Case Studies

Case Studies–Ms. Guo successfully obtained Visa through General Employment Policy (GEP) in Hong Kong

Introduction

Ms. Guo is a business woman from Wenzhou, when she was travelling to Hong Kong for a leisure trip occasionally, she found that retailing in brand apparel had huge market potential, she was thinking about to run a business here. After preparation & researching works almost for half-year, she has started up a Hong Kong company and opened some retail stores in Tsimshatsui with her business partners.

Background of the Applicants

As Ms. Guo’s Hong Kong company was just newly started, the business scale and standard of operation still need to be improved. However, the challenge was that, as the travel/business visa allowing Ms. Guo just stay for 7 days for each travel, it was hard for her to take care of the business effectively. It is necessary for her to obtain an identity to stay for longer. Finally, Ms. Guo reached us for consultation through the referral by her business partner.

Solutions by Connexions

After communicating with Ms. Guo, we have evaluated her personal background, education level and previous working experience. General Employment Policy (GEP) had been decided for her to apply because it is time saving, there is no need for her to apply travel/business visa each time when she comes to Hong Kong. Moreover, when Ms. Guo gets the ID card, she can be allowed to stay for longer. It is compatible with her requirement and it will also be an advantage to apply permanent residence after staying for 7 years. Apart from that, when she is in Hong Kong, it is more convenient for her to apply business visa for her overseas trips frequently.

Connexions advised Ms. Guo and she had appointed us as her consultant and processed the GEP application. At the beginning of 2012, Ms. Guo provided us all requested documents. We had not just tidied up for her personal profile, but also assisted her to determine payroll and titles, defining scope of tasks, including prepare of employment contract etc., so as to meet the requirement of Immigration Department.

During the consultation process, we also pointed out to Ms. Guo due to the fact that the company was in an initial stage and the operation had not been standardized yet, it may become an obstacle for the application. Ms. Guo also had this concern too. After several meeting and communication in depth, we assisted Ms. Guo to develop a comprehensive business plan, for example, to expand and regulate the organisation structure, suggested her to increase the number of local employment and reassign tasks. The application was submitted on 9 January 2012 to the Immigration Department (IMMD) and got the reference number on 27 January 2012. Finally, Ms. Guo’s obtained the approval in May 2012 successfully.

Connexions always dedicate to provide professional advisory, backup and solutions for clients living in Hong Kong. At the same time, as we are expert in corporate management, accounting and finance, through our help, Ms. Guo’s company business has been getting on track much quickly and we also assisted the company’s partners to apply the GEP successfully.

Connexions applied the first renewal for Ms. Guo in May 2013 and got the permitted to May 2015, and the second renewal application has been successfully permitted to stay for three year to May 2018.

Application Process

Submission of applications: 9 January 2012
File reference number received: 27 January 2012
Application Approval: May 2012
Permitted to: May 2013

First Renewal and permitted to: May 2015
Second Renewal and permitted to: May 2018