Try late afternoons til 2100. No queuing. From 2200 and midnight there are queues for 30-45 min.
I don’t think there will be fines if you just tell that you’re working on it and being turned away at those 4 branches.
I did notice that banks are more sensitive. The counter staff completed my new ID info into the system.

...I wasn't aware they were open so late? You mean show up in person without appointment correct?

[VillanElle]

No, online for making an appointment first!
The four branches are now closing at 2200 for applicants to show up.

...I wasn't aware they were open so late? You mean show up in person without appointment correct?

[waiming]

Trying this, it seems like a slot occasionally appears after, say, 50 reloads. However they seem to disappear very fast, before it's possible to click through and book.

Furthermore, sometimes it offers slots in the past, e.g. 13 March 2023.

Eventually it was possible to reserve a slot. We just kept trying the slots which occasionally appeared. Ignoring any that were in the past. And attempting to confirm as fast as possible (within about 10 seconds). Eventually after about eight tries, we got one before it disappeared. The time and location aren't ideal but hey at least it's a slot.

I'm glad we had a laptop to do this, so refreshes were almost instant (~1sec) and we could attempt to confirm really fast. I don't know if we'd have succeeded on a phone.

[timonoj]

Eventually it was possible to reserve a slot. We just kept trying the slots which occasionally appeared. Ignoring any that were in the past. And attempting to confirm as fast as possible (within about 10 seconds). Eventually after about eight tries, we got one before it disappeared. The time and location aren't ideal but hey at least it's a slot.

I'm glad we had a laptop to do this, so refreshes were almost instant (~1sec) and we could attempt to confirm really fast. I don't know if we'd have succeeded on a phone.

So you kept the session the whole time live, where it says "quota exceeded" for all places, and kept refreshing it right?

[CeeJayee]

Maybe there is still hope. I might try again tonight and try the refresh "Quota Exceeded" page till something appears.

Thanks for the tips everyone!