Job Discussion Forums

lowes13 · Joined: 01 Sep 2004 Posts: 56 Location: Jiangsu

I would appreciate any advice on the following situation: an F visa holder plus family allowed their visa to expire and had to obtain an L visa for a 30 day period. They want to apply for a new F in HK but are unsure whether or not they all need to travel there. Would it be enough for one family member to travel to HK with the invitation letter plus passports and take care of business? Do they all need to physically leave the country?

Louras · Joined: 24 Nov 2004 Posts: 288

I don't consider myself an ahole so I'm not Roger! Saw families in HK last time I was there - they all had to go to the window when visas were applied for. Bad news, I suppose. Why do you want to apply for 30 days?

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

I am not sure you were using the correct terminology; when a visa EXPIRES you normally can apply for an EXTENSION. An extension is granted for a variety of reasons, and thus the period of extension varies too. 30 days sounds like a tide-over to me. I got one such extension many years ago. The PSB renewed my visas after the extended visa expired.

But going to HONG KONG to buy a business visa is another matter altogether. It seems to me your friend has no legal job. And with family in the mainland...I think he is not on the safest route!

There is one overriding question that I cannot answer here:
Do mainland authorities check whether a visa applicant in Hong Kong has left the mainland physically? Personally, I believe they do - what are those computers supposed to be doing at those border crossings? My passport gets swiped by a machine every time I exit or reenter.
So I would conclude your friend's family have to accompany him on this journey to Hong Kong.

It would be wiser, really:
What if his visa application were turned down for one reason or another???

lowes13 · Joined: 01 Sep 2004 Posts: 56 Location: Jiangsu

Thank you for the replies.

Roger, you hit the nail squarely on the head by echoing my own concerns about the border control check! They were actually ready to extend their visas however upon application their paperwork wasn�t in order and that delay caused the expiration. Yes, it is messy!!!