Visa Application - Cedars - The University of Hong Kong
The University of Hong Kong Centre of Development and Resources for Students Student Visa Matters Section 1 Frequently Asked Questions on General Policy Q1 Can I study in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)? With effect from 2005, The Hong Kong Immigration policy on education stipulates that nationals from Afghanistan, Cambodia, Cuba, Laos, Korea (Democratic People's Republic of), Nepal and Vietnam are not allowed to undertake studies in HKSAR. Part-time programme If you are admitted to a part-time programme, the Hong Kong Immigration Department will still accept your entry student visa application. They however will take the actual teaching dates of your programmes into consideration during the assessment stage. It is very likely that the Hong Kong Immigration Department will only permit you to stay in Hong Kong as a student on those dates that you need to attend classes at the university. For the rest of the week, you are expected to leave the HKSAR territory and return to your city of domicile. Q2 Do I need to apply for a HKSAR student visa? All visitors who do not have a right of abode in Hong Kong are required to apply for a student visa. The general rule is that if you are not in possession of a "Permanent Hong Kong Identity Card" (as distinguished from a "Hong Kong Identity Card"), you have to apply for a HKSAR student visa for the purpose of education. Mainland students enrolled in taught postgraduate courses, undergraduate courses, exchange and short term programmes should apply to the China Affairs Office (Email: [email protected] ) for visa sponsorship. Overseas exchange or visiting students whose courses commence in September can start sending in student visa applications in April. For those whose courses commence in January can start sending in applications in September of the previous year. ✽ Students should not commence study before the student visa has been issued and activated. 1 9 April, 2015 Q3 I have checked that I don’t have to apply for an entry visa to HKSAR, do I still need to apply for a student visa? While HKSAR government allows some nationals entering Hong Kong without having any ENTRY visa, you are still required to apply for a STUDENT visa if you intend to undertake educational activities including elective attachments, exchange studies, summer programmes, full-degree programmes in Hong Kong. You are expected to apply for a HKSAR student visa irrespective of the duration of your educational activity or programme. Q4 Am I allowed to work while I am studying at HKU? Go to Q 52 Q5 Can I continue to stay in Hong Kong after termination of my studies? Go to Q 55 2 9 April, 2015 Section 2 Frequently Asked Questions on Entry Visa Application Procedure (Overseas Nationals, PRC Nationals, Taiwan Nationals) Frequently Asked Questions on Entry Visa Application Procedure (For Overseas Nationals) Q6 Where can I submit my student visa application documents? You can submit your official student visa application documents to the Hong Kong Immigration Department via two channels. Option 1: through the Centre of Development and Resources for Students (CEDARS), The University of Hong Kong (HKU) or Option 2: through your local Chinese Embassy (not applicable to applicants of summer and elective programmes) Q7 How to apply? Option 1: Applying through the Centre of Development and Resources for Students, HKU (CEDARS, HKU) Step 1 You can mail your completed student visa application set to the Centre of Development and Resources for Students (CEDARS), 3/F Meng Wah Complex, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong. Step 2 Once your student visa application set has reached CEDARS, we will send you an email acknowledgment. Step 3 Upon receipt of a photocopy of your admission letter and complete application set, CEDARS will act as your visa sponsor and forward your complete visa application document set to the Hong Kong Immigration Department. The Hong Kong Immigration Department will inform CEDARS of your student visa application result in around 6 - 8 weeks. If Hong Kong Immigration Department approves your student visa application, CEDARS will pick up the visa label and courier it to you. CEDARS will confirm the delivery address with you via email before arranging courier service. 3 9 April, 2015 Step 4 After receiving your student visa label, you must stick it onto your passport page before landing at Hong Kong. Option 2: Applying through your local Chinese Embassy Step 1 Once you have received your official letter of admission, you have to request CEDARS to be your visa sponsor. The application should be sent to CEDARS at 3/F Meng Wah Complex, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong. Step 2 If we agreed to be your visa sponsor, CEDARS will email you a copy of the supporting letter in Chinese. Step 3 Along with CEDARS’s supporting letter, you can forward your official visa application set to your local Chinese Embassy. They will pass your visa application to the Hong Kong Immigration Department (HKID) in accordance to their schedule. The HKID will then draw references from CEDARS, HKU and send your visa application result to your local Chinese Embassy. Your local Chinese Embassy is responsible for informing you of the result and passing you the student visa label. The processing time for the Hong Kong Immigration Department is around 6 – 8 weeks. You also need to take into account additional processing time by the Chinese Embassy, which varies with Embassy. As it usually takes longer to apply for student visa through your local Chinese Embassy, please allow more time for your application. You are responsible to monitor the progress and result of your student visa application. Summer Programmes and Elective Attachments Due to the time constraints, students of summer programmes should email us ([email protected]) all the completed forms and supporting documents first. We shall go over them and make sure everything is in good order before asking you to send us the signed originals by post. Please spare 6 - 8 weeks for the process. Please note that as recommended by the Hong Kong Immigration Department, students of summer programmes and short courses (including elective attachments) should lodge their student visa applications via CEDARS, instead of the local Chinese Embassy. 