Immigration in Hong Kong

Immigration Consultant Services

There are several reasons why individuals choose to relocate. From greater work or business prospects to a higher quality of life in terms of education or reuniting with extended family, there are a variety of benefits available. A qualified Hong Kong immigration expert can assist you in organizing all of the documentation needed to make your desired transfer a reality.

As Hong Kong’s finest immigration consultants, these companies provide individualized guidance and professional services suited to their customers’ specific immigration needs, whether it’s assisting with family relocation or advising on an investment visa program. Our immigration specialists are more than competent in assisting anyone seeking to move from Hong Kong to Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, and other countries.

Reputable Hong Kong Immigration Consultants

If you don’t have the necessary experience, dealing with immigration offices in any nation is time-consuming, confusing, and challenging. If you apply for an investment visa on your own and are denied, your prospects of getting accepted again are little to none.

Many immigration experts will inform you that you are “qualified” to move to your selected country, even if this is not the case. This can waste both time and money. Worse, you can find up with a visa or passport that isn’t as helpful as you’d anticipated, or you might unintentionally fall into that country’s worldwide income tax trap.

That’s why you need to deal with dependable, competent individuals that have the proper networks and skills based on their 30+ years of experience. We can assist you in choosing the best visa program for your needs and ensuring that your visa is completed quickly and smoothly.

List of Hong Kong Immigration & UK Visa Companies

Migrating To Australia From Hong Kong

Since November 4, 2019, the government of Australia has been running a program called the Global Talent Independent Initiative (GTI). The purpose of this program is to recruit and retain outstanding independents from all over the world who are at the forefront of their respective fields or businesses.

Do you want to engage in real estate developments while you are applying for an immigrant visa to Australia under category 188A or 132A? People who are at least 55 years old and want to come to Australia can do so through this route. This visa made it possible to immigrate to Australia, in contrast to the 188C visa, which required an investment of 5 million Australian dollars.

Migrating To Canada From Hong Kong

You are looking for a way to gain permanent residency in Canada, but you need help. You have the option of applying through the QIIP, the Start-up visa program, or the Self-employed for Artists and Sports Professionals program.

UK Visas and Immigration (Migrating To UK)

Migrating to the UK from Hong Kong has become very popular since 2019.

UK Immigration Process

Immigrating to the UK: Top ways you can make the move

The United Kingdom remains one of the world’s most desirable nations to immigrate to. Its high quality of life and multicultural communities make it one of the most appealing places for professionals looking to improve their lives and that of their families. Despite the turmoil caused by Brexit, the country maintains a solid economic position because of its well-established institutions and extensive engagement in global commerce. London, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Manchester, and Reading are among the top places in the UK for immigrants to settle down.

In 2019, 612,000 individuals relocated to the United Kingdom, according to the British government. Great Britain has become a top destination place for most people throughout the world as a consequence of economic development, job opportunity, and social advantages. However, there are several important aspects to consider if you decide to relocate to the United Kingdom.

For starters, if you want to remain longer than six months, you’ll require a UK visa. Another important consideration is that certain migratory paths are more complicated than others. One of the simplest methods to relocate to the UK is to apply for a work visa, which requires you to satisfy certain requirements.

Before you go to the UK, you should have a job or a job offer so you may apply for a work visa. If you want to apply for a sponsored visa, you must first make sure that your company will sponsor you.

There are numerous immigration alternatives available depending on your abilities and the sort of work you want to do in the UK. So, make sure you look into all of your visa alternatives to determine which one best suits your needs.

You must prepare your paperwork and submit your visa application once you have determined the visa you wish to apply for. Typically, you must submit an application for a visa at a local representative office and wait for a response.

Depending on the sort of visa you apply for, the application procedure might take anything from a few weeks to months. If your application is approved, the visa office will send you an email or letter informing you of the decision and the following steps.

In addition, a “vignette” will be placed on your passport, which will contain information on your immigration status, such as the type of visa you have, its validity, and so on.

You must pick up your biometric residence permit (BRP) at the post office after you arrive in the UK (if you applied outside of the UK). Your BRP can be used as identity and evidence of eligibility to live and work in the United Kingdom.

