Panicking as visa renewal deadline approaches

[utkonos9]

Sorry to ask yet another visa question, but I am really worried. My QMAS visa expires on June 11 and I put in an application to renew it on May 21, but have not heard back. I check every day and it shows as "in progress". I tried calling the immigration department but they said they don't have the answers and told me to send an email. I haven't had a reply to the email yet.

There are only three more working days before the deadline, and I am not sure what to do if I don't hear anything. Has anyone been in a similar position?

As I understand it, I have to leave HK before June 11 or I will be arrested. Can I go to Macau and come straight back across the border as a tourist? If my visa doesn't get renewed, I will need time to ship my things out of Hong Kong, cancel my lease, etc. Also, I assume that I won't be able to do work, even part-time, in Hong Kong after June 11? (I don't want to end up like Stephen Lee!)

[edit: just noticed that I misspelled the thread title and now I can't change it!]

[shri]

Would not worry if its legitimate.

We've had calls / faxes at 6PM on the day before a visa application was due / employee was supposed to start etc.

You will not get arrested. Worst case go to Immd on the 11th and ask for an extension. Don't threaten seppuku....

[PLamHK]

I believe that in the worst case you can go to Macau and return as a tourist, but if I were you I would physically go to the relevant section at ImmD on Friday morning if you have heard nothing more by then.

[mtkl]

I believe that in the worst case you can go to Macau and return as a tourist, but if I were you I would physically go to the relevant section at ImmD on Friday morning if you have heard nothing more by then.

I think that is to be avoided, if possible, so as to not cause a break in your "normally resident" status for eventual PR status.

[qhank]

I think that is to be avoided, if possible, so as to not cause a break in your "normally resident" status for eventual PR status.

Only illegal presence explicitly breaks "ordinary residence" as legislated. Visit visa status in some circumstances may be considered as not "ordinary residence" but it isn't a given as there is no explicit legislation.

[PLamHK]

Only illegal presence explicitly breaks "ordinary residence" as legislated.

I think time spent in prison in Hong Kong does not count as (and breaks) ordinary residence if I remember a case from 20-odd years ago correctly.

[JAherbert]

Would not worry if its legitimate.

We've had calls / faxes at 6PM on the day before a visa application was due / employee was supposed to start etc.

You will not get arrested. Worst case go to Immd on the 11th and ask for an extension. Don't threaten seppuku....

I wouldn't bother going to Macau, go Immigration on the 10th, at 9.00 am, and explain, they will probably grant/give extension visa. And to avoid messing around, don't forget to take some cash to pay for extension visa.

[PLamHK]

I wouldn't bother going to Macau, go Immigration on the 10th, at 9.00 am, and explain, they will probably grant/give extension visa. And to avoid messing around, don't forget to take some cash to pay for extension visa.

That won't work because the 10th is a public holiday (Dragon Boat Day), hence my earlier suggestion of Friday 7th.
Visa services can also be paid by EPS or (I think) Octopus.

[qhank]

I think time spent in prison in Hong Kong does not count as (and breaks) ordinary residence if I remember a case from 20-odd years ago correctly.

You're right, I should've qualified my statement. I was only referring to the case of unlawful stay vs visitor visa. Of course there are many other situations that would/could break ordinary residence.

[er2]

@utkonos9 Was in your shoes a bit more than a decade ago. Back then I went in in person a week prior, applied for a temporary extension and instead got the full extension on the spot. Don't worry, just because HK government is efficient for a government, it's not really that efficient in the sense that we usually use the word....