4 9 April, 2015 Your passport / travel document is required to have at least two months’ validity beyond the programme completion date. Q8 How do I know my student visa status is validated? Show your visa label to the officer at the Immigration clearance counter at the Hong Kong International Airport. Please ensure that the Immigration staff has issued you with a landing slip. Please check the following information listed on it: 1) Student – Permitted to remain until “dd/mm/yyyy” 2) Studying the approved course at THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG 3) Your English name 4) Travel document number 5) Arrival date You are advised to staple the landing slip to your passport and NOT TO LOSE IT during your stay in Hong Kong. You will need to provide it for your student visa extension application (if applicable). For details, please see http://www.immd.gov.hk/en/topical/non-stamping-immigration-clearance.html It is the responsibility of individual students to maintain a valid and legitimate visa status throughout their studies at HKU. Should there be any circumstantial or personal changes leading to the termination of the student’s prevailing visa status, the concerned student is required to report the changes immediately to the Hong Kong Immigration Department and to apply for a fresh visa for study. Pursuing study without a valid visa is a breach of the law. 5 9 April, 2015 Frequently Asked Questions on Entry Visa Application Procedure (For PRC Nationals) Q9 Where can I submit my student visa application? You can submit your official student visa application documents via the Centre of Development and Resources for Students (CEDARS), The University of Hong Kong, who will act as your student visa sponsor. Q10 How to apply? Once you have received your official letter of admission (including the conditional offer letter), you can submit your visa documentation to the Centre of Development and Resources for Students (CEDARS). CEDARS will send an acknowledgement email to you as soon as possible. If your visa document set is complete, CEDARS will forward your visa documents to the Hong Kong Immigration Department for processing. The Hong Kong Immigration Department (HKID) normally takes 6 - 8 weeks to process your visa application. If HKID has approved your visa application, CEDARS will pick up the visa label and courier it to you. CEDARS will confirm the delivery address with you before arranging for the courier service. After receiving the visa label issued by the Hong Kong Immigration Department, you then need to approach your local police unit to seek their endorsement (逗留簽注) of your student visa application. You are also required to apply for an “Exit-entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao” (往來港澳通行證) to HKSAR. Experiences tell that your local police unit may take another 2 – 4 weeks processing time. Q11 I have only received a conditional offer letter of admission at this moment, can I apply for a student visa now? If you are initially offered with a conditional admission, you can still forward your visa application documents to the Hong Kong Immigration Department via CEDARS. If the Hong Kong Immigration Department approved your student visa application, CEDARS will only pick up your student visa label upon receipt of a copy of your confirmed notice of admission. Q12 How do I know my student visa status is validated? 6 9 April, 2015 Show your visa label to the officer at the Hong Kong Immigration clearance counter at the entry port. Please ensure that the Immigration staff has issued you with a landing slip. Please check the following information listed on it: 1) Student – Permitted to remain until “dd/mm/yyyy” 2) Studying the approved course at THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG 3) Your English name 4) Travel document number 5) Arrival date You are advised to staple the landing slip to your travel document (Exit-entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao) and NOT TO LOSE IT during your stay in Hong Kong. You will need to provide it for your student visa extension application (if applicable). For details, please see http://www.immd.gov.hk/en/topical/non-stamping-immigration-clearance.html It is the responsibility of individual students to maintain a valid and legitimate visa status throughout their studies at HKU. Should there be any circumstantial or personal changes leading to the termination of the student’s prevailing visa status, the concerned student is required to report the changes immediately to the Hong Kong Immigration Department and to apply for a fresh visa for study. Pursuing study without a valid visa is a breach of the law. 7 9 April, 2015 Frequently Asked Questions on Entry Visa Application Procedure (For Taiwan Nationals) Q13 Where can I submit my student visa application? You can submit it to the Hong Kong Immigration Department via the Centre of Development and Resources for Students (CEDARS), The University of Hong Kong, who will act as your student visa sponsor. Q14 How to apply? Once you have received your confirmed notice of admission, you may submit your visa application set to the Centre of Development and Resources for Students (CEDARS). After receiving your visa application set, CEDARS will send you an email acknowledgement and forward your complete visa application set to the Hong Kong Immigration Department (HKID). The processing time of HKID is around 8 weeks. If HKID approve your visa application, CEDARS will pick up the Entry Permit (入境 許可證) and courier it to you. CEDARS will confirm the delivery address with you before arranging for a courier service. 