Frequently Asked Questions

Shafin International is a Hong Kong-based consultancy offering three main services: visa and immigration guidance (employment, dependant, student, investment, and visitor visas, plus domestic helper direct hire), legal and notarial support (name changes, affidavits, divorce and housing matters), and corporate and business services (company registration, accounts, and tax matters).

Shafin International has over 20 years of experience serving clients, having assisted more than 843 clients across 35+ countries with Hong Kong immigration, legal, and business matters.

No. Shafin International is a consultancy that provides advisory guidance and document preparation support for legal and notarial matters. It does not provide courtroom representation — for matters requiring litigation, clients are advised accordingly.

Yes. Shafin International's consultants are available 24/7, and a dedicated 24-hour emergency line (+852 9521 9521) is available for urgent matters such as police bail assistance, urgent travel document issues, and after-hours immigration queries.

An Employment Visa is for professionals relocating to Hong Kong for work under employer sponsorship, based on job offer and qualifications. A Dependant Visa is for spouses and children joining a family member who already holds a valid Hong Kong visa. Each has different eligibility criteria and required evidence — we review both against your situation before recommending a pathway.

Processing times vary by visa category, case complexity, and current Hong Kong Immigration Department workload, so we don't quote a fixed timeframe here. During a consultation, we review your specific case and give you a realistic timeline based on current conditions.

Yes, spouses and children can generally apply as dependants of a sponsor who already holds an eligible Hong Kong visa. Each dependant's application is assessed individually against the relevant eligibility criteria, so we review each family member's situation as part of the overall case strategy.

Requirements vary by visa category, but commonly include a valid passport, proof of qualifications or employment (for work visas), proof of relationship (for dependant visas), financial evidence, and supporting statements. We provide a checklist specific to your visa category during the initial assessment.

Yes. We provide advisory and documentation assistance for direct-hire domestic helper arrangements and related labour matters in Hong Kong, separate from standard visa categories.

Yes, we assist with preparing and submitting change of name documentation, statutory declarations, affidavits, and deed poll documents for personal, legal, and administrative purposes.

We provide practical guidance and documentation support for divorce proceedings and personal injury compensation claims. As a consultancy rather than a law firm, we help you understand requirements and prepare paperwork correctly; litigation itself is handled by qualified legal representation where needed.

We support company registration for both limited companies and sole proprietorships, from documentation through submission. The right structure depends on your business goals, liability considerations, and tax situation, which we review with you before starting the registration process.

A limited company is a separate legal entity offering liability protection and is generally preferred for growth and investment, while a sole proprietorship is simpler to set up but offers no separation between personal and business liability. We help assess which structure fits your circumstances.

Yes. We support preparation of company accounts and audit reports, along with advisory support for individual and business tax matters, to help meet Hong Kong regulatory compliance deadlines.