Hong Kong marriage

Hello,

I'd like some help or information about marrying someone from hong kong please. My girlfriend is 20 and has lived in hong kong all her life, I am also 20 and have lived in the U.K all my life. We have known eachother for 3 years now. I have visited her in hong kong 2 times and she has visited me here once.
We are thinking about getting married but neither of us know anything regarding the laws or procedures. Can i just go over to hong kong and marry her? Can she come here and marry me? Also once we are married is it possible for me to live and work or even study in hong kong or her live and work here?

I'd really appreciate any help or information anyone can give

thanks,

alex

Alex -

I'm not sure specifically about marriage, but Hong Kong has begun a program for highly skilled immigration.

Similar to HSMP in the UK, or other points based tests for immigration, Hong Kong has a test that provides points for certain age, education and experience levels. The test and more information can be found at http://www.immd.gov.hk/ehtml/QMAS_8.htm

It's actually a fairly easy program to qualify for in comparison to some others.

.

Sorry I didn't notice your questions earlier ...

Do you care which country you both end up in ..?

Getting a finace visa for her to come to the UK and then arranging a marriage there would be an excellent start for her to relocate to the UK. Many members here can offer advice on this option.

The Immigrationboards.com Forum Index -> Immigration for family members section would be a good place to ask that question.

Once you have established your marriage as legitimate, it should then be possible to migrate back to Hong Kong without too much difficulty.

If you wish to go to Hong Kong straight away ... I cannot help at all sorry. I suspect few members here can.

Once you are in Hong Kong, I don't know what work rights you might have there as a spouse. Their new skilled migrant program might be necessary for you to get a work permit, as opposed to a non-working right to residency.

Your skills and your (potential) spouses skills will determine your fate. If either of you qualify under what the other country needs right now, that is the direction to go.

If you both qualify under each country, then the decision will be which country gives the easiest, most cost-effective migration route, which country allows you both to work and net the most money after all taxes & fees.

Then there are also personal, family considerations. Where would you want your children born & for what reasons? Do the feelings of your parents or relatives come into the decision?

The Admin

Alex, be aware of the following, but also be aware that this is a UK Government proposal that has not yet been brought into law, but that could happen soon, without notice.

Currently the minimum age for a successful applicant for a fiancé(e) visa or a spouse visa, or a sponsor of such a person, is 18 years of age. But the proposal is to raise that minimum age to 21 years. Now that will not stop you marrying, assuming that is allowed under local law, but will stop the visa being obtained until both of you have reached 21 years of age.

HK marriage law? Your fiancée needs to investigate that.

Your girlfriend can file a dependent visa for you, provided that she can support your living in a substantial standard in Hong Kong. You will have the right to abode in Hong Kong as long as the marriage is valid, and all dependent visa holders have the right to study in Hong Kong. Work permit has to be obtained seperately. Though I am not sure how, sorry.

here is a email that a got for a similar situation, me being from hk and my husband from the us

Dear Hermia,

Thank you for your e-mail message.



As a general rule, any persons other than those having the “Right of
Abodeâ€