7 January 2021
Generally speaking, people who are allowed to come to Hong Kong under various immigration policies or plans can apply for extension of their stay within four weeks before the expiry of their stay. The applicant must be in Hong Kong on the day of submission of the application and collection of the relevant label (if the application is approved). Due to the global spread of the new crown epidemic, this regulation has caused many inconveniences to many applicants who are company employees and family members.
In response to the continuous raging new crown pneumonia's impact on society and public health, the Hong Kong Immigration Department announced a special arrangement on December 31, 2020 to allow some people outside Hong Kong and their permitted stay in Hong Kong will soon expire ( Those who have expired (not more than twelve months) and cannot return to Hong Kong in time due to the epidemic should submit their applications for extension of stay outside Hong Kong and receive the relevant labels ("special arrangements") after the applications are approved.
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Scope of application This special arrangement is mainly applicable to the "Excellent Talent Admission Scheme", "Mainland Talent Admission Scheme", "Non-local Graduates Stay / Return to Hong Kong Employment Arrangement", "General Employment Policy", "Capital Investment Entrant Scheme", etc. Policies/plans for arrivals and their dependants, but not applicable to foreign domestic helpers and imported workers. |
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Applicant does not need to be in Hong Kong According to this special arrangement, if eligible persons cannot return to Hong Kong in time to apply for extension and wish to return to Hong Kong under this arrangement, they can submit an application to the Immigration Department by mail or by entrusting an authorized person ( online application is not applicable ) . If the application is approved, the applicant can entrust an authorized person to collect the relevant entry visa / entry permit label. Residents of Mainland China must also apply for the relevant visa to Hong Kong and return to Hong Kong within the validity period of the label. |
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needed file Eligible persons need to submit the completed form and the supporting documents required for extension of stay. In addition, you also need to submit a letter stating the reason for failing to return to Hong Kong in a timely manner to apply for the extension of stay. If the submission of the application and / or collection of the visa label is entrusted to an authorized person, the applicant also needs to submit a power of attorney |
The above arrangement should be regarded as a temporary arrangement under the epidemic situation, and the Immigration Department will make changes in the future based on actual conditions. The law firm will continue to pay attention to and release the latest relevant policies and legal revisions. Our team has extensive experience in immigration and visa matters and is happy to provide support if there is any need.
For further information, please contact:
Vickie Leung, Deacons
vickie.leung@deacons.com.hk
