Job Discussion Forums

Annie · Joined: 12 Mar 2003 Posts: 6

I know that this is a dumb question, and that I will be 'flamed' but hey! I'm tough enough.

Do you need a work visa before you arrive in Hong Kong (I arrive at the end of Aug)? I can't get one as the China Embassy doesn't issue them! They say that I get one when I'm in Hong Kong. BUT I know I've seen info saying that you do need a visa before you arrive. BUT I can't get a job, even though I've email jobs advertised in the SCMP, which is deeply concerning. I know that the employers will get a work visa for you and 'do' the paperwork.

I'm getting confussed, the more research I do the more contradicting info I seem to get. When I'm in Hong Kong and get a job, will they get me visa (I believe it is a 'Z' visa that I need)?

I'm British with a British passport and I have taught in Thailand, wish I'd not bought the plane ticket as it looks like I've made a bad decision in going to Hong Kong.

Thanks

Annie
Embarassed

dandan · Joined: 25 Jun 2003 Posts: 183 Location: Hong Kong

Annie,

It seems you're confusing HK and China, the visa regs are different. A Z visa is for China right?

Anyway, if you are on a British passport you'll get a tourist visa stamped in your passport automatically when you arrive in HK (it used to be 6 months, I think its 3 now). If you get a job your employer can sponsor you for a work visa. Technically you're supposed to get a job and work visa before you come if you want to work in HK, as a tourist visa is for tourists not for people looking for work. However, in reality, many, many people come on tourist visas and change to a work visa when they find a job.

pintobean · Joined: 04 Jul 2003 Posts: 20

if you are American, and most likely if you are Canadian you can just come to HK, with no visa and you will get a visitor visa upon arrival...and usually your school will arrainge the work visa...thats what im doing, and when I came for xchange, I didnt even get a student visa before i got there, I just got it while I was in hong kong, it was pretty easy...and cheaper too!!!

munasa · Joined: 17 Apr 2003 Posts: 79 Location: HK

Is it possible to get a visitor's visa on arrival in HK, if travelling on a one-way ticket?
The immigration department web site says visitors need to have a "valid travel document with adequate returnability" to one's home country.
Is carrying enough cash to purchase a ticket home evidence of "adequate returnability"?

pintobean · Joined: 04 Jul 2003 Posts: 20

well if you already bought your ticket that sucks, but why dont you get a 2 way and then just cancel, its only like 100 more

Annie · Joined: 12 Mar 2003 Posts: 6

Hi
Thanks for all the replies, I noticed that someone had posted a similar question just before mine, which I thought would get lots of 'read the previous email you stupid ***'.

That'll teach me to take 45 mins to compose a message.

Thanks