HK Immigration and newborns

cyberfish88

cyberfish88

Registered User
Can anyone shed some light on the immigration process for a newborn? My daughter was born here to two US citizens, one of us a PR here in HK. She just got her US passport. I have filled out the Right of Abode application and will mail to immigration but what next? Will she actually get an ID card and do I have to go through a long process to get one or are they fairly quick? Do they thumbprint her :) Does she have to leave HK first on a visa and then come back in like she would if she was an adult?

Anyone been through this recently?

Thanks!
 
Hi- I am a British passport holder and HK permanent resident.
My son was born in HK.

Once you have sent immigration the right of abode application they will approve, or not her right to permanent residency.
However it should already say on your daughters HK birth certificate if she has 'permanent status or not.'
On my sons birth certificate it says that his permanent status is 'established.'

What will then happen is that immigration will ask you to go to their offices, where they will fix a stamp in your daughters passport (Like any other visa) that says she is a permanent resident.
As a newborn she will not get an ID card, so you will still have to travel with her passport.

Newborns are definetly not fingerprinted, I did not even have to to take my son with me when I went to pick up his permanent sticker.
Your daughter does not have to leave the country and re-enter.

Hope that helps!
 
Thanks bekyboo44, that helps a lot! Darn, I wanted to see them try to fingerprint her!! I did check her birth certificate and it does say ROA is established so that is good. Am beginning rest of the process today.

Does this mean everytime you travel you have to go through a manual counter at the airport?
 
Yes, baby can't go through the e-channel and you have to stand in line with all other Residents.
 
As your baby has right of abode in Hong Kong you can apply for an SAR passport. With this passport you will get an ID card for you child but it won't have a photo on it until she is 11 years old. This does save some time in the immigration queue as it means you don't have to fill all the forms in - they just swipe the ID card.
 
I think to quality for a SAR passport, at least one parent must be of Chinese origin.
There have been exceptions made, but as far as I know, that is the law.
 
cyberfish, we are the same situation as you. Two US citizens, but hubby is HK born PR, baby was born here. We recently just traveled and just brought baby's US passport and HK birth certificate. Only needed to show the birth cert when leaving/entering HK. (the actual HK birth cert, not the consular report of birth).
 
We are two British Citizens and my husband is HK born PR. Our daughter was born here and on her birth certificate it says her right of abode is "established". We have just got her British passport and are in the process of getting it stamped to say she is a HK PR. But actually it is not necessary as we can just travel with her passport and birth certificate - we are getting the stamp so that we don't have to take her birth certificate each time we travel.

My son was born in the UK so he has just had a visa up till now, like me. However, we are in the process of applying for PR for him as well - he should get it as my husband has PR, was born here and is chinese...
 
JoTs,

I keep a copy of our son's birth certificate with his passport. As we tend to travel separately without Dad sometimes and I still use my maiden name and he has Dad's, airlines do ask for proof that we are related. I know its crazy, but with child kidnapping airlines are taking extra precautions.
 
I might be wrong but I don't think your son will qualify for PR. Instead he will qualify for "Right to Land."
 
Children born to HK permanent residents (who are not of Chinese origin) and born in HK do get permanent residency- however it is subject to a number of conditions.

According to info. I was given by the immigration depart. ( I am HK PR, British passport holder, not of chinese origin. My husband is not PR, and not of chinese origin),

- My son (born in HK) has the right of abode.
- If I, or my son, live outside of HK for a continuous period of more than 36 mnths we both lose our right of abode and permanent residency.
- Once my son reaches the age of 21 yrs, he will have to re-stablish his permanent residency by proving that he has lived in HK for a continuous period of 7 yrs and has made HK his permanent home.
- However my son will always keep his 'right to land,' allowing him to live, work and study in HK without restriction.
 
We are just applying for PR for my son as it will be more convenient... he has a dependent visa till 2011 so not a problem if they don't grant PR - just thought it was worth a try...
 
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