How we verify

Where our facts come from

For programme facts we use official sources only: the website of the government body that runs the programme, published laws and regulations, and official government notices. News reports, agent or developer websites and industry rankings are never the source of a figure in this directory. At most, they prompt us to re-check the official source.

How a fact reaches the page

1. 01

   Find the official page

   We find the page on the official government or programme website that states the fact.

2. 02

   Record it

   We record the fact as the official source states it, with the link and the date and time we checked it (Hong Kong time). We keep the passage we relied on in our records as evidence; it does not appear on the page.

3. 03

   Review before publishing

   Before a programme page is published, its wording is reviewed by people other than those who did the research.

4. 04

   Publish from the record

   The site takes each fact word for word from our verified record. Automatic checks stop a site update from going live if the wording differs from the record, if a fact is not marked Verified, or if its source link is not an official government or programme website.

5. 05

   Re-check on a schedule

   Each re-check gets a new date. If the official page has changed, we update the record, and the page then shows the updated fact with its new date.

Rules we follow

• Each fact is copied word for word from our verified facts record. We do not paraphrase official figures.
• A fact is shown only when it is marked Verified (checked by us against the official source; not a government endorsement or certification), links to a government website and carries the date we last checked it.
• We re-check government fees and time-limited notices every 30 days, and other facts every 90 days. A fact that is overdue for its check is removed at the next site update and replaced with “Being re-verified — see official source”.
• We never show processing times, approval rates, visa-free destination counts, professional or agent fees, or "all-in" totals.

What the dates mean

“Facts last verified” is the date we last checked the official source, not the date the government published it. A government can change a rule or fee at any time, and the official source always takes precedence over this site. Check it before you act.

When a source is unclear

If official sources differ, or a figure is unclear, we do not pick one, estimate or round it ourselves. We hold the fact back until it has been checked, and the page points you to the official source instead.

Programme Directory and Industry News

Industry News, Borders Brief and analysis follow our editorial standards: each cited source carries one evidence label, Verified, Reported or Analysis. The Programme Directory is stricter and shows Verified facts only.

Relationship disclosure

Every programme page carries a disclosure of whether Beyond Borders or a related company has any role with that programme. The default text (no commercial role) is set by counsel.

We do not sell paid placements or sponsorships on this directory.

Corrections

If you believe a figure is wrong, write to us through the Contact page. We log the report, re-check the government source, and date any change on the page.