Immigration Department Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government

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Immigration Department Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region (SAR) Government
DEVELOPING HONG KONG AS A REGIONAL EDUCATION HUB
Immigration-related Policies
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Immigration Department Hong Kong SAR Government
TODAYS ITINERARY

• The Relaxed Policies

• Relaxed employment restrictions

• Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates
  (IANG)

• Questions and answers session

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Immigration Department Hong Kong SAR Government
THE RELAXED POLICIES
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Immigration Department Hong Kong SAR Government
THE RELAXED POLICIESTHE POLICY BACKGROUND

• 2007-2008 Policy Address

• Enhance HKs status as an education hub

• Bring young, new and high quality talent into our
  population

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Immigration Department Hong Kong SAR Government
THE RELAXED POLICIESTHE DETAILS

• Increase the admission quota for non-local
  students to tertiary institutions

• Allow students from the Mainland, Macao and
  Taiwan to pursue short-term studies in HK

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Immigration Department Hong Kong SAR Government
THE RELAXED POLICIESTHE DETAILS

• Relax employment restrictions on non-local
  students

• Allow non-local graduates to stay and to work in
  HK (IANG)

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Immigration Department Hong Kong SAR Government
RELAXATION OF EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTION
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Immigration Department Hong Kong SAR Government
RELAXATION OF EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONTHE AIM

• Enhance HKs attractiveness to non-local students

• Help non-local students to

• widen their exposure

• assimilate into local community upon graduation

• acquire real-life work experience

• enhance communication and interpersonal skills

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Immigration Department Hong Kong SAR Government
RELAXATION OF EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONBEFORE THE
POLICY CHANGE

• According to reg. 2(3) of the Immigration
  Regulations

• persons admitted to HK as a student

• cannot take up employment

• whether paid or unpaid

• Those who would like to take up employment need
  to seek prior approval from ImmD

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Immigration Department Hong Kong SAR Government
RELAXATION OF EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONTHE
RELAXATION DETAILS

• Non-local students may take up

• internship

• part-time on campus employment

• summer job

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Immigration Department Hong Kong SAR Government
RELAXATION OF EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONINTERNSHIP

• Study/curriculum-related

• Arranged or endorsed by the institution

• Duration up to 1 academic year, or 1/3 of the
  normal duration of the programme, whichever is
  shorter

• No restriction on work location, salary, working
  hours

• Cannot take place before or after the study
  programme

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Immigration Department Hong Kong SAR Government
RELAXATION OF EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONPART-TIME JOB

• On campus

• At designated operators

• If the work location is outside campus, the
  employer must be the institution

• For not more than 20 hours per week

• Unused hours will not be allowed to roll-over
  from one week to another

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Immigration Department Hong Kong SAR Government
RELAXATION OF EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONSUMMER JOB

• From 1 June to 31 August

• No limit in relation to work hours, location and
  nature

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Immigration Department Hong Kong SAR Government
RELAXATION OF EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONELIGIBILITY
CRITERIA
DEGREE LEVEL OR ABOVE
FULL-TIME
HOW ABOUT EXCHANGE STUDENTS?
LOCALLY-ACCREDITED
STUDY PERIOD gt/ 1 ACADEMIC YEAR
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Immigration Department Hong Kong SAR Government
RELAXATION OF EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONEXCHANGE
STUDENTS

• Study/curriculum-related internship arranged or
  endorsed by the institution

PART-TIME JOB
SUMMER JOB
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Immigration Department Hong Kong SAR Government
RELAXATION OF EMPLOYMENT RESTRICTIONTHE
ARRANGEMENT

• A No Objection Letter (NOL) will be issued upon
  approval of entry / extension of stay application

• The NOL will become invalid upon any change in
  study programme/expiry of the permitted limit of
  stay

• Eligibility for the NOL will be assessed afresh
  and a new NOL will be issued if applicable

• Ineligible non-local students need to seek prior
  approval from ImmD for taking up any employment

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Immigration Department Hong Kong SAR Government
IMMIGRATION ARRANGEMENTS FOR NON-LOCAL GRADUATES
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Immigration Department Hong Kong SAR Government
IANGTHE ARRANGEMENT

• NON-LOCAL FRESH GRADUATES may apply to stay in HK
  after graduation

• RETURNING NON-LOCAL GRADUATES may apply to return
  to HK to work

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Immigration Department Hong Kong SAR Government
IANGFRESH VS RETURNING GRADUATES

• Those who apply to stay and work in HK within 6
  months after graduation are FRESH GRADUATES

• Those who apply to work in HK after 6 months of
  graduation are RETURNING GRADUATES

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Immigration Department Hong Kong SAR Government
IANGTHE AIM

