new born baby

orangepineapple · 26-12-2009, 04:00 AM

My wife and I are US citizens, but i was born in China. I still have my chinese passport (issued 22 years ago).

will my child be permanent resident of HK? I was Chinese citizen at one point, although we are US citizens now....If we move back to US, does he have the rights to live/work in hk in the future. Thank you so much!

PDLM · 26-12-2009, 04:30 AM

I think the simple answer to both questions is no. If you were Permanent Residents of HK (having resided here for 7 years continuously) then your child would get that right automatically too. If you achieve PR before your child is 18 then they will be entitled to it at the same time.

orangepineapple · 26-12-2009, 04:50 AM

That's a little disappointed, but thanks for your help. So even (s)he is born in HK and we hold valid hk id (not permanent), (s)he is not hk citizens....

In the US, we give them US citizenship regardless what his/her parents status are as long as she is born in the mother land.

Max · 26-12-2009, 10:51 AM

orangepineapple,

PDLM is right, though in a technical sense. On the other hand, I've heard and come across a fair number of other cases where the child's birthright was recognized and granted PR irrespective of the parental residential status.

Though I suspect a lot of them were pre-97 scenarios. Best would be to check with the Immigration Department and to maintain all your records (HK Birth Certificate, HKID, visas, passports, etc..) and provide solid documentary proof if asked. This alone solves a number of issues....

Good luck anyways.

PDLM · 26-12-2009, 01:54 PM

Originally Posted by orangepineapple:

That's a little disappointed, but thanks for your help. So even (s)he is born in HK and we hold valid hk id (not permanent), (s)he is not hk citizens....

In the US, we give them US citizenship regardless what his/her parents status are as long as she is born in the mother land.

Many countries don't give citizenship simply by birth. There are hundreds of thousands of non-permanent residents of Hong Kong - the demographics of this town would change quite a lot if all their children born here were to be granted Chinese citizenship!

carang · 26-12-2009, 02:38 PM

i don't think if i had been born in china, that would entitle me to chinese citizenship... would it?

orangepineapple · 26-12-2009, 05:43 PM

Guys,
I appreciate all your inputs!!

It's understandable that HK gov't doesn't grand citizenship solely by birth. since there are many kind of Visas here. I was hoping out visa type was under some sort of exceptions from the working visas, student visas, etc. We are actually considered as "immigrants".

hmm, so i need to go US embrassy to get the passport for my child? Otherwise, (s)he won't have any travel documents to show the custom.

orangepineapple · 26-12-2009, 05:49 PM

Originally Posted by carang:

i don't think if i had been born in china, that would entitle me to chinese citizenship... would it?

it depends on the time you left China. I heard that you couldI maintain your chinese citizenship now vs we had to surrender everything back in the late 80's.

If born in china=Chinese citizens, i would not have even raised this question. My child should be automatically HK PR...

carang · 26-12-2009, 05:54 PM

even though i'm not chinese? i don't think so!

i have a feeling that being a white person born in china would allow me zero chance to become a chinese citizen....

i don't understand why you automatically assume that your child should be a PR when you aren't? do you think so just because the child was born here? if so, then you are out of luck.

HOWEVER, if you ARE a chinese citizen, then the rules may be different for you.

the best thing to do would be to call immigration on monday.

PDLM · 26-12-2009, 07:26 PM

[QUOTE=orangepineapple;511761so i need to go US embrassy to get the passport for my child? Otherwise, (s)he won't have any travel documents to show the custom.[/QUOTE]If you and your wife are US citizens then, yes, I believe so.