Dependent visa holder change to Investment visa

[WeLuvDodgeball]

This is more a curiosity than anything else (basically I'm bored).

I've read loads of posts/threads on visas, immigration and starting businesses over the past few years, but I haven't seen the case of a dependent visa holder, seeking to change their immigration status to that of a Investment visa, perhaps by registering a business in Hong Kong.

In my mind, this would afford an ex-pat couple (sponsor-spouse and dependent) the ability to change roles so that the original sponsor-spouse (now holding the dependent visa) could seek alternative work arrangements in Hong Kong.

Has anyone done or tried this?

[PDLM]

You need to do a lot more than just register a business in HK to be able to get an Investment Visa - you need to be able to demonstrate to ImmD that you have a business plan that will add significant value to the local economy and employ local people.

I know people where the original Dependant has got an Employment Visa to give the other spouse the Dependant and hence more flexibility, but not an investment one.

A Capital Investment Entrant Visa might be an option if you have HK$6.5M to spare.

[WeLuvDodgeball]

[QUOTE=PDLM;328243]You need to do a lot more than just register a business in HK to be able to get an Investment Visa - you need to be able to demonstrate to ImmD that you have a business plan that will add significant value to the local economy and employ local people.

I appreciate all that is said here PDLM. What I'm curious about is if the same logic applies for a dependent who registered a business that has been operating in Hong Kong for 2+ years. In theory, they have been operating on a business plan, adding value to Hong Kong and potentially employing locals already.

If this were the case, wouldn't the application process be treated a bit more casually, assuming the criteria for application were already being met in Hong Kong?

Just hypothetical thinking anyway.

[PDLM]

OIC - I'm speculating as well here since I haven't come across anyone in that situation, but if you came here on a dependant visa, set up a business and it is now of significant size and employing a few locals then it seems to me that you ought to have a good chance at an Investment Visa, but probably best to talk to someone like VisaPro to get some more specialist advice.