8 9 April, 2015 Q15 How do I know my student visa status is validated? You need to present both your Taiwan passport and the single journey entry permit for your initial landing at the Hong Kong airport. Please ensure that the Immigration staff has issued you with a landing slip. Please check the following information listed on it: 1) Student – Permitted to remain until “dd/mm/yyyy” 2) Studying the approved course at THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG 3) Your English name 4) Travel document number 5) Arrival date You are advised to staple the landing slip to your passport and NOT TO LOSE IT during your stay in Hong Kong. You will need to provide it for your student visa extension application (if applicable). For details, please see http://www.immd.gov.hk/en/topical/non-stamping-immigration-clearance.html It is the responsibility of individual students to maintain a valid and legitimate visa status throughout their studies at HKU. Should there be any circumstantial or personal changes leading to the termination of the student’s prevailing visa status, the concerned student is required to report the changes immediately to the Hong Kong Immigration Department and to apply for a fresh visa for study. Pursuing study without a valid visa is a breach of the law. 9 9 April, 2015 Section 3 Frequently Asked Questions on Entry Visa Application Documents (Overseas Nationals, PRC Nationals, Taiwan Nationals) Frequently Asked Questions on Entry Visa Application Documents (For Overseas Nationals) Q16 What documents do I need? Option 1: Applying through the Centre of Development and Resources for Students (CEDARS) △ a completed official visa application forms ID995A ; a completed visa sponsorship application form; a photocopy of your complete set of offer letter of admission; a photocopy of your passport (The validity of your passport should be longer than the normal study period of your programme in Hong Kong. If not, your student visa will have a shorter valid period. You need to apply for a student visa extension in future); a photocopy of your CV or resume (except for exchange / short-term programme students); documents/ statements showing that you have adequate means to finance your studies in HK (e.g. latest bank statements, award letters of financial aid or scholarship, etc.); a declaration form (to be filled in by those applicants who are currently in HK); and a HK$850 credit card payment authorization form. ✽ If you are under the age of 18 before your study programme commences, one of your parents should authorize their relative/friend in Hong Kong or the university to be the guardian of the applicant. A consent letter (sample) duly signed by both the guardian and one of your parents should be produced. 10 9 April, 2015 Option 2: Applying through your Local Chinese Embassy* a completed visa sponsorship application form; a photocopy of your complete set of confirmed offer letter of admission; a photocopy of your passport; documents/ statements showing that you have adequate means to finance your studies in HK (e.g. latest bank statements, award letters of financial aid or scholarship, etc.); A letter to “The Hong Kong Immigration” stating that you have nominated “The University of Hong Kong” be your local visa sponsor; and a HK$350 credit card payment authorization form. *Please note that your Local Chinese Embassy will ask you to fill in extra forms and you may also need to pay them additional charges. △ To complete the ID995A form, please note the following: It is a must for you to fill the fields on the form that are highlighted in yellow. For Section 6 - Applicant’s Estimated Cost of Living in Hong Kong. Please refer to the “HKU Preparatory Guide for Non-local Students” for details. Please provide the total estimated cost for one whole year or for the period of studies concerned. For Section 7 – Financial Situation of Applicant. Please refer to the items listed under Q17 and Q18 in the Frequently Asked Questions section. Please fill in the form in accordance to the exact details provided in the financial supporting documents (e.g. bank statements in English, bank letters in English, proof of scholarship/grant/loan, etc.) you provide for your student visa application. You must sign at the bottom of page 1 to page 4 of ID995A form. 11 9 April, 2015 Q17 What kinds of financial documents will be accepted by the Hong Kong Immigration Department? You are expected to provide documents or statements showing that you have sufficient means to finance your studies in Hong Kong. Listed below are some of the common documents: student’s latest bank statement(s)*, parent’s latest bank statement(s), if your bank statements are not in Chinese or English, applicants must include a bank letter in English, supporting letter issued by parent(s) and a photocopy of his/her passport showing the same signature on the supporting letter (if you provide parent’s bank statement) (sample letter for reference), award letter of financial aid*, award letter of scholarship or postgraduate scholarship*, * All these documents should show the name of student. Documents without name of student are unacceptable. Q18 How much money will be considered as ‘sufficient’? The Hong Kong Immigration Department has not specified any particular amount, you however are expected to demonstrate that you or your parents have sufficient money to cover your academic expenses and your living expenses during the studying period in Hong Kong. For the estimated figures, please refer to our publication “Preparatory Guide for Non-local Students”. 