TNAG-1558-FCO40-2122-Future-of-Hong-Kong-nationality-and-passports-Hong-Kong-(Br-1986 — Page 116

For the United States, you could have to wait up to 20 years. unless you simply want to ensure that your child has another passport, and are not concerned about yourself or other members of the family, Australia would be the best choice.

So

Since most airlines will not take passengers more than seven months pregnant, you should plan to spend at least the last two months of your pregnancy in the other country. The cost will be. defrayed if you can stay with friends or relatives. Also, you should take out medical insurance which includes coverage for pregnancy at least 10 months before the due date.

This is espe- cially important if you're going to the United States, where medical expenses can be very, very high.

Another precaution is for the woman to travel well ahead of the due date if she looks like she's about to give birth even though she's only seven months pregnant. Tourist visas should be arranged well beforehand, and except for the United States the woman is unlikely to be rejected upon arrival. In the case of the USA, a visa does not give you the right to enter the country: that right is granted only upon arrival.

You should also ensure that you have a letter of referral from your doctor here to a doctor in the other country, stating that for various medical reasons (the more technical the better), it's necessary for this birth to take place in a particular hospital due, say, to possible complications which can be better looked after in Australia, the United States or wherever. Also, you'll want a little time to look around to chose the hospital and doctor.

Qualifying for residency

Application for permanent residency in any country will mally fall into one of six categories:

1. Marriage. Marriage to a national of another country is usually the fastest way to gain residency and then a passport. In a few countries--e.g., Australia--even a fiance (e) is granted residency. The spouse of a US national is exempt from the quota requirements that can entail a wait of up to 20 years from the time the application for residency is accepted.

There are numerous cases of arranged marriages--or marriages of convenience--where either as a favor or for payment a national has entered a marriage contract for the sole purpose of assisting another person to change their nationality. Once the papers have been issued, a divorce follows.

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