markandebony

Hi

I am.a british citizen as are my two kids. I am working in hk and married to a local hk chinese wife. Thus she requires a spouse visa.

Due to her working contract she can onlu leave HK mid august 2017. We plan to relocate in the summer of 2017.

We have been advised to apply in May 2017 but that as soon as the visa is issued, say 15 to 30 days later, my only has 30 days or 21 working days in which to leave HK and collect the permit from a UK post office.

This time frame makes planning such a big move incredibly hard.

What is the official situation? Can the visa be linked to your travel.date?

Help

Pulaski

You request a travel date when you apply for a visa. The visa will be valid for 30 days from that date, so if you request August 17, 2017, your wife's visa will be valid from August 17 for 30 days.

markandebony

Thank you. Is there any document or link that confirms that point?

Thanks

markandebony

So planning to leave mid august 2017 when should we apply?

I heard have 30 months or 33 months.

If apply in May then visa granted in June can visa start from the travel date?

Again any link to back this up?

Thank you

Pulaski

It's described here (fourth paragraph).

HTH

markandebony

Great. Any idea where on the application form etc it asks you to specify your travel date? Just looking to sort out the ill informed immigration guy.

Thanks

SanDiegogirl

You can only apply up to 3 months before your wife's earliest projected arrival date, so, if intending to leave for the UK mid August, you apply in May.

If approved, she will have 30 days from the date of decision (or a few days later) in which to travel and collect BRP, and if she put mid-August as her travel date, within 30 days of that.

However, there is no guarantee that the travel date will be exactly as you have asked. Some posters have obtained travel dates somewhat earlier than the standard 12 weeks approval time, but where there have been issues with their application somewhat later.

You have to be flexible - which is why the authorities advise not to make definite travel plans until the visa is issued.

markandebony

Thank you.

So you mean if say she will travel August 15th they may not honour that date but may be a few days earlier? But within that period?

SanDiegogirl

I'm saying that the travel date you obtain may be earlier or later than the one requested. Most of the travel dates issued by the authorities are met within a few days of the requested dates - but some are not.

If you search for how long settlement visas are taking to be completed in Hong Kong, it is stating (not guaranteeing) 100% in 60 days. So there is no reason to presume that your date of 15 August for travel will not be met; but you have to be flexible.

BritInParis

The start of the 30 day validity of the vignette will be the date you request up to three months in advance of the date you lodge your application. It may be later than the date you specify depending on processing times but it won't be sooner.

markandebony

Thank you. Very helpful.