12 9 April, 2015 Frequently Asked Questions on Entry Visa Application Documents (For Mainland Nationals – MPhil / PhD / SJD Programme only) Q19 What documents do I need? a completed official visa application form ID995A△; a completed visa sponsorship application form; a photocopy of your signed acceptance of notice of admission/ statement of acceptance from HKU; a complete CV i.e. resume (履歷表); a photocopy of PRC Identity Card; a photocopy of your census record (內地戶口登記證明); a photocopy of my Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macau (往來港澳通行證) photocopies of testimonials (學歷證明或在學證明複印本) ; documents/ statements showing that you have adequate means to finance your studies in HK (e.g. latest bank statements, award letters of financial aid or scholarship, etc.); a declaration form (to be filled in by those applicants who are currently in HK); and a HK$850 credit card payment authorization form. ✽ If you are under the age of 18 before your study programme commences, one of your parents should authorize their relative/friend in Hong Kong or the university to be the guardian of the applicant. A consent letter (sample) duly signed by both the guardian and one of your parents should be produced. △ To complete the ID995A form, please note the following: It is a must for you to fill the fields on the form that are highlighted in yellow. For Section 1 o Travel documents – Please fill-in information of your Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macau (EEP) instead of passport. o Please leave the part on travel document blank if you do not have an EEP yet. o Please provide an address in English (page 2 of ID995A). Base on this, you may apply for an address proof from CEDARS when you open a bank account in Hong Kong later on. 13 9 April, 2015 For Section 6 - Applicant’s Estimated Cost of Living in Hong Kong. Please refer to the “HKU Preparatory Guide for Non-local Students” for details. Please provide the total estimated cost for one whole year or for the period of studies concerned. For Section 7 – Financial Situation of Applicant. Please refer to the items listed under Q17 and Q18 in the Frequently Asked Questions section. Please fill in the form in accordance to the exact details provided in the financial supporting documents (e.g. bank statements in English, bank letters in English, proof of scholarship/grant/loan, etc.) you provide for your student visa application. You must sign at the bottom of page 1 to page 4 of ID995A form. Q20 What kinds of financial documents will be accepted by the Hong Kong Immigration Department? You are expected to provide documents or statements showing that you have sufficient means to finance your studies in Hong Kong. Listed below are some of the common documents: student’s latest bank statement(s)*, parent’s latest bank statement(s), if your bank statements are not in Chinese or English, applicants must include a bank letter in English, supporting letter issued by parent(s) and a photocopy of his/her passport showing the same signature on the supporting letter (if you provide parent’s bank statement) (sample letter for reference), award letter of financial aid*, award letter of scholarship or postgraduate scholarship*, * All these documents should show the name of student. Documents without name of student are unacceptable. Q21 How much money will be considered as ‘sufficient’? The Hong Kong Immigration Department has not specified any particular amount, you however are expected to demonstrate that you or your parents have sufficient money to cover your academic expenses and your living expenses during the studying period in Hong Kong. For the estimated figures, please refer to our publication “Preparatory Guide for Non-local Students”. 14 9 April, 2015 Q22 I have not yet completed my degree programme and cannot provide the transcripts. What can I do? You can provide other official documents like a certificate of enrollments (在學證明), latest academic result slips or other official documents that can certify your current student status at your home institute. 15 9 April, 2015 Frequently Asked Questions on Entry Visa Application Documents (For Taiwan Nationals) Q23 What documents do I need? a completed official visa application form ID995A△; a completed visa sponsorship application form; a photocopy of your signed acceptance of notice of admission from HKU; a photocopy of your CV or resume (履歷表); a photocopy of Taiwan Identity Card; a photocopy of Taiwan passport (The validity of your passport should be longer than the normal study period of your programme in Hong Kong. If not, your student visa will have a shorter valid period. You need to apply for a student visa extension in future); a photocopy of your household registration in Taiwan (台灣戶籍謄本); photocopies of testimonials (學歷證明複印本) ; documents/ statements showing that you have adequate means to finance your studies in HK (e.g. latest bank statements, award letters of financial aid or scholarship, etc.); a declaration form (to be filled in by those applicants who are currently in HK); a HK$850 credit card payment authorization form; a statement stating your reason for studying at The University of Hong Kong; and a statement stating your plan after the completion of studies at The University of Hong Kong. ✽ If you are under the age of 18 before your study programme commences, one of your parents should authorize their relative/friend in Hong Kong or the university to be the guardian of the applicant. A consent letter (sample) duly signed by both the guardian and one of your parents should be produced. △ To complete the ID995A form, please note the following: It is a must for you to fill the fields on the form that are highlighted in yellow. For Section 6 - Applicant’s Estimated Cost of Living in Hong Kong. Please refer to the “HKU Preparatory Guide for Non-local Students” for details. Please provide the total estimated cost for one whole year or for the period of studies concerned. 15 9 April, 2015 For Section 7 – Financial Situation of Applicant. Please refer to the items listed under Q17 and Q18 in the Frequently Asked Questions section. Please fill in the form in accordance to the exact details provided in the financial supporting documents (e.g. bank statements in English, bank letters in English, proof of scholarship/grant/loan, etc.) you provide for your student visa application. You must sign at the bottom of page 1 to page 4 of ID995A form. Q24 What kinds of financial documents will be accepted by the HK Immigration Department? You are expected to provide documents or statements showing that you have sufficient means to finance your studies in Hong Kong. Listed below are some of the common documents: student’s latest bank statement(s)*, parent’s latest bank statement(s), if your bank statements are not in Chinese or English, applicants must include a bank letter in English, supporting letter issued by parent(s) and a photocopy of his/her passport showing the same signature on the supporting letter (if you provide parent’s bank statement) (sample letter for reference), award letter of financial aid*, award letter of scholarship or postgraduate scholarship*, * All these documents should show the name of student. Documents without name of student are unacceptable. Q25 How much money will be considered as ‘sufficient’? The Hong Kong Immigration Department has not specified any particular amount, you however are expected to demonstrate that you or your parents have sufficient money to cover your academic expenses and your basic living expenses during the studying period in Hong Kong. For the estimated figures, please refer to our publication “Preparatory Guide for Non-local Students”. 