Hong Kong BNO Process

The UK opened a unique immigration path for British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) status holders and their family members on January 31, 2021. The path represents the United Kingdom’s historic and moral commitment to Hong Kong residents who opted to maintain their links to the United Kingdom by applying for BN(O) status prior to Hong Kong’s transfer to China in 1997.

On a road to citizenship, persons with BN(O) status and their qualifying family members can seek to come to the UK to live, study, and work in nearly any capacity. BN(O) status holders and their family members will be allowed to apply for settlement after five years in the UK, followed by citizenship after another twelve months.

After Hong Kong was handed over to China in 1997, BN(O) status was created for Hong Kong residents so that they may maintain links to the UK. Registration for BN(O) status was a limited-time offer, and there are no plans to reopen it or provide retrospective applications. Children cannot inherit BN(O) status, and only individuals having BN(O) status are eligible to apply for a BN(O) passport.

The British Nationals Overseas visa (BNO visa) permits Hong Kong residents to live, work, and study in the United Kingdom. The British National (Overseas) visa, or BNO visa, for Hong Kong nationals, was introduced on January 31, 2021, as a means of supporting people who have been negatively affected by Hong Kong’s new national security regulations.

Hong Kong applicants must provide a TB test certificate with their initial applications. Appendix T of the Immigration Rules contains more information on TB testing requirements.

BNO Hong Kong Limit?

The amount of BNO visas available to Hong Kong residents is unlimited, and the eligibility requirements are quite liberal. There is no necessity to have a work offer in the UK or to fulfill a skill or income criterion, for example. In addition, BNO visa applicants, including non-BNO citizens, are allowed to bring their direct dependants to the UK.

BNO citizens and their family members were formerly eligible to visit the UK by asking for ‘leave outside the rules for a term of 6 months at the UK border under the BNO visa leave outside the rule’s (LOTR), however, this ceased on July 19, 2021. A BNO visa is now required for British Nationals (Overseas).

British Nationals Overseas citizens from Hong Kong aged 18 and over are eligible for the BNO visa. BNO visas are also available to qualifying family members of BNO citizens, such as you:

If applying from outside the UK, applicants must be usually residents of Hong Kong. If your permanent residence is in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, or Hong Kong, you can also apply from there.

BNO Language Requirement

There is no English language requirement for a BNO visa, however, candidates must have a strong command of the English language if they wish to apply for settled status (indefinite permission to remain) after five years.

BNO Process

A British National Overseas (BNO) visa allows Hongkongers with BNO status and their dependent family members to visit and remain in the United Kingdom.

A BNO permits you to stay in the UK for two years and six months or five years, after which you can seek to settle permanently in the UK, including applying for British citizenship if you desire.

You will not be contacted by the Home Office to remind you to apply for settlement. You’ll have to keep track of when your leave is up for renewal.

You must submit a legitimate application with a current passport and pay the appropriate amount at the time. If you have been convicted of a significant criminal offense, you may be denied based entry.

If you are a Hong Kong resident with BNO status, you can apply for a BNO visa in the United Kingdom if you haven’t previously. If you fit the criteria and are presented in the UK on another visa, you can apply to switch to a BNO visa.

If your family members are qualified, they can also apply for a BNO visa, but they must normally do so at the same time as you.

The procedure is the same as usual: submit an application for a BNO visa within three months of the child’s birth.

It is no longer necessary for the BNO Status Holder’s dependant partner or kid to be a member of the same household on the date of application as of October 6. Instead, the dependant partner or kid must demonstrate that they and the BNO Status Holder intend to live together in the UK for the duration of their stay. When a partner must follow the BNO Status Holder and apply as a dependent partner on the road, there is no time restriction.

The rules for dependent children over the age of 18 and dependent adults remain the same, requiring them to be a member of the BNO status holder’s home on the application date.

