[kdunk]

I am moving from Canada to HK on Feb 7th. I was told it was easiest to look for teaching jobs once I get there. Yet, as many people in the world, do not have the funds to be unemployed for an extended amount of time.

Can anyone tell me the average time it can take to get an employment visa after finding a job. Also, since i am arriving just before Chinese New Year will this have a major affect. Do some people close down for weeks as they do in Taiwan.

Thanks,
KDunk

[KnowItAll]

Hong Kong does not close down, but a fair number of people take extended holidays, go to China etc. This will affect your interview situation.

Also, it is fairly traditional for employees to play musical chairs right after they get their new years bonus, so there is a fair amount of competition in the market -- in certain sectors, right after CNY.

[HKChigger]

Most of the time employers want you to start working and apply for a visa after a "trial run" or work while visa is being processed. I am a Native English Teacher and only one company I have dealt with out of 10 is willing to hire me and wait for a visa before allowing me to work. Nobody else has been willing to get me a visa unless I start right away.

By the sounds of it, same thing in other fields of teaching from what I have heard.

[sunniefaith]

Originally Posted by HKChigger

Most of the time employers want you to start working and apply for a visa after a "trial run" or work while visa is being processed. I am a Native English Teacher and only one company I have dealt with out of 10 is willing to hire me and wait for a visa before allowing me to work. Nobody else has been willing to get me a visa unless I start right away.

By the sounds of it, same thing in other fields of teaching from what I have heard.

Chigger, but working in the company while waiting for visa to be process can get one person in trouble with immigration right? With EMB, i know of NET teachers not being paid because they didn't get their visas in time. This issue actually came up in SCMP a few months ago.

[sunniefaith]

Originally Posted by kdunk

I am moving from Canada to HK on Feb 7th. I was told it was easiest to look for teaching jobs once I get there. Yet, as many people in the world, do not have the funds to be unemployed for an extended amount of time.

Can anyone tell me the average time it can take to get an employment visa after finding a job. Also, since i am arriving just before Chinese New Year will this have a major affect. Do some people close down for weeks as they do in Taiwan.

Thanks,
KDunk

Have a look at http:///www.emb.gov.hk Look for the NET icon. You can apply as a NET now and hopefully something will come up for you.

[HKChigger]

Originally Posted by sunniefaith

Chigger, but working in the company while waiting for visa to be process can get one person in trouble with immigration right? With EMB, i know of NET teachers not being paid because they didn't get their visas in time. This issue actually came up in SCMP a few months ago.

Hey I am not trying to give anyone legal advice as far as work permits.. Just letting the OP know if he is worried about wait times, his problem is going to be telling employers he wants a visa before starting, and he won't start the next day. It is his business if he goes that route or not. The concern he has is wait times, I figure it is a favor to let someone know the only wait times, is if he wants to wait, employers don't want to wait.

[kdunk]

thank you for your replys. My most worry was not working while waiting because the employer would not allow me too. Yet, it sounds like they would want me to work without it anyways. That gives me much more confidence.
But do they hold out the first pay check until you get the visa? or do they just pay you under the table until then? Isn't that illegal? I don't know how people would survive otherwise if they had to wait for the average time of about 5 weeks to get the visa.

[HKChigger]

thank you for your replys. My most worry was not working while waiting because the employer would not allow me too. Yet, it sounds like they would want me to work without it anyways. That gives me much more confidence.
But do they hold out the first pay check until you get the visa? or do they just pay you under the table until then? Isn't that illegal? I don't know how people would survive otherwise if they had to wait for the average time of about 5 weeks to get the visa.

Normally they should pay you at the end of each month with a cash cheque or other annon. means. It is Illegal, but only if caught. It's not to easy to be caught, you still want to be careful. I have heard that immigration is more likely to turn a blind eye if they know you are waiting for visa though, but I have no evidence of this.

[freeier]

let's put it this way, there are far too much uncertainty for you to rely on the first pay cheque to buy bread and milk.
even if you managed to get your visa in time, there might be other potential delays like tying up the bank account for fund transfer, your own bank account setup, etc.etc. that could jeopadize your life.

at the very least, have some funds as backup for at least 3-4 months. you will never know how fast or slow things can get goin and don't take any of our words or experience as the norm if it matters something important.

[carang]

if you area qualified teacher, check out the esf website. they are advertising for jobs all the time. also, because they are well known and used to handling visas, the turn around time might not be as long. not only that, you won't be required to work illegally (it's not just illegal if you get caught... it's illegal even if you don't!) and the salary/benefits will be much better than a dodgy place wanting to hire you illegally.