16 9 April, 2015 Section 4 Frequently Asked Questions on Entry Visa Application Processing Time (Overseas Nationals, PRC Nationals, Taiwan Nationals) Frequently Asked Questions on Entry Visa Application Processing Time (For Overseas Nationals) Q26 When do I apply? How long will it take? For those students who apply through CEDARS Once you have received a copy of your confirmed notice of admission, you need to mail your student visa application documents to the Centre of Development and Resources for Students (CEDARS). CEDARS will act as your visa sponsor and forward your complete visa application document set to the Hong Kong Immigration Department (HKID). HKID normally takes 6 - 8 week processing time. For all those students who opt to apply through Local Chinese Embassy In addition to mailing your visa sponsorship documents to CEDARS, HKU, you also need to contact your Local Chinese Embassy. They will pass your visa application to the Hong Kong Immigration Department (HKID) in accordance to their schedule. The HKID will then draw references from CEDARS, HKU and send your visa application result to your local Chinese Embassy. Your local Chinese Embassy is responsible for informing you of the result and passing you the student visa label. The processing time for the Hong Kong Immigration Department is around 6 – 8 weeks. You also need to take into account additional processing time by the Chinese Embassy, which varies with Embassy. As it usually takes longer to apply for student visa through your local Chinese Embassy, please allow more time for your application. You are responsible to monitor the progress and result of your student visa application. 17 9 April, 2015 Frequently Asked Questions on Entry Visa Application Processing Time (For PRC Nationals) Q27 When do I apply? How long will it take? You can forward your visa documents to CEDARS after receiving your confirmed or conditional notice of admission. You will receive an acknowledgement email from CEDARS as soon as possible. CEDARS will act as your visa sponsor and forward your complete visa application document set to the Hong Kong Immigration Department. Hong Kong Immigration Department normally takes 6-8 week processing time. After receiving the entry visa label issued by the Hong Kong Immigration Department, you still need to seek an additional endorsement from your local police unit. Experience tells that your local police unit (depending on your affiliated district) will take 2-4 weeks to grant you the endorsement. For those students who have only received a conditional offer letter of admission, CEDARS can still help you to forward your visa documents to the Hong Kong Immigration Department. However, CEDARS will only pick up and courier your visa label upon receipt of a copy of your confirmed offer letter of admission. Frequently Asked Questions on Entry Visa Application Processing Time (For Taiwan Nationals) Q28 When do I apply? How long will it take? You can forward your visa documents to CEDARS after receiving your confirmed notice of admission. After receiving your visa documents, CEDARS will send an acknowledgement email to you and forward your complete visa application document set to the Hong Kong Immigration Department (HKID). The HKID normally takes 8 weeks to process your application. 18 9 April, 2015 Section 5 Frequently Asked Questions on Entry Visa Application Fees (Overseas Nationals, PRC Nationals, Taiwan Nationals) Frequently Asked Questions on Entry Visa Application Fees (For Overseas Nationals) Q29 How much does it cost me? Option 1: Through the Centre of Development and Resources for Students (CEDARS) You need to pay HK$850*. This fee already covers the visa label fees and courier charges. * The visa sponsorship fee will be revised from HK$850 to HK$900. This is applicable to all applications received by CEDARS on or after September 1, 2015 by mail/courier. Option 2: Through the local Chinese Embassy You need to pay HK$350 visa sponsorship fees to CEDARS. Some local Chinese Embassies also charge you for additional administrative and service charges. Q30 How can I pay the visa fees? You can pay the visa fees by credit card only. You need to forward a copy of your authorization form and a photocopy of your credit card to CEDARS, HKU. Please download the authorization form for the credit card payment here. Please make sure that your credit card has sufficient fund for transaction. 