We all know that the renewal conditions for the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme have a key term in the documents disclosed by the Immigration Department:Ordinary residence.

This term means what we understand on the surface; there is no mandatory requirement for you to live in Hong Kong, but it does not mean you should completely avoid living in Hong Kong. After all, the original intention of launching the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme is for the Hong Kong government to attract competitive and outstanding talents to participate in the construction of Hong Kong society.

Therefore, if you only want to obtain a Hong Kong identity and enjoy the benefits of it, but are unwilling to step into Hong Kong and have no intention of living there, you can give up the idea of applying for a Hong Kong identity. Even if you can initially get a 1-year or 2-year visa, the subsequent renewal will likely not be approved, as the Immigration Department is unlikely to give you such an opportunity.

So, what aspects do the Immigration Department officials pay the most attention to when reviewing renewal materials?

01 What key materials does the Immigration Department care about?
First, whether you are settled in Hong Kong. Generally speaking, after being approved for the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, the first 2-year visa granted is to give the applicant time to gradually transition to living and working in Hong Kong. During this time, you do not have to work in Hong Kong, but you can establish a life in Hong Kong.

At this time, the Immigration Department officials will comprehensively consider the applicant's habitual residence, work, family members, and other situations. The specific situations mainly include:

1)Reasons for not being in Hong Kong; even if you are currently not living or working in Hong Kong, it is recommended to frequently visit Hong Kong to have immigration records;

2)Whether you have a permanent residence in Hong Kong, such as renting a house, having utility bills, to show that you have traces of life in Hong Kong;

3)Whether you are employed by a company with strong ties to Hong Kong; you can look for jobs in this direction;

4)Whether family members currently live or study in Hong Kong.

From these four aspects, it is best to achieve all of them; at least during the renewal process, the probability of a smooth approval is higher.

02 What materials are needed for renewal?
There are mainly three aspects of materials:

1)Renewal application form;

2)Applicant's Hong Kong ID card + copy of the Hong Kong and Macau travel permit;

3)Proof of employment in Hong Kong, including income proof, MPF contribution proof, tax documents, etc.

The most important point is to prove your contribution to Hong Kong, which is the third point mentioned above. A straightforward way to do this is to open a company in Hong Kong and operate it or take on part-time work, which actually proves that you are also making efforts to strengthen ties with Hong Kong.

If you are temporarily not residing in Hong Kong, the Immigration Department is likely to require you to provide a detailed plan for the next 12 months.