• Strengthen HKs human capital and competitiveness

• Enhance quality of HKs workforce

• Enhance HKs attractiveness to non-local students

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Immigration Department Hong Kong SAR Government
BEFORE POLICY CHANGE

• Students have to apply for entry to work in HK
  after graduation

• General employment policy(GEP)

• Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and
  Professionals (ASMTP)

• Arrangement of Employment of Degree or Above
  Level Mainland Students Graduating from
  Educational Institutions in Hong Kong (MS)

• Any change in employment requires prior approval
  from ImmD

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Immigration Department Hong Kong SAR Government
BEFORE POLICY CHANGE GEP / ASMTP / MS
Normal immigration requirement
Genuine vacancy
Terms conditions offered
Considerations for employment
Qualification experience
Locally unavailable
Skills, knowledge experience needed
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Immigration Department Hong Kong SAR Government
IANG THE APPROVAL

• 12-month stay on time limitation without other
  condition of stay

• Free to take up employment

• Prior approval from the ImmD is not required for
  any change in employment

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Immigration Department Hong Kong SAR Government
IANG FRESH GRADUATESELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
DEGREE LEVEL OR ABOVE
FULL-TIME
LOCALLY-ACCREDITED
Submits application within 6 months of graduation
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Immigration Department Hong Kong SAR Government
IANG FRESH GRADUATESAPPLICATION SUBMISSION

• Duly completed application form

• Proof of graduation, e.g. copy of
  transcript/letter from university, showing mode
  of study (full-time)

• Copy of HKID

• Copy of travel document, showing personal
  particulars and the latest visa/permit label

• Mainland students consent from record-keeping
  authority

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Immigration Department Hong Kong SAR Government
IANG RETURNING GRADUATESELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
DEGREE LEVEL OR ABOVE
FULL-TIME

• Secure a local employment
• at graduate level
• salary at market level

LOCALLY-ACCREDITED
Submits application after 6 months from graduation
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Immigration Department Hong Kong SAR Government
IANG RETURNING GRADUATESAPPLICATION SUBMISSION

• Duly completed application form

• Proof of graduation, e.g. copy of
  transcript/letter from university, showing mode
  of study (full-time)

• Copy of HKID (if any)

• Copy of travel document, showing personal
  particulars and the latest visa/permit label (if
  any)

• Mainland students consent from record-keeping
  authority

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Immigration Department Hong Kong SAR Government
IANG RETURNING GRADUATESAPPLICATION SUBMISSION

• Copy of employment contract, with detailed job
  description, salary package, employment duration

• Employers company registration document, e.g. BR

• Latest financial statements of the employer

• Detailed business plan for newly set-up companies

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Immigration Department Hong Kong SAR Government
IANG EXTENSION OF STAY

• Follow 223 years pattern

• Criteria Secured a graduate level employment
  with salary at market level

• Apply for right of abode in HK after 7 years
  continuous ordinary residence in HK

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Immigration Department Hong Kong SAR Government
IANG ENTRY OF DEPENDANTS

• May bring in spouse unmarried dependent child
  under the age of 18

• Capable of supporting and accommodating the
  dependants

• Dependants may apply for right of abode in HK
  after 7 years continuous ordinary residence in HK

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Immigration Department Hong Kong SAR Government
IANG THE ADVANTAGES

• Stay in HK to work right after graduation

• Flexibility on employment

• Dependants are not prevented from taking up
  employment

• A simplified and streamlined application procedure

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Immigration Department Hong Kong SAR Government
IANG YOUR APPLICATION
Mainland Residents Other than Mainland Residents
Extension of Student Status Quality Migrants and Mainland Residents Section Extensions Section
Residence under IANG Quality Migrants and Mainland Residents Section Quality Migrants and Mainland Residents Section
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Immigration Department Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region (SAR) Government
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SESSION
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Immigration Department Hong Kong Special
Administrative Region (SAR) Government
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
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Immigration Department Hong Kong SAR Government
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION RIGHT OF ABODE

• A person who has ordinarily resided in Hong Kong
  for a continuous period of not less than seven
  years

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Immigration Department Hong Kong SAR Government
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION RIGHT OF ABODE

• A person does not cease to be ordinarily resident
  in Hong Kong if he is temporarily absent from
  Hong Kong.

• The circumstances of the person and the absence
  are relevant in determining whether a person has
  ceased to be ordinarily resident in Hong Kong.

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Immigration Department Hong Kong SAR Government
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION RIGHT OF ABODE

• The circumstances may include

• the reason, duration and frequency of any absence
  from Hong Kong

• whether he has habitual residence in Hong Kong

• employment by a Hong Kong based company and

• the whereabouts of the principal members of his
  family (spouse and minor children).