19 9 April, 2015 Q31 Any other payment options? The following payment options are NOT available for the payment of visa fees: telegraphic transfer personal cheques in foreign currencies traveler's cheques cash in foreign currencies money order / postal cheque / bankdraft In case the students have paid the visa fees with any one of the aforementioned payment options, the student is liable for settling any outstanding or untraceable amount as well as the incurrent administrative fees. 20 9 April, 2015 Frequently Asked Questions on Entry Visa Application Fees (For PRC Nationals and Taiwan Nationals) Q32 How much do I need to pay? You need to pay HK$850* visa fees to “The University of Hong Kong”. This fee already covers the Hong Kong Immigration Department's visa label fees and courier charges. * The visa sponsorship fee will be revised from HK$850 to HK$900. This is applicable to all applications received by CEDARS on or after September 1, 2015 by mail/courier. Q33 How can I pay the visa fees? You can pay the visa fees by credit card only. You need to forward a copy of your authorization form and a photocopy of your credit card to CEDARS, HKU. Please download the authorization form for the credit card payment here. Please make sure that your credit card has sufficient fund for transaction. Q34 Any other payment options? The following payment options are NOT available for the payment of visa fees: telegraphic transfer personal cheques in foreign currencies traveler's cheques cash in foreign currencies money order / postal cheque / bankdraft In case the students have paid the visa fees with any one of the aforementioned payment options, the student is liable for settling any outstanding or untraceable amount as well as the incurrent administrative fees. 21 9 April, 2015 Frequently Asked Questions on Financial Proof for Entry Visa Application Q35 What kinds of financial documents will be accepted by the Hong Kong Immigration Department? You are expected to provide documents or statements showing that you have sufficient means to finance your studies in Hong Kong. Listed below are some of the common documents: student’s latest bank statement(s)*, parent’s latest bank statement(s), if your bank statements are not in Chinese or English, applicants must include a bank letter in English, supporting letter issued by parent(s) and a photocopy of his/her passport showing the same signature on the supporting letter (if you provide parent’s bank statement), award letter of financial aid*, award letter of scholarship or postgraduate scholarship*, * All these documents should show the name of student. Documents without name of student are unacceptable. Q36 How much money will be considered as ‘sufficient’? The Hong Kong Immigration Department has not specified any particular amount, you however are expected to demonstrate that you or your parents will have sufficient money to cover your academic expenses and your living expenses during the studying period in Hong Kong. For the estimated figures, please refer to our publication “Preparatory Guide for Non-local Students”. 22 9 April, 2015 Section 6 Q37 Frequently Asked Questions on Dependent Visa Application Am I allowed to bring along my dependants? Students on full-time studies may apply to bring in their spouse and unmarried dependent children under 18 years of age. However, those students who are admitted to short term or exchange or part-time studies are not allowed to bring along their spouse or children. Q38 How do I apply for a dependant visa for my family? (The following arrangement applies to students who apply for an entry student visa only. Other students should apply for a dependent visa on their own.) You may submit the relevant application documents to CEDARS. CEDARS will help you forward the complete visa application set to the Hong Kong Immigration Department (HKID). Once HKID has approved your application for a dependant visa, CEDARS will pick up the visa label and courier it to you. The required documentation is listed below: a completed official visa application form ID995A; a photocopy of your spouse and/or children's passport; a photocopy of your spouse's financial proof document; a photocopy of your marriage certificate and/or children's birth certificate; and a HK$850 credit card payment authorization form. Q39 Is my spouse allowed to work or study in HKSAR during my studying period? A dependant visa holder is not allowed to work. She or he however can take up full time or part-time studies here without having to apply for a separate student visa. 23 9 April, 2015 Section 7 Q40 Frequently Asked Questions on Visa Extension Do I need to extend my student visa? (Note: Students on part-time study have to apply for a new entry student visa every year. The procedure is the same as when they first come.) If you have extended your study or your limit of stay is shorter than the normal duration of your study programme, you should apply for a visa extension 4 weeks before your limit of stay expires. Please approach CEDARS for a copy of supporting letter before you submit your application to the Hong Kong Immigration Department. Please also note that it is the responsibility of individual students to renew their visa in a timely manner to maintain a valid and legitimate visa status throughout their study at HKU. Currently, for undergraduates and taught course postgraduates from the mainland, the contact office at the University is the China Affairs Office (Email: [email protected]. For all other students, please contact CEDARS for a visa extension. Details can be viewed at the CEDARS website here. Q41 When & how to apply for extension of stay to continue with my studies in Hong Kong? Applications will normally be accepted 4 weeks before the limit of stay expires. You may apply in person or authorise in writing a representative to submit the application. However, you must be physically in Hong Kong on the date of submission and on the date of collection of the visa label. Mainland students should submit the applications to the Quality Migrants and Mainland Residents Section, Immigration Department, 6/F, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong. Students other than those from the Mainland should submit their applications to the Extension Section, Immigration Department, 5/F, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong or any Immigration Office (except Hong Kong Island Travel Documents Issuing Office). Students can apply for an early visa extension should the need arise. Please state the reasons for your early visa extension when applying to CEDARS for a supporting letter for visa extension. 