Originally Posted by
Gongzuokuang
This is interesting as I too just needed to renew my USA passport.
The old one (as always) was returned. The front cover and the ID page are punched. The back cover -- including the eChannel barcode -- are intact.
After reading your post, I am now wondering what would happen. Would the first set of doors not even open... thereby forcing you to go through the normal immigration? Or would they open... then "trap you" after your fingerprint scan requiring staff intervention (and potential repercussions)? Or... would they just let you though as normal (thereby allowing you to then proceed to the enrollment center to renew?)
By the way... someone earlier was concerned about the hours. The South Hall office is open until 11:00PM.
Immigration Headquarters
e-Channel Enrolment Office
7/F, Immigration Tower,
7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai
Monday to Friday:
8:45 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Closed on Saturdays, Sundays
and public holidays
Hong Kong International Airport
Terminal 1
Arrival North Hall (after arrival counters)
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Arrival South Hall (after arrival counters)
7:30 a.m. – 11:00 p.m
http://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/..._visitors.html
Here is the follow-up on this. I arrived around 8:15PM. As is often the case, they had a limited number of e-Channel lanes open. I had intended to try the barcode on the back of my now-void passport to see what would happen. I planned to go through eChannel if possible, then go straight to the South Hall office to renew. (I did look and the office was still open.)
Of course, the only eChannel lanes open had no path to the South office. If I used the eChannel lane it would have taken me out of immigration and into baggage claim. I tried to talk to some of the "info" people there, but they were utterly useless.
So, I filled out an Entry card and waited in line. After passing being cleared (at about 9:30PM), I walked down to the eChannel office... AND IT WAS CLOSED! Grrrr..... It was supposed to be open until 11! I asked one of the security folks, but they too were useless.
So, I had to go to the Immigration Tower (near the Convention Center) and get it handled there. VERY QUICK... no waiting.
The only thing I wonder about now is how to tell when it expires. It was not clear to me if they RENEWED my eChannel that I originally obtained a few years back... or if instead they TRANSFERRED it to my new passport. Anyone have any idea how to check?