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  • 1 Post By shri
  • 1 Post By shri

Same-Sex and Opposite-Sex Partners - Visa Policy

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  1. #1

    Join Date
    Dec 2002
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    薄扶林
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    Its official:

    Hong Kong will for the first time recognise overseas same-sex partnerships when granting dependant visas, the government announced on Tuesday.

    The new policy, to come into effect on Wednesday, came after a review prompted by a Court of Final Appeal ruling in July, that a married British lesbian – identified as QT – should be granted a spousal visa. She had initially been denied. The policy still does not mean the government has legalised same-sex marriage.

    The ruling ended a long-running court battle.

    Under the revised policy, the director of immigration will favourably consider an application from a person who has entered into “a same-sex civil partnership, same-sex civil union, same-sex marriage, or opposite-sex civil partnership or opposite-sex civil union outside Hong Kong” for entry for residence as a dependant, if the person meets the normal immigration requirements.
    https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/...gnise-same-sex
    spode likes this.

  2. #2

    Join Date
    Aug 2014
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    Hong Kong
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    315

    Seems there has been little fanfare about this but it's fantastic news. Now, what's the easiest way for a British person to get married to a same-sex local? It seems to require in most countries that you declare your marriage publicly and wait there for 2 weeks to see if anyone protests. Any countries where you don't have to do this ridiculous thing or less time to wait? Can't see how my partner can do that without quitting their job.


  3. #3

    Join Date
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    I think the big one is they've acknowledged "civil partnerships", which implies it does not need to be a marriage. No clue how that works legally in HK or back in the UK. Perhaps someone else can chime in?

    Fiona in HKG likes this.

  4. #4

    Join Date
    May 2009
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    1,289
    Quote Originally Posted by shri:
    I think the big one is they've acknowledged "civil partnerships", which implies it does not need to be a marriage. No clue how that works legally in HK or back in the UK. Perhaps someone else can chime in?
    In some countries you can be a “registered partner” it gives you more or less the same rights/obligations as being married. This is btw not only for same-sex partners it is used extensively by man/woman relationships also.

  5. #5

    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Posts
    334

    Registered partnership seems to be okay for the visa. But pay attention to your employer’s policies as well. Some employers will grant benefits to spouses, but not to registered partners. So it might be best to find the time to get “Married” somewhere for the imprimatur on the certificate.