Job Discussion Forums

MESL · Joined: 23 Aug 2003 Posts: 291

Contrary to reports on the Internet, the insistence of some FAOs, and even the Hong Kong visa office website, work visas are available in Hong Kong. I just returned from Hong Kong with a work visa.

Easiest route is the subway. Go to the Wan Chai subway station, blue line, exit A2. (Look across the street and you should see McDonald's.) Turn left on Henessy as you come out of the exit. Turn left again on Fleming at the first intersection. Three streets, then over the bridge on the left. Ground floor of the building with these two signs: Exhibition Center, Arts and Crafts. Across the street is a Mormon church and a police station. At the corner of Fleming and Henessy, you can see the exhibition center, although you can't make out the words, so it's only a 10 minute walk from the subway station. There's a security check at the entrance, then take the elevator to the 7th floor.

They asked for two documents from my school, an application form, and a photo. No transcripts, degree, background check, or medical certificate. I was already in China, got the medical exam after I moved to the school, then went to Hong Kong. I didn't wait for a long time with I applied or when I picked up, although that might depend on the time of year and the time of day.

I asked for a multiple entry visa, but they gave me a single entry. When I asked them about this, they told me, "After you enter China, you'll go to the local police station and get an ID similar to the ID issued to Chinese citizens. With that ID, you can leave and reenter multiple times."

Visa fee for British passport holders: 450 Hong Kong dollars. American passport holders: 1020. Normal processing time is 3 or 4 days. 2 day processing: an extra 150. One day processing: 250. I used the one day processing because although it's 25 percent higher, that's still a lot cheaper than hanging out in one of the world's most expensive cities for 3 or 4 days. Apply in the morning, pick it up the next morning; apply in the afternoon, pick it up the next afternoon.

eddy-cool · Joined: 06 Jul 2008 Posts: 1008

You are so right!

The trouble is that most people cannot get an invitation letter that clearly states the applicant must apply for their visa in HK.

If your letter said so then I understand why you were treated so royally.

evaforsure · Joined: 26 Jun 2004 Posts: 1217

Request the destination of your visa app from your work unit and have them include it on the letter.

roadwalker · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 1750 Location: Ch

ayahyaha · Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2009 11:01 am Post subject:

Thanks for the info.

Did you already have a Z-visa, and got another one in HK? Or were you in China on a tourist visa?

Did you letter of invitation specifically say HK on it?

Thanks.

Mister Al · Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 840 Location: In there

MESL · Joined: 23 Aug 2003 Posts: 291

Yes, the invitation letter specified Hong Kong. I was in China on a business visa, but it expired while I was in Hong Kong, so my previous visa had no bearing on my application.

Don't listen to anyone who tells you work visas are not available in Hong Kong. Don't listen to anyone who tells you to take a bus or ferry to the Hong Kong visa office.

I designed a map that makes walking directions very easy. I hope to get it posted as a sticky

Lorean · Joined: 21 Dec 2006 Posts: 476 Location: Beijing

Cubism · Joined: 04 Jul 2008 Posts: 283 Location: US

Bless you all for this visa info. Last year was frantic. Perhaps I just didn't get all the information.

In HK I stay at this hostel. The dorm is actually a room you share w/ one other person, same sex. It's a nice place, AC, clean, safe, hot showers, small free net facility. No kitchen, but that was changing. Self-catering worked well in that neighborhood. On the same floor as HK Hostel were quite a few other hostels. I think it's 200 HK$/night, but best check with them. Their info. is www.hostel.hk
| tel: (+852) 23926868 | fax: (+852) 25767509 | e: [email protected] | skype: hkhostel
A2, 3/F Block A, 47 Paterson St., Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
HONG KONG'S PREMIER HOSTEL.

I always freak in HK that it's so hellishly expensive, so this place helps. It's good for short-term stuff, swooping down on the visa office... Cheap and convenient...

ayahyaha · Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 7:40 pm Post subject:

Cubism · Joined: 04 Jul 2008 Posts: 283 Location: US

Isn't that what we were discussing -- I hope so. Taking one's docs (invitation letter, etc.) to HK & getting them processed into a proper Z visa to get onto the mainland & complete the process?

I just went through a crisis re: very late pay, so I couldn't imagine working here again. But it's probably a worldwide situation, not just northeast prc...Back to thinking about HK.