Hong Kong BNO Duration

Even when you stop being dependent on your BNO sponsor, your visa remains valid until the expiration date mentioned on the visa. After your BNO visa expires, you do not require your sponsor or to be reliant on him or her to apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

Only people with BNO status are eligible to apply for a BNO passport. You will not be allowed to apply for a BNO passport if you were given a BNO visa as a dependant and do not have BNO status. A BNO visa does not offer you any additional privileges.

BNO visa holders working in health and social care may be entitled to reimbursement of the NHS health fee for themselves and their family members. The government’s website has more information on the eligibility and application process for reimbursement of the NHS fee.

How Long To Get “Right To Remain?”

After five years of living in the UK on a work visa, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (Permanent Residence). Your ILR permits you to reside in the UK without restrictions until you meet the requirements for citizenship.

If you intend to move to the UK, you should consider the following advantages and disadvantages:

You can migrate to the UK without a job if you are unusually bright or affluent, or if you have a family link to the UK. You can join your family in the UK if you have relatives there. You must apply for a family member visa for this purpose:

The validity of a family permit is normally two and a half years, however, it varies depending on the type of visa you have. If you seek to join a fiance instead of a spouse, for example, you can only stay in the UK for six months before having to extend your visa.

If you don’t have a job, family members who reside there, enough money, or distinctive qualities, moving to the UK is difficult. This is also dependent on your origins. EU nationals, for example, have an easier time obtaining a long-term visa than other nations. However, if you have work and meet the visa criteria, you may easily relocate to the United Kingdom.

To sustain yourself until you start working, you’ll need at least £1,270 when you first arrive in the UK. However, the overall cost of migrating is determined by where you are from and the type of visa you have.

How Long Before You Can Become A UK Citizen?

If you’ve resided in the UK for at least five years, you can apply to become a citizen. To be eligible for citizenship, you must have possessed your ILR for at least 12 months before filing your application. You must also pass the “Life in the UK” test and demonstrate that you have sufficient English language skills.

As a Hong Kong BNO, I have the right to UK healthcare.

If you are a long-term legal resident of the United Kingdom, you are eligible for free NHS healthcare. However, most work visas require you to pay an annual healthcare fee.

You may work, study, and rent a home under LOTR, but you can’t use the NHS for free. If you arrived in the UK before your BNO visa was approved, you will require private health insurance to cover the expenses of treatment.

BNO Recourse To Public Funds

A no recourse to public funds condition is connected to a BNO visa, which indicates that the visa holder is unable to receive benefits or other forms of assistance classified as public money, such as Child benefits, Universal Credit, or Personal Independent Payment.

If the visa holder is unable to meet the costs of housing and living [if they become destitute or are in imminent danger of being destitute], they can petition for a modification of conditions of leave to have the NRPF requirement removed from their leave. This type of application necessitates OISC-regulated legal counsel, which is not covered by free legal aid.

Immigrating With Pets To The UK

If you’re bringing your dog, it must have received tapeworm treatment within the last 24 hours and no more than 120 hours. You may also be asked to produce your pet’s blood tests depending on where you are flying from; check the Home Office website for the nations listed.

If your pet does not meet certain criteria, it must be confined for four months at an authorized location.

Please note that you may bring additional pets with you, but you must adhere to the guidelines for each creature separately.

Moving To Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a cultural melting pot as well as an international financial center. It is a dynamic city full of possibilities. For decades, this city has drawn a large number of people seeking jobs or education. However, as a non-Hong Kong resident, you must have the proper visa to enter Hong Kong.

It is the obligation of Hong Kong employers that hire non-Hong Kong residents to guarantee that their staff is legally employable.

Even though employees have a valid Hong Kong identity card, not all non-Hong Kong permanent identity card holders are legally employable in Hong Kong, therefore employees may still need a valid Hong Kong visa to work there.

Employers who break the law by recruiting unauthorized workers face up to three years in jail and a fine of up to HKD $350,000.

Hong Kong Visa for Entrepreneurs

For foreign entrepreneurs who are migrating to Hong Kong to invest or start their own firms.

For international visitors to Hong Kong, whether for pleasure or business. Foreigners requiring passage from Hong Kong are also welcome.