Finally moving to Asia!

[dbradford]

Hello,
I'm in the last phase of packing and getting ready to move to Asia. My name is David,
and I'm a 43 year old computer tech in Northern California. My fiance's name is Weng and
she's a 32 year old Filipina from Isabela province, the Philippines, working as a maid in
Hong Kong. We've been together since 2001.
I'm planning to move to Asia permanently, first to Hong Kong for a couple of years, and
then on to the Philippines once our house is built. I'm moving this May, or sometime until
the end of August at the latest. I've been to both Hong Kong , and to the Philippines
(Luzon), and I already know what the conditions are like. I've gotten my belongings
narrowed down to what I'll ship in about 6 balikbayan boxes, and some furniture I'm
storing here in Northern California until we need it.
I have a lot of questions, so I'll start with airline tickets first. When a person is moving
over to Asia, either Hong Kong or the Philippines, do you have to get a round trip ticket
(with another destination on it, even if you don't end up using it), or can you buy a one
way ticket?
Secondly, what are the steps I need to take for the move over? I'll post this message on
the boards that I belong to, to get as much information as possible. For those that post a
response, thank you for your help, I really appreciate it.


David

[Jawni Hingh]

Hello,
I'm in the last phase of packing and getting ready to move to Asia. My name is David,
and I'm a 43 year old computer tech in Northern California. My fiance's name is Weng and
she's a 32 year old Filipina from Isabela province, the Philippines, working as a maid in
Hong Kong. We've been together since 2001.
I'm planning to move to Asia permanently, first to Hong Kong for a couple of years, and
then on to the Philippines once our house is built. I'm moving this May, or sometime until
the end of August at the latest. I've been to both Hong Kong , and to the Philippines
(Luzon), and I already know what the conditions are like. I've gotten my belongings
narrowed down to what I'll ship in about 6 balikbayan boxes, and some furniture I'm
storing here in Northern California until we need it.
I have a lot of questions, so I'll start with airline tickets first. When a person is moving
over to Asia, either Hong Kong or the Philippines, do you have to get a round trip ticket
(with another destination on it, even if you don't end up using it), or can you buy a one
way ticket?
Secondly, what are the steps I need to take for the move over? I'll post this message on
the boards that I belong to, to get as much information as possible. For those that post a
response, thank you for your help, I really appreciate it.


David

RE: airline ticket to HK, as a US citizen you have six months to stay in HK as a tourist. I've been told by different travel agencies in the US that I needed a HKID or some sort of status in HK to be able to buy a one-way ticket to HK; I'm not sure of the particulars but you may need to buy a round-trip ticket.

RE: your other questions about what to pack and move over, most long-time posters on this site will tell you to browse around the forums first and then ask more specific questions.

[PDLM]

On what basis are you planning to move to Hong Kong for a couple of years? You can't simply turn up at the airport and move in - you need permission to reside in Hong Kong. To get that you need an Employment Visa or a Study Visa, or and Investment Visa or be accepted for the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme.

What basis do you have to live in Hong Kong? (Or the Philippines for that matter - you can't simply arrive there and announce your intention to live there either. Well, you can, but it won't get you very far.)

[PDLM]

as a US citizen you have six months to stay in HK as a tourist.

Nope - 3 months (although you may be able to renew this once or twice). Only British Citizens get 6 months.

[goodbye kitty]

"On what basis are you planning to move to Hong Kong for a couple of years? You can't simply turn up at the airport and move in - you need permission to reside in Hong Kong"

How rude! The last time I checked, this was a forum for helping people to move to HK, not the immigration department. It is totally innanpropriate to interrogate people in this way.

Jawni Hingh - I was told that I was supposed to buy a return trip flight since my visa was waiting for me here, but I was never asked for anything like this when I arrived. I think the official line is that if you do not have a visa already, you should prove that you can leave the country. In reality, I bought a one way ticket to save money

[KnowItAll]

>> It is totally innanpropriate to interrogate people in this
>> way.

Yeah, but in all fairness, people do need a reality check. We see a lot of folks from Europe / North America who tend to think that Asia is a playground -- pick up from where you are and move.

On the other hand, it seems to be obvious that the original poster has a plan ... a Baldrick style "cunning plan" or a real one, time will tell.

I do hope that finances have been considered -- budgeting will make or break the grand plan, specially in Hong Kong where you probably would need to budget about HKD$120-180K / year for housing / food / essentials.

[goodkarma]

How rude! The last time I checked, this was a forum for helping people to move to HK, not the immigration department. It is totally innanpropriate to interrogate people in this way.

Jawni Hingh - I was told that I was supposed to buy a return trip flight since my visa was waiting for me here, but I was never asked for anything like this when I arrived. I think the official line is that if you do not have a visa already, you should prove that you can leave the country. In reality, I bought a one way ticket to save money

You can even buy a Macau ferry ticket and keep that when you go thru immigration so you will have a "ticket out".
Just have someone buy one for a couple of months out and mail it to you.

[freeier]

i tot that was quite a decent piece of advice and fairly courteous for him.

he does provide the right balance versus the generally sympathetic views of the more arty and sentimental teachers and lawyers. 8-)

as long as you don't discuss anything bad about CX and HSBC Premier then he will get all teared up and sentimental.

[dbradford]

Sorry about not replying back sooner, but I've been busy.
Thanks for the replies for those that have replied to my question.
I hesitated posting a question on this forum at first, last time I asked about housing, flats, etc., I mentioned that my Filipina fiance happened to work as a maid in Wan Chai. I got a few replies telling me that any Filipina working and living in Wan Chai HAS to be a prostitute...
I know a lot of Filipinas working (legit) as maids in Wan Chai, and other areas of H.K. My fiance works 6 days a week, 12-14 hour days, and on Sunday she goes to her El Shaddai service, where she's a worship leader of her chapter. She has stayed with me through a LOT, believe me, for 6 years. She has NEVER asked me for any money, nor has her family or friends. She says I spoil her when I do send something to her.
The attitude presented to me before by certain members of this forum is exactly what I'm trying to get away from here in Northern California.
Yes, I sort of have a plan, no, I don't consider "Asia a playground" I'm serious about the move, and I'm seriously asking advice. I want to do it right. My question came from never getting through to the visa department of the Chinese consulate in San Francisco, so I thought I'd ask here, maybe someone would know and have an answer.

David

[Monde]

David what I would do is try and find out what they will allow. If you arrive here with no boxes you will be fine on a tourist visa. If you arrive with your "life" you may have a problem.

Shipping the stuff to your significant other is an option if she has ID card.