Blog 049: BNO簽證最新更新

英國最近就BN(O)申請公佈最新指引，就家庭單位申請先後放寬條件，指引原文如下：

(Extracted from BNO visa guidance p.26-27)

1) You should check whether dependants have applied within 48 hours of the main applicant unless the concession below applies.

除符合以下條件，否則在主申請人作出申請後48小時內，家屬亦要完成申請程序。

2) It is permissible for the BN(O) status holder’s spouse or partner and dependent child under 18 to apply for the Hong Kong BN(O) route separately from the lead applicant. For example, this includes any children born whilst their parents are on the BN(O) route; you should grant them permission on the route in line with that of their parents’.

BNO身份持有者的配偶或伴侶和18歲以下的受撫養子女可以與主要申請人分開申請香港BNO簽證。例如，如果父母持有BNO簽證期間，有小孩出生，他們將被授予和父母一樣的簽證期限。

3) Additionally, if a BN(O) status holder meets a new partner after a grant of permission on the BN(O) route, their partner would be able to come to the UK, providing they otherwise meet the requirements for a dependant partner on the route.

此外，當BNO持有人獲得簽證後，如有新的配偶，只要證實該配偶符合有關的資格，也可以一同前往英國。

4) Some applicants may have staggered their applications so that one parent moves to the UK first to arrange affairs before the other parent and children join them; this would also be permissible under this concession. 

部份申請人之家庭申請可能有分先後，以便父母其中一方先移居英國預先安排生活，另一方父母和子女隨後加入，在新規則下也將被允許。

5) However, if a BN(O) status holder is granted entry clearance or permission to stay and a BN(O) Household Member or BN(O) adult dependent relative makes a subsequent application, you should refuse the application.

但是，如主申請人已成功獲得了BNO簽證，而其後再有已成年的子女或親屬作出申請，該申請將會被拒絕。

看到坊間對於是次的更新有很大的迴響，我想說的是，是次新指引的更新其實最重點只在於：

「之前移民局一直強調，申請人需要以整個家庭(family unit)一起申請，如果家屬沒有在48小時內一起申請，之後將不會獲批。」

現在，則放寬為：
「主申請人可以自己先入紙，配偶和未成年的子女可以稍後再申請。」

這安排最大作用是給予移民家庭一個彈性，讓父母一方先行到步為家人安排生活，避免移民家庭在全家人到英後才處理各種問題。

Guidance for Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (BNO) route:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hong-kong-british-national-overseas-route