Visa & Immigration Update: Hong Kong Recognises Same-Sex Partnerships in Dependant Visa Applications

About Us

We are the leader in the mobility industry and the only globally integrated mobility service solutions company.

Meet Sirva: Your Full-Service Mobility Solution

Sirva is recognized as the preeminent leader in the mobility industry and the only globally integrated mobility service solutions company. Our worldwide team of mobility experts offers the most comprehensive portfolio of value-added services and technology solutions to HR and Mobility leaders and mobile employees. We help guide employees through the relocation process to ensure a seamless experience, providing the perfect blend of self-service and personalized support. Whether you are relocating a key executive for the first time or an entire team of engineers overseas, Sirva enables you to fully outsource your program or design a customized solution.

Sirva at a Glance

Sirva has an impressive global reach, supported by a vast worldwide partner network. We serve clients across many industry sectors and geographies. Our team, consisting of thousands of dedicated employees who speak a multitude of languages and represent diverse nationalities, is the cornerstone of our success. We are proud to hold a significant market share in the industry and continuously set new standards of excellence and innovation. Sirva's is committed to delivering outstanding service and is dedicated to excellence and continuous improvement.

Check Out Our Brochure

Setting the Standard

Sirva’s scope of services is unmatched in the mobility industry, allowing us to offer you truly strategic solutions and customized service options. We are the only company to integrate globally delivered services for relocation, moving, mortgage and more, along with internal expertise in cultural training, immigration, and destination support.

As the recognized leader in our industry, we pride ourselves in raising the bar by offering our clients and customers next-level services and support.

EXCEPTIONAL CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

Our delivery model is comprised of dedicated consultants, 24/7 global support, and omnichannel access, allowing consultants to focus on meaningful interactions.

COST OPTIMIZATION

Sirva offers innovative cost optimization solutions including RiskGuard®, the industry’s only fixed fee U.S. home sale program, which simplifies budgeting, eliminates home inventory, and avoids home sale management.

FINANCIAL SERVICES EXPERTISE

Our in-house global financial experts offer consultative expertise, managing all financial services and specializing in accounting, relocation tax, compensation, and payroll.

LEADING DIGITAL SOLUTIONS

An API integration, with leading HRIS platforms and secure data management for reporting and analytics, enhances the mobility process.

BROAD IN-HOUSE RESOURCES

Our destination, immigration, home sale, and household goods teams work closely with our supply chain to continuously drive improvements and innovation.

SUPPLY CHAIN STRENGTH

Professionally managed and integrated direct delivery model ensures an optimal balance of performance, cost, and flexibility.

An Inspired Approach

As the world of work continues to change, organizations are exploring new ways to meet today’s growing business demands. We identified four key principals that were most important to our customers, and we use these elements as core values that guide every action we take. Our dedication to global mobility and talent management is underpinned by our collective desire to deliver an exceptional move experience from start to finish. We’re passionate about what we do and deliberate in how we do it.

We are guided by four key principles that underscore our ongoing commitment to delivering an exceptional client and customer experience:

Smart.

Technology and data are at the forefront of every move. Before we react, we check the research.

HELPFUL

Everything we do is done with the intent of solving a problem, being supportive, or showing that we care.

HUMAN

We embrace all people, experiences, and perspectives, acting with courage, honesty, and integrity.

RESPONSIBLE

Our goal is to serve as a positive change agent in society and contribute to the sustainability of our planet.

Click the button below to learn more about our approach and commitment to service excellence.

Our Approach

Sirva's-dedicated-relocation-leadership-team

Meet Sirva's Executive Leadership Team

Our management team is driven by an ongoing commitment to deliver an exceptional experience for you and the employees you move. As the world of work continues to evolve, you can rest assured that we are focused on meeting and exceeding your needs with flexibility, cutting-edge technology, and seamless processes. Our passion for improving lives shows with every decision we make.

MEET THE TEAM

Let Us Help You

Sirva can provide you with the resources, guidance, and support you need to achieve the best possible mobility experience for your talent and your organization. We bring together personalized program solutions, expansive global reach, innovative technology, and an unmatched supply chain to transform your business. We can help empower your talent moving to their next opportunity and deliver an exceptional experience.

If you would like to know more about how we can help you meet your evolving talent needs and ensure that your mobility program remains agile and competitive for the future, please contact us now.

Get in touch

Background & Highlights

Following our previous blog on the review of Hong Kong’s dependent visa policy regarding same-sex relationships, a new policy has been officially adopted. The Hong Kong Immigration Department has announced that the region will – for the first time - recognise overseas same-sex partnerships when granting dependant visas. Effective September 19, 2018, a person who has entered one of the following scenarios (that is legally recognised by the local authorities of the place of celebration) will be eligible to apply for a dependant visa or entry permit into Hong Kong with an eligible employed partner/sponsor:

A same-sex civil partnership
A same-sex civil union
A same-sex civil marriage
An opposite-sex civil partnership
An opposite-sex civil union

In the cases above, an applicant will be able to stay in Hong Kong for a period up to one year or in line with the employed partner’s limit of stay.

The usual eligibility criteria of the policy apply, including:

reasonable proof of a genuine relationship between the applicant and sponsor
no known record that is detrimental to the applicant
ability of the employed partner/sponsor to support the dependant's standard of living, well above the subsistence level, in a suitable accommodation

Moving Forward: What to Expect

The Immigration Department will process all new and outstanding applications according to the revised policy. Any permissions that were granted during the policy’s interim review period will remain valid. Going forward, applicants may apply for further extensions (to remain in Hong Kong as dependants) before the expiry of their current permitted limit of stay; extensions will be processed according to the revised policy.

Changing Immigration Laws: Challenges & Opportunities

In a general sense, immigration laws vary greatly and continue to evolve across the globe, which is why compliance is quickly becoming one of the most significant challenges in the world of mobility. Often, human resource and talent mobility professionals simply don’t know what they need to know – and quickly find that they have failed to submit a piece of important documentation, that they were unaware of a deadline, or missed the finer points of a region’s compliance laws altogether. The resulting delays or denials of visas end up costing their companies valuable time, resources and talent.

Challenges:

The recent changes to immigration policy in Hong Kong will, likewise, require HR and mobility professionals to pay close attention to compliance. Partnering with a knowledgeable relocation management company (RMC) can be very helpful in this regard, as RMCs are uniquely positioned to provide global expertise; valuable guidance when reviewing the eligibility of candidates and their dependants for work authorizations and visas; and up-to-date, extensive knowledge of evolving immigration requirements from country to country.

Opportunities:

While the recent change to Hong Kong’s visa policy doesn’t mean Hong Kong will recognise same-sex marriage, the new policy has the potential to provide some interesting opportunities. For individuals that are part of a same-sex relationship and are currently working in or considering a career opportunity in Hong Kong, the new policy will provide greater career flexibility and more opportunities. As for Hong Kong itself, this change may set the city apart from other strong Asian regions – such as Singapore, mainland China and Japan – in attracting global talent.

For more information on this topic, please reach out to our SIRVA Immigration Specialists in Hong Kong: _SIR-HK-VISA@sirva.com