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黑暗中的沙漠

Olympic gold medalist comes to Hong Kong for doctorate: How to secure an 8-Year Hong Kong visa

Wang Liuyi

The mainland Olympic athletes' delegation held a media briefing in Hong Kong on August 29.

Among them, synchronized swimming sister Wang Liuyi, who is about to enter the Education University of Hong Kong to study for a doctorate in education, personally responded to the reasons for choosing to study in Hong Kong: "Hong Kong is a very international city. Choosing Hong Kong will not only be close to home but also help to enhance the international perspective."

According to public information from the Education University of Hong Kong, the two sisters have been admitted to the Education University’s Doctor of Education (Chinese class).

 

1.Student Visa (3 Years)

1.1 Application for Hong Kong student visa

Hong Kong's doctoral programs typically last three years. Students must understand the application process for a study visa.

  1. Obtaining the Admission Notice:

    Students must receive an admission notice from a Hong Kong-accredited university to apply for a student visa.

  2. Preparing Visa Application Materials:

    Admission notice, passport, personal photos, financial proof, accommodation arrangement proof, etc.

  3. Submitting the Application:

    Generally, processing takes about 4-6 weeks, so it is advisable to submit applications early to avoid delays in enrollment procedures.

1.2 Visa renewal

Students studying in Hong Kong usually receive approval for an initial stay of 12 months. They must apply for an extension of their stay within four weeks before the current stay period expires to continue their studies.


Student visas are usually issued for each academic year. Make sure to contact the school’s International Student Office before the end of each academic year to prepare all necessary renewal materials to complete the renewal.

 

2.IANG Visa (2 Years)


Graduates can apply for an IANG visa from the Hong Kong Immigration Department within 6 months after graduation, which offers unconditional approval & a stay of 24 months. During this period, graduates can freely choose their employment without needing a prior job offer.

 

3.Transition From IANG Visa to QMAS Visa (3 Years)


Many people are unaware that the IANG visa can be converted to a Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) visa. Although the IANG visa allows for free employment selection without a prior job offer, to apply for an extension of stay, proof of employment in Hong Kong (such as an employment contract) must be provided, along with meeting income requirements and having the employer willing to assist with the renewal, to obtain a two-year extension.


In comparison, the QMAS offers greater flexibility, allowing for entrepreneurship or further study in Hong Kong without needing a prior employment contract. Upon successful application, an initial three-year visa can be granted, with renewals based on specific circumstances until the conditions for applying for Hong Kong permanent residency are met.

 

4.Requirements to Apply for QMAS Visa


4.1 Point-based system for QMAS

The QMAS uses a point-based system for selection, including two pathways: "Achievement-based Points System" & "General Points System," from which applicants can choose one:

Achievement-based Points System:

Applicable to applicants with outstanding achievements in a certain field, such as winning international awards or significant achievements in a certain field.

General Points System:

Points are accumulated based on factors such as age, academic or professional qualifications, work experience, language ability, family background, etc.

4.2 High scores through achievement points

Wang has won gold medals in Olympic synchronized swimming & has outstanding achievements in sports. Additionally, completing their doctoral degree, publishing their thesis & conducting research in Hong Kong will also contribute to their points.

 

5.Securing an 8-Year Visa


After completing their doctoral degree with a student visa (3 years), they can then use the IANG visa (2 years) and subsequently transition to the QMAS visa (3 years), thereby securing a total stay of 3+2+3 years, which meets the basic conditions for applying for Hong Kong permanent residency (7 years).


If you want to apply for a student visa to study in Hong Kong or apply for other visas, please contact Oceanus Strategic & our team will provide you with professional advice. We will publish more interesting articles in the future, so stay tuned.


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