[dylonchua]

Hi everyone,

I am Malaysian Chinese currently still waiting for my working permit,
has been waiting for about 2 months since 24 April,
My case is I came to hk first, then I found a job here as a senior Web Designer. My employer hire me because of my language ability by knowing both simplified chinese(mandarin) and traditional chinese ( cantonese) plus advance skill in Macromedia Flash Technology ( which is not easy to find in Hk, according to what my employer told me).

I remember the first time summision my employer has submited lots of documents. then the immigration replied after 3 days and request me to write a personal statement explain about why I didn't apply for work permit first than only enter Hong Kong. and also asking my employer for many other documents.

so in my letter i just explain the reason of coming to hk as a tourist and creating business contact. after that found out I like the lifestyle here and also hk still lack of Experience technical people in this field especially some one who is very pro in Flash technology.that's why start to look for job and found this employer eagerly to hire me.

Then after about 1 month on 14 June, got replied from Immigration again asking my employer to submit more documents like company 3 months bank statement and so on.


some times I being paranoid that worrying about that they will reject my application since seeing some of the post saying that is more easy for westerner to get the work visa compare to someone like me from Malaysia although I not sure how true is this fact.


I am sure there are also many people waiting for working permit and trying to look for job and interested to find out more about working permit information.

so I would hope whoever either already got working permit or has been rejected or waiting for approval, please share some your short story here to help whoever who needed this info.

it might help a lot to try to recognize their pattern ( immigration) of working permit application.

thanks in advance.

[KnowItAll]

>> I not sure how true is this fact.

Absolute nonsense and not a fact.

Looks like your employer tried the "lets do it ourselves" approach and have probably never filed an immigration application themselves, which has resulted in red flags and requests for more information.

Usually takes 4-6 weeks from the last set of documents being submitted, to get a visa approved.

[oormila]

Hi there!

I dont think you need to worry about not being a westerner for the work permit.. I am an Indian who applied for my work permit after staying in HK for quite some time on a dependant visa and i was given the working visa in a matter of 1 week.

I think it depends more on the industry and the company per se which would like to hire you... however, I stand corrected!

Good luck.. am sure things will fall into place soon!

[big 5]

Originally Posted by KnowItAll

>> I not sure how true is this fact.

Absolute nonsense and not a fact.

Looks like your employer tried the "lets do it ourselves" approach and have probably never filed an immigration application themselves, which has resulted in red flags and requests for more information.

Usually takes 4-6 weeks from the last set of documents being submitted, to get a visa approved.

What a shame that I read that!!!!! I got offered a really good job, having all certificates here, also through a company (school) that usually employs westerners. HK Gov were contacted and decided that they couldn't guarantee a turn-around within 9 weeks!!!!! I offered to work voluntary incase, then discovered that you can't do that without a visa!

Result= the job had to be offered to the second candidate!

gutted

[KnowItAll]

Not sure what the processign time in the education business is, to be honest. The tech and finance sectors average about 6 weeks.

[big 5]

It's quite a difficult position really, being new I have to take everything I'm told and try to make sense of it the best I can.

I was told that it is made difficult for Westerners to gain work often, maybe that's right or not, it's certainly felt ridiculously difficult. The school said, they couldn't believe it! They said it just doesn't take that long at all.

A few other people in that industry have said that applying from a HK address not a UK one counted against me. In any case the Head wasn't too pleased.

The other frustration is that I've then applied for TEFL posts out of desperation, 2 of 3 cases, when turning up I discovered that the fundamentals of the advertised post were just lies!!!! I travelled miles out to be told, massively different age group than stated, completely different area of teaching etc.

Hence, after utter dissapointment I'm trying for postgrad courses. Although my personal experience to date hasn't been good, I've also found a complete lack of support when phoning to gain info to apply for jobs.

Fair enough you have to take things as they come and make the best, but this has been the most frustrating foreign country I've tried in so far. Guess it's just bad luck, or not?

[Giordano]

i'm helping my mainland friend for same kind of problems....useless to say how its hard to fight against walls....im sorry to find out that some answers i got were a little bit too racist....

[dylonchua]

Hi Big5 ,

thanks for sharing your story, wish you good luck.

Hi Mr.knowitall

My employer did file the application before for an employee from ShangHai, and she is still here working for the company.

and may I know what is red flag?

Thanks

[big 5]

Sorry for overtaking this.

By the way not meaning to be negative, things just go this way sometimes, I'm sure it will work out.

[dylonchua]

I started this mainly to gather more info from anyone and I am sure it going to be a very useful thread. negative or positive are welcome. so guys please feel free to share your story from the first day you apply the working permit until the day u got it or rejected, and what had happened in between if any.

thanks.