Hong Kong Quality Migrant Admission Scheme

Almost all countries with average to high immigration rate have an objective point based visa category for skilled workers or investors or business persons. Similarly Hong Kong, also known as the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China announced the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme in February 2006. The immigration department started accepting the visa application under this category from the same date onwards.

If you are highly skilled and willing to reside in the country and discover various job opportunity, business or investment prospect then this is the visa category for you. The benefit that comes along with this visa includes freedom to bring unmarried children below the age of 18 and spouse. The only condition is that the candidate should be able to support them financially throughout their stay.

 

Eligibility Criteria for Hong Kong Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS)

If a candidate wants a visa under this category then he/ she needs to fulfil the eligibility criteria. The criteria includes-

·         Scoring passing points in a point-based test

·         Competing for quota allocation

·         Age of the applicant must lie between 18 to 50 years

·         Financial prove displaying that the applicant can support himself and dependants in the country covering everything from accommodation to other living expenses

·         Candidate must not have any criminal record

·         Proficiency in English language or Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese)

·         Good academic background is also important. Generally good qualifications, professional skills, and experience are preferred with supporting documents.

 

Candidates from certain nationalities cannot apply for Hong Kong Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS)

·         Afghanistan,

·         Cambodia,

·         Cuba,

·         Laos,

·         North Korea,

·         Nepal and

·         Vietnam

 

This process occurs in five stages:

 

Stage 1 is a pre-test stage. In this a candidate needs to fulfil all before point-based formalities.

Stage 2 is a point based test. The five factors are considered in a point based system as mentioned above age, education, language, character and financial independence. There are two categories under point-based test normal and achievement. Achievement points are rewarded if you have received any award like Olympic, Nobel, lifetime achievement awards from the industry.

Minimum passing marks for normal test is 80 and minimum passing marks for achievement based test is 195.

Stage 3 is a process of shortlisting high scoring candidates verifying documents and consulting different departments. This process is known as selection process. After selection the results will be published on the website.  

Stage 4 is Approval in principle process. At this stage the applicants are asked to visit the country personally for interview. Approval in principle letter doesn’t mean that your visa has been approved. It simply means that you have moved multiple steps ahead in the process.

Stage 5 is visa/ entry permit granting process. At this stage all the documents and everything is finalized after complete verification.

 

If a candidate wants to sponsor his/ her dependants to come along with him then it is recommended to file all their documents at the same time. It will lead to faster visa approval process for all of them.