24 9 April, 2015 Application procedures and forms are available here. Please refer to the list of supporting documents you need to bring along with you on the webpage of the Hong Kong Immigration Department here. Q42 What documents are required for me to apply for extension of stay for pursuing the same course of study? The following documents are normally required when submitting an extension of stay application to the Hong Kong Immigration Department: (i) a duly completed application form ID91; (ii) applicant's travel document; (iii) applicant's Hong Kong Identity Card; and (iv) a current school letter confirming that the student requires extension of stay to continue with the same study programme. Please refer to the list of supporting documents you need to bring along with you on the webpage of the Hong Kong Immigration Department here. Q43 What is the normal processing time for processing applications for extension of stay in the Hong Kong Immigration Department? Individual applications will be finalised within 2 to 3 weeks upon receipt of all necessary documents. You may wish to find out more information on the homepage of the Hong Kong Immigration Department here. Q44 What are the restrictions for extending my stay in Hong Kong to pursue further studies? Find out the Hong Kong Immigration Department's reply here. 25 9 April, 2015 Section 8 Miscellaneous Questions Q45 Do I need to apply for re-entry permit if I return to Hong Kong from other countries during my studying period? Non-permanent residents of the HKSAR, irrespective of their nationality and type of travel document held, do not require a re-entry visa/entry permit to enter the HKSAR provided that they return within the currency of their permitted limit of stay and that the circumstances upon which they have acquired their residential status remain unchanged. For Taiwan students, after entering Hong Kong on your single entry permit, you have to apply for a 'Multiple Entry Permit' (MEP) and transfer the endorsement onto the MEP to facilitate your future travels to and from Hong Kong. You may apply for the MEP in person at the Hong Kong Immigration Department. Q46 I wish to travel to Mainland China during the semester break. Do I need to apply for a separate tourist visa to Mainland? Yes, you need to apply for a separate tourist visa to Mainland China. If you would like to apply for it in Hong Kong, you can do so in person at the China Travel Service (H.K.) Limited (E-mail: [email protected]). You may be able to apply for it at your local Chinese Embassy before you come to Hong Kong. You can contact them for help directly. Q47 How to apply for a Hong Kong identity card? If your length of stay in Hong Kong is more than 180 days, you need to apply for a HK identity card within 30 days of arrival / or upon acquiring such permission to stay. The application procedure can be found on the homepage of the Hong Kong Immigration Department. You can apply for it by making an appointment booking online or apply by phone. A note to all student visa holders under the age of 18: If your parents have nominated a relative to be your local guardian to the Hong Kong Immigration Department, you should be accompanied by that local guardian when you submit your Hong Kong Identity Card application at the Hong Kong Immigration Department. 26 9 April, 2015 If your parents have nominated “The University of Hong Kong” to be your local guardian, you can just submit your application to the Hong Kong Immigration Department on your own. You will be asked to fill in a declaration form there. Q48 What should I do if I lose my travel documents? You have to report to the Police and obtain a lost report memorandum. You also have to report to your consulate in HK and apply for a new passport. After receiving your new passport, you need to get a supporting letter from your visa sponsorship office. You then need to go to the Hong Kong Immigration Department and apply for endorsement of your student visa /a replacement of your student visa label on your new passport. You need to pay a fee. For students of overseas nationals, you need to go to the following office: The Hong Kong Immigration Department 5/F, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai For students of PRC nationals, please go to: The Hong Kong Immigration Department 6/F, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai Please bring along the following documents with you: A copy of the lost report memorandum issued by the Police; A copy of the supporting letter issued by the University; A copy of your new passport; Completed application form (ID405) and application fee; A copy of your Hong Kong Identity Card (if any); A copy of your HKU Student Card (if any); A copy of your HKU admission letter (if any). Details can be viewed under the section of “Transfer of Endorsement” and “Loss of EEP” of the Hong Kong Immigration Department webpage. 27 9 April, 2015 Q49 Can I change to another educational institution? Student visa holders are imposed with a condition of stay to take up a prescribed course in the prescribed educational institution. Any change in condition of stay requires the prior approval from the Hong Kong Immigration Department. Application for change of educational institution may be approved provided that you continue to fulfill eligibility criteria for study. If the change of educational institution is approved, you will be issued with an appropriate label specifying the name of the new educational institution subject to payment of the label fee. Q50 Can I change from one programme to another within HKU? You may apply to switch your study from one programme to another within the same educational institution if you continue to fulfill eligibility criteria for study. But any change in condition of stay requires the prior approval from the Hong Kong Immigration Department. If the change of study programme is approved, you will be informed in writing. Please contact the Centre of Development and Resources for Students (CEDARS) for advice on the procedure. Q51 What should I do if I have any change of visa status during my studying period? It is the responsibility of individual students to maintain a valid and legitimate visa status throughout their studies at HKU. Should there be any circumstantial or personal changes leading to the termination of the student’s prevailing visa status, the concerned student is required to report the changes immediately to the Hong Kong Immigration