Official China Thread (Macau, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, etc)
. 60 days only nowadays 
09-07-2015
, 05:27 AM
09-07-2015
, 07:20 AM
09-07-2015
, 08:03 AM
09-07-2015
, 12:19 PM
Quote:
Not sure if this will be relevant to any poker player(s) but for anyone considering living and working in Macau that's not a resident, here are some things to understand. (Just Got my Blue Card)
For my application, they processed it on the second submission, the Visa 'specialist' was surprised it was approved and was shocked they didn't ask for additional submission fees.
For my Fiance, she came through using the 60 day allocation, was denied the dependent visa, and was able to extend under the requirement that we get married within 2 months in the SAR region. Booked the civil ceremony dates and she is now re-submitting her visa extension, not 100% if they will approve it..
I would strongly suggest that if you are looking into working over here, that you understand the SAR (Special Administration Region) requirements, and in general make sure you are with a larger company (casino). Also be aware that job security may be brought into question when they start reducing the labor due to slowdown, as SAR law is not fond of slashing local resident jobs when foreigner count is high (Have seen a lot of friends be not extended for this reason)
If you say **** it and decide to overstay, an uncapped amount of $550HKD per day of overstay is charged, and you will not be able to return to the SAR region for 120 business days. We had a guy overstay 12 days and was threatened with Jail unless he could pay the amount in full at the immigration office.
Cost Wise:
Definitely not a place for a person on a budget, my advice is if you move here think of it similar to New York pricing, negotiate heavy on your salary and 100% try and get accommodation paid for.
Also, if you expect it to be like Vegas/Miami casino style, you will be in for a rude shock, the casinos have small empty bars, with only a hand full of clubs and bars that are similar. Mainland Chinese gamblers aren't big drinkers, so expect to be drinking with whoever you travel with, or other expats.
Nightlife Wise
If you do head over here to party, everything gets going a lot later (11pm+) with a lot of the bars kicking off around 1am when everyone changes shifts. Cubic will run you around $3000 HKD a bottle, with headlining acts costing $600 HKD+ just for entry. For friends visiting I always recommend skipping the party scene here and heading to HK LKF area, much better options.
Our go-to drinking is either at StarWorld on Tuesdays (6pm - 10pm) they have bottomless bottles of beer for $140 HKD, and SoHo at City of Dreams every Friday (6-9pm) has unlimited wine and beer for $120 HKD, with a quite good live Philippines band
TL/DR: Unless you are married, a Macau resident or have a high tolerance for going back and forth with the immigration office, avoid working in Macau.
- The company hiring must have a ratio of 3-1, 3 local employees to 1 foreigner
- The company hiring must initially post your job for applications on the government website and local paper.
- The company hiring must host a day of interviews of local applications, detailing why they are not suitable for the said job with government official
- You must be prepared to submit the blue card application at minimum 2-3 times, keeping patience with idiot denial reasons.
- You cannot bring your wife with you until application for blue card is approved, once approved they must apply for dependent visa, which takes 50+ business days
- The blue Card has little to no bearing in HK, its primarily only used in SAR region, and can be disputed by any Macau official at any time.
- To apply for dependent visa (Non-Married) you must prove that 2 Macau residents have known your relationship status for over 2 years, these 2 witnesses will be required to be interviewed at any given time during the month of question.
- Any non Euro, will be given the following Visas, 30 days, 20 days and then a final 10 days (normally sent to immigration Office) Euro's get 90 days three times.
- We have had 3 consultants here who have been summoned to the Immigration office on their last 10 days every time, there is little to no wiggle room at all.
For my application, they processed it on the second submission, the Visa 'specialist' was surprised it was approved and was shocked they didn't ask for additional submission fees.
For my Fiance, she came through using the 60 day allocation, was denied the dependent visa, and was able to extend under the requirement that we get married within 2 months in the SAR region. Booked the civil ceremony dates and she is now re-submitting her visa extension, not 100% if they will approve it..
I would strongly suggest that if you are looking into working over here, that you understand the SAR (Special Administration Region) requirements, and in general make sure you are with a larger company (casino). Also be aware that job security may be brought into question when they start reducing the labor due to slowdown, as SAR law is not fond of slashing local resident jobs when foreigner count is high (Have seen a lot of friends be not extended for this reason)
If you say **** it and decide to overstay, an uncapped amount of $550HKD per day of overstay is charged, and you will not be able to return to the SAR region for 120 business days. We had a guy overstay 12 days and was threatened with Jail unless he could pay the amount in full at the immigration office.
Cost Wise:
- Rent is around 12,000 -> 25,000 HKD per month for decent western style non-shoebox
- 1g/1g internet runs $400 HKD per month
- Gas/Water/Electricity runs $800 HKD+ per month
- Meals range from $60 - $300HKD+ avoid casinos if on a budget
- 1litre bottle of JD is $225HKD ($27.50 USD)
- Tsingtao is $10 HKD a litre
- Asahi/Carlsberg/Import runs around $24 HKD per bottle
Definitely not a place for a person on a budget, my advice is if you move here think of it similar to New York pricing, negotiate heavy on your salary and 100% try and get accommodation paid for.
Also, if you expect it to be like Vegas/Miami casino style, you will be in for a rude shock, the casinos have small empty bars, with only a hand full of clubs and bars that are similar. Mainland Chinese gamblers aren't big drinkers, so expect to be drinking with whoever you travel with, or other expats.
Nightlife Wise
If you do head over here to party, everything gets going a lot later (11pm+) with a lot of the bars kicking off around 1am when everyone changes shifts. Cubic will run you around $3000 HKD a bottle, with headlining acts costing $600 HKD+ just for entry. For friends visiting I always recommend skipping the party scene here and heading to HK LKF area, much better options.
Our go-to drinking is either at StarWorld on Tuesdays (6pm - 10pm) they have bottomless bottles of beer for $140 HKD, and SoHo at City of Dreams every Friday (6-9pm) has unlimited wine and beer for $120 HKD, with a quite good live Philippines band
TL/DR: Unless you are married, a Macau resident or have a high tolerance for going back and forth with the immigration office, avoid working in Macau.
DEFINITELY NOT RELEVANT - But thanks for letting us know you live & work there
09-07-2015
, 12:54 PM
09-07-2015
, 12:59 PM
09-08-2015
, 03:15 AM
Hey guys, My friend and I will be in Macau for a 2 days and 1 night. Planning to do a bit of playing and the macau tower bungee jump. Is there anything else you guys recommend doing in a short time period ? If there's something interesting to do we might skip playing poker, I just haven't heard of that many things to do. We will also be in HK for 2 nights and 3 days so if you guys have some good recommendations for stuff to do there let me know Thank you.
Thank you.
09-08-2015
, 04:30 AM
Quote:
Hey guys, My friend and I will be in Macau for a 2 days and 1 night. Planning to do a bit of playing and the macau tower bungee jump. Is there anything else you guys recommend doing in a short time period ? If there's something interesting to do we might skip playing poker, I just haven't heard of that many things to do. We will also be in HK for 2 nights and 3 days so if you guys have some good recommendations for stuff to do there let me know Thank you.
Thank you.
09-11-2015
, 03:54 AM
09-13-2015
, 09:41 PM
10-01-2015
, 02:10 AM
10-01-2015
, 07:29 PM
