RTL document verification

[HKHK154]

Hiya, I'm planning to give my friend my passport and dads birth certificate and so on to 'verify' my original documents after being approved for RTL pending on the outcome of the verification process (which will be fine, since they are all genuine). This should happen some time this week.

Anyway, will the passport be stamped with a removal of restriction of stay blah blah stamp on there once verified? I am wanting to book a one way trip and I have heard that airlines do not allow you to do this without proof of not needing a return ticket.

Also if I enter Hong Kong can I enter as a resident without a Hong Kong ID by showing my passport in the resident line? (if there is one which could process me by my passport/stamp?) I don't really want to enter as a tourist as that's not actually my intention when I come to Hong Kong.

[Claire ex-ax]

Wow! You've got me thinking. Is there a "resident line" any more? I head straight for the old thumb scanner with nary a look at the queues.

[MCDC]

I just went through this last week and did not receive any stamp in my passport stating no restrictions of stay. Your ID card is your proof of that. I have booked 2 one-way flights to HK (and Mr. MCDC 1 ticket) with no problems. Can an airline really prevent you from buying a one way ticket? For all they know you plan on taking a different airline home, travel around and buy plane tickets as you go, etc.
I think you have to enter on a tourist visa and then apply for your ID card. Once you have the ID card with RTL your tourist visa is invalid and you can stay for as long as you'd like

[jaykay]

Wow! You've got me thinking. Is there a "resident line" any more? I head straight for the old thumb scanner with nary a look at the queues.

Yep there are still resident and PR lines. Kids can't come in via e-Channel.

[Claire ex-ax]

Cheers jaykay. Forgot about the kiddies.

[Gruntfuttock]

Nor can DHs (unless that's changed recently).

[HKHK154]

So can I actually enter as a resident with my passport?

[MCDC]

So can I actually enter as a resident with my passport?

Without proof that you are a resident (HKID card with R standing for RTL), no.

[Hairball]

If it's still pending, then it means you don't have RTL yet, so you will not technically be able to enter as a resident yet, so you will have to use the visitor line.

But theoretically all the lines can process everyone, they just might make you use the visitor line, so might as well line up there.

However if you had the RTL approval letter but no ID card yet (as in you are formally granted it), it says to present it to an immigration officer, then I suppose you should be able to use the resident line in that case.