Department and to apply for a fresh visa for study. Pursuing study without a valid visa is a breach of the law. 28 9 April, 2015 Q52 Am I allowed to work while I am studying at HKU? Where can I work part-time on campus? For students reading a full-time locally accredited programme at degree level or above, they will be notified by the Hong Kong Immigration Department individually by a “No Objection Letter” (NOL) if they are eligible for taking up part-time/summer work upon approval of entry and extension of stay. Interested students should refer to the detailed information available under “Employment during the Study Programme” of the webpage of the Hong Kong Immigration Department. As specified in the No Objection Letter, eligible students should take up employment at operators within the campus designated by your institution for not more than 20 hours per week. The list of designated operators of HKU is available here. The list will be updated from time to time. Q53 What should I do if my “No Objection Letter” is lost or damaged? If the “No Objection Letter” is lost or damaged, you should get a replacement from the Hong Kong Immigration Department. Mainland students may request Quality Migrants and Mainland Residents Section for the issuance of a fresh NOL at no fee. Other non-local students may approach the Extension Section for the same formalities. For enquiries, please contact Hong Kong Immigration Department by email to [email protected]. Applicants should submit a duly completed form ID91, together with his / her travel document containing the latest arrival stamp / landing slip / extension of stay label in the HKSAR. Details are available at Hong Kong Immigration Department website. 29 9 April, 2015 Q54 What if I want to take up an internship, voluntary or charity work during my study at HKU? For students studying certain programmes with compulsory internship requirement, they would be given a “No Objection Letter” (NOL) by the Hong Kong Immigration Department. Please contact your Faculty office for support and make application to Immigration Department. For students studying programmes without compulsory internship requirement, they have to seek prior approval from the Hong Kong Immigration Department to allow them to take up such internship on their own. Students need to submit the following documents in person to 5/F (for non Mainland China students) or 6/F (for Mainland China students), Immigration Tower, the Hong Kong Immigration Department, Wan Chai, Hong Kong: i) ii) the contract and relevant documents of the internship; a supporting letter from your Faculty confirming that the internship is study-related (only internship related to your current study in HKU will be considered). Applications will be considered on a case by case basis by the Hong Kong Immigration Department. For details of the application procedure, please contact the Hong Kong Immigration Department directly. Enquiry telephone number: (852) 2824 6111 Fax number: (852) 2877 7711 Email: [email protected] Address: Immigration Department Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong If you wish to take up voluntary or charity work, you should apply for prior approval from the Immigration Department beforehand. Email: [email protected] 30 9 April, 2015 Q55 Can I apply for employment in Hong Kong after I have completed my study? Interested students should refer to information under “Employment after the completion of studies” of the webpage of the Hong Kong Immigration Department. For job vacancy information, please explore it with our Careers and Placement Team (Email: [email protected]) or visit their webpage. Q56 Can I continue to stay in Hong Kong after termination of my studies? Eligible graduates can apply to stay in HKSAR under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates Scheme (IANG) or you can apply to the Immigration Department directly to extend your stay in Hong Kong as visitor with a good reason. Unless with such prior approval from the Hong Kong Immigration Department, all student visa holders are required to leave Hong Kong within 4 weeks from the date of termination of studies. Please refer to the reply of the Hong Kong Immigration Department under Q19 of “Frequently Asked Questions”. Q57 I have just completed the study programme and have not yet received the result. However, my current student visa is about to expire and I wish to apply to stay in Hong Kong under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates Scheme (IANG). Can I extend my stay in Hong Kong to await the result? Please refer to the information available at the Hong Kong Immigration Department website. Please refer to the section of “Interim Extension of Stay on Student Condition” of Frequently Asked Questions. Q58 I have successfully completed the requirements for the conferment of a degree and waiting for the Congregation. I wish to apply to stay in Hong Kong under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates Scheme (IANG). How can I apply for a certificate for conferment of a degree? A fresh HKU graduate can apply for a “Certificate of Graduation” as a proof of graduation for IANG application purpose. Application should be submitted to our Academic Support and Examinations Section. Details can be viewed at http://www.ase.hku.hk/. 31 9 April, 2015 Q59 If the passport / travel document is valid for less than six months, can I apply for a HKSAR student visa? A passport / travel document is required to have at least six months validity beyond the proposed date of entry into Hong Kong. Q60 I have a valid student visa in my old passport / travel document. Can I transfer it to my new passport / travel document? You should present both your old and new passports / travel documents when entering Hong Kong. Section 9 Disclaimer Frequent Asked Questions (FAQs) on the student visa matters serves as reference only. The Hong Kong Immigration Department will update its procedures any time without prior notice. Hence, you are always advised to consult the Hong Kong Immigration Department on all immigration matters. 32 9 April, 2